On December 12, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved, by unanimous consent, S. Res. 314, a resolution commemorating and supporting World AIDS Day.
The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE), recognizes the gains the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program has made in treating people living with AIDS worldwide since 2003. However, the resolution notes that gender inequality, stigma, and the “lack of respect for the rights of HIV positive individuals” remain “significant barriers” to access to services.
Among other provisions, the resolution calls for “greater focus on HIV/AIDS vulnerabilities of women and girls, including more directed efforts to ensure that they are connected to the information, care, and treatment they require.”
