Brazil Takes a Stand, Says 'No Thanks' to US Aid

Brazil yesterday became the first country to take a public stand against the Bush administration's massive AIDS programme which is seen by many as seeking increasingly to press its anti-abortion, pro-abstinence sexual agenda on poorer countries.

Campaigners applauded Brazil's rejection of $40m for its AIDS programmes because it refuses to agree to a declaration condemning prostitution.

The government and many AIDS organisations believe such a declaration would be a serious barrier to helping sex workers protect themselves and their clients from infection.

The demand from the US administration, heavily influenced by the religious right, follows what is known as the "global gag" - a ban on US government funds to any foreign-based organisation which has links to abortion. This has resulted in the removal of millions of dollars of funding from family planning clinics worldwide.
(The Guardian)