UNAIDS Pres release on Nepal situation

[Guest guest]

PRESS RELEASE

UNAIDS concerned about detention of AIDS activists in nepal

Geneva, 16 August 2004 – UNAIDS is deeply concerned about the recent

detention and reported mistreatment of 39 members of the Blue Diamond

Society, a Nepalese AIDS NGO working with sexual minorities. The Nepali

police arrested these people on 9 August 2004 and they are still being

held today.

UNAIDS fully supports the Blue Diamond Society’s work with sexual

minorities on HIV prevention, care and support as well as human rights

issues.

UNAIDS has conveyed its concern over these events to the Government of

Nepal and has called on the government to ensure that NGOs in the

country continue to provide the much needed services for HIV prevention,

care and support in an atmosphere free from fear and intimidation where

the human rights of all are respected.

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For more information, please contact Dominique De Santis, UNAIDS,

Geneva, tel. +41 22 791 4509, desantisd@.... For more information

about UNAIDS, please visit www.unaids.org.