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Southern Exposure: HIV and Human Rights in the Southern United States

Southern Exposure: HIV and Human Rights in the Southern United States. Megan McLemore, J.D.,L.L.M. Senior Researcher Health and Human Rights Division Human Rights Watch. What is “South”?. Federal government regional definition includes 17 states and the District of Columbia

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Southern Exposure: HIV and Human Rights in the Southern United States

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  1. Southern Exposure: HIV and Human Rights in the Southern United States Megan McLemore, J.D.,L.L.M. Senior Researcher Health and Human Rights Division Human Rights Watch

  2. What is “South”? Federal government regional definition includes 17 states and the District of Columbia Home to 37 percent of US population African-Americans are 10 percent of US population and 57 percent live in the South

  3. HIV in the South Highest HIV infection rates Highest new HIV infection rates among ages 13-29 44.6 percent of US AIDS cases (double that of next region, the northeast) Highest fatality rates from AIDS All 10 cities with highest AIDS diagnosis rates were in the South (2011)

  4. HIV and Minorities: South African-Americans are 13 percent of the US population, but 46 percent of those living with HIV or AIDS (55-60 percent in the South) In many southern states, A-Am’s 30 percent population but 60-75 percent of people infected with HIV. (Louisiana: 32 percent population, 73 percent HIV)

  5. HIV and Minorities, cont. Rates of new HIV infections among black MSM 4x that of white MSM Rates of new HIV diagnosis among Black women 14x greater than white women Half of new HIV diagnoses among Latinos in US were in the South Majority of states with highest new infection rates among Latinos were in the South

  6. GRAPH 3 • HIV and Human Rights in the U.S. South: An Environment of Risk All factors have a severe impact on minorities

  7. Human Rights Obligations International law obligates the United States to protect: • Right to health • Right to disease prevention, information • Right to treatment and services • Right to be free from racial discrimination • Right to equal access to public health services • No intent required, only disparate impact

  8. Summary HIV in the South following the fault lines of racism and poverty Addressing HIV in the South is a public health and human rights imperative for federal government and the states Behind “structural” factors are specific laws and policies that can change and improve; HRW work on HIV in South focuses on laws and polices that contribute to epidemic and must be reformed.

  9. Contact information Megan McLemore, J.D.,L.L.M. Human Rights Watch 350 5th Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118 646-784-4827 Mclemom@hrw.org

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