In France 69 percent of HIV cases in 2003 attributed to heterosexual contact affected immigrants

Under the Chevènement Law introduced in 1998, immigrants with HIV/AIDS cannot be deported from France if they don’t have access to treatment in their home country. They are also entitled to free health care and ARV treatment. But in reality, discrimination during visa processing still occurs, immigrants commonly find it difficult to get treatment and some immigrants with HIV/AIDS are still deported.

“Despite the 1998 law, the possibility for immigrants to benefit from free health care and protection depends on their own capacity to deal with the system and fight for their rights. Police do not respect the law. They only give temporary residence permits. This is just bullshit. The permits don’t give them rights or allow them to work. Over 2,700 people got a one-year residency permit in 1998 because of their health problems. After one year, they got a 10-year permit. But the system still isn’t working well. The police are holding back permits given for health reasons, arguing that too many people are requesting them. As a result, many HIV-positive immigrants in France live clandestinely and don’t receive any treatment. Since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 43 percent of AIDS-related deaths have occurred in immigrant families. In Seine-Saint Denis [north of Paris] where there are large numbers of immigrants, more people have died from AIDS than cancer.”

Reda Sadki is an activist for HIV-positive immigrants. He works for Le comités des familles, helping HIV-positive immigrant families.