HIVTravel - About the database

About the database

The Global Database on HIV-Related Travel Restrictions is an initiative of the German AIDS Federation, the European AIDS Treatment Group and the International AIDS Society. The Database provides updated information from 196 countries, on existing regulations denying entry or residency for people living with HIV, based on relevant country legislation. Wherever possible the database informs about the mechanisms used in practice, to support implementation and enforcement of HIV-related travel restrictions. It is the successor to earlier information provided on the European AIDS Treatment Group web site.

History

The current database builds on the German AIDS Federation’s (DAH) preliminary work on travel and entry regulations for people living with HIV dating back to 1999 when a questionnaire was first sent to all German embassies abroad and all foreign embassies in Germany, representing the 196 countries included in this survey. The data from this initial survey were combined with information taken from the U.S. State Department website; and from the online web edition hosted by AIDS Info Docu Switzerland which, in 2007, moved to the European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG). In addition, original data was further extended with information gathered from experiences of people living with HIV who faced the impacts of HIV-travel restrictions while traveling, NGOs working in particular countries, and embassies from affected countries. Parallel to the online edition seven updated print versions of the data, Quick Reference, were produced annually and translated into different languages.

Purpose

People living with HIV often face barriers when they seek to enter other countries as visitors, immigrants, refugees, or for business. Entry regulations are distinguished in special regulations for tourist visas (short-term stays) or for residence visas, student visas and work permits (long-term stays more than 90 days). These barriers are discriminatory, and perpetuate and reinforce the stigma already faced by people living with HIV. Many states that enforce entry restrictions for people with HIV justify their policies wrongly for the purpose of protecting public health and the public purse. But there is no public health rationale for restricting liberty of movement or choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status. Read the IAS Policy Brief here.

The UNAIDS International Task Team on HIV-related Travel Restrictions, established in February 2008, was instrumental in generating interest among the partners, and triggering the development of this initiative by recognizing that there is a widespread lack of awareness of how HIV-related travel restrictions undermine HIV prevention and care. Current efforts to heighten attention to the issue of HIV-related travel restrictions on international and national agendas and intensify advocacy toward their elimination - have been hampered by the lack of easily available and up-to-date information on where and how HIV-related travel restrictions are applied, and what are their impact and consequences.

In addition, many governments that have HIV-related travel restrictions do not provide transparent and evidence-based rationales for why they maintain laws and policies restricting entry and residency on the basis of HIV-positive status and many still do not make information about these restrictions easily available so that travelers are forewarned.

The purpose of this new initiative is hence to provide an online resource to all stakeholders (including people living with HIV, civil society, inter-governmental organizations and the private sector) showing the current situation with regard to restrictions based on HIV status, which countries employ them and the different forms they take. The new website displays additional features for both information and advocacy purposes. The Database will serve as a regularly updated source of information mapping the evolution of HIV-travel restrictions globally, a mechanism by which to monitor HIV-related travel restrictions and their impact, and a publicly available tool for advocacy, policy and international accountability initiatives, as well as to inform personal travel and migration.

Methodology

Current data is based on a survey conducted between November 2007 and June 2008. A structured, self-administered questionnaire was sent to all German embassies abroad and all foreign embassies in Germany, representing 196 countries. Responses were received from 130 countries, representing a 66% response rate. In order to ensure a complete data set of 196 countries, for the 66 countries where no responses were received, existing data from the original survey conducted in 1999 was used. In addition, findings were complemented by data from the U.S. State Department (Homepage US State Department; Travel Publications / December 2006); however, this website is no longer online. For the 130 countries from which responses were received, all data and information prior to 1999 was excluded in order to keep the information as updated as possible.

While the information is collected from and cross-checked against a variety of sources, in an effort to have the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, such information is not always easy to obtain and its accuracy has not been independently verified or warranted. Users are therefore kindly invited to contribute and help us continuously improve the quality of information provided by the database, particularly from civil society, individuals affected by travel restrictions, relevant governments and international organizations working to fight stigma and discrimination, and promoting rights of people living with HIV.

Please contact us at info@hivtravel.org.

The undersigned organizations would like to thank UNAIDS for its leadership and continuous support. Many others have helped us in the past and continue to do so. They are acknowledged in relevant work or quoted as sources.

European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG), Brussels/Belgium
German AIDS Federation (Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, DAH), Berlin/Germany
International AIDS Society (IAS), Geneva/Switzerland