In a brief interview with 新京报 Mark Stirling, Country Coordinator for UNAIDS China, points out that confidentiality is the key to the success of HIV testing policies. Rampant discrimination is one of the key factors that discourage people from taking HIV tests. Unfortunately, institutional discrimination by health care providers and employers are widespread in China, and many key affected populations (sex workers, injection drug users, and men who have sex with men) also face stigma related to their identities. Stirling observes that while public education on non-discrimination is important, the revision of discriminatory laws and policies is also essential in order to reduce institutional discrimination. 

Stirling points out that in one Beijing community testing center, 128 out of 351 people surveyed decided not to take the HIV test after being told they would have to give their real names.  He calls for support for HIV testing by community-based organizations, especially as a way to reach key affected populations. You can read the full text of the interview (in Chinese) here.

Please join us in signing the petition here to call for stronger confidentiality protections and stronger protections against discrimination.