President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief: Report on Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

摘要

Under the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are people who have similarly been forced from their homes, but have not crossed an internationally recognized state border. Extended displacement and the disruption of refugees lives can put them at increased risk for HIV/AIDS, due to factors such as exposure to sexual violence, economic vulnerability, and increased contact with surrounding populations with higher HIV prevalence. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that, on average, refugees will spend seventeen years outside of their home country.1 Approximately eighty percent of refugees are women and children. Considering the economic, social, and health risks that accompany displacement, HIV/AIDS services are important in order to protect refugees as well as people in host communities and countries of return. The United States (U.S.) recognizes the particular responsibility of the international community for refugee welfare and the need for adequate services to be provided to refugees. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2005, the U.S. Government, through the Department of States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), provided nearly $1 billion to support international efforts to protect and assist refugees, conflict victims, and vulnerable migrants. No single international organization is exclusively devoted to addressing the protection and assistance needs of IDPs. Although there is less available data about displaced populations, they often face similar risk factors for HIV/AIDS as refugees. However, addressing the protection and assistance of IDPs may require overcoming other barriers as well. In FY 2005, USAIDs Food For Peace program provided almost $600 million in food and program support resources to refugees and IDPs through the World Food Program (WFP) and other partners.