Restrictions for HIV-related travel

Arusha, Tanzania
The main governing body of the Lutheran World Federation has called on its member churches to advocate for the removal of discriminatory travel and entry restrictions, and similar examples of stigmatization, of people living with HIV.

“We [the LWF council] draw the attention of LWF member churches to the existence in approximately 70 countries of travel and entry restrictions which discriminate against people living with HIV,” the council stated, when it received recommendations of its program committee for international affairs and human rights, presented by Rev. David Pfrimmer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

The recommendation was made during the adoption of proposals from the committee at the June meeting in Arusha, Tanzania of the LWF council, the 68-million-strong Lutheran grouping’s main governing body.

The council requested the LWF general secretary to write to the government of the United States of America and other leading supporters of HIV-related travel and entry restrictions, seeking the elimination of such restrictions.