JURIST - Paper Chase: Indonesia province postpones decision to implant HIV/AIDS patients with microchips

[JURIST] The legislature in the Papua [official website, in Indonesian] province of Indonesia [JURIST news archive] announced Tuesday that it will postpone a decision on whether to implant certain individuals infected with HIV/AIDS [JURIST news archive] with microchips to monitor their movements. A vote scheduled for next week will be put off in response to human rights concerns [Jakarta Post report]. The bill would have attempted to monitor the activities of individuals who are infected with HIV/AIDS whom the government has deemed "sexually aggressive" or more likely to spread the virus. Local officials acknowledged that the policy is extreme but are concerned with the rapid spread of HIV throughout the Papua region, which has the highest number of HIV/AIDS patients in Indonesia. AIDS activists have sharply criticized the policy, which they see as demeaning to people who are living with HIV/AIDS. The legislature is expected to rule on less controversial HIV/AIDS control measures in the coming week.

The legislation was introduced [JURIST report] last month. Other countries have also been examining or changing strict policies concerning HIV/AIDS. Indian officials are investigating the legality [JURIST report] of a ban that prohibits individuals who are HIV positive from serving in the military. China has recently relaxed [JURIST report] a ban against entering the country for any person who is HIV-positive.

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