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HIV/AIDS and Sexual Minorities in Mexico: A Globalized Struggle for the Protection of Human Rights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Antonio Torres-Ruiz
Antonio Torres-Ruiz*
Affiliation:
York University
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Abstract

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The fight against HIV/AIDS is an example of a global struggle for the promotion of sexual health and the protection of human rights for all, including sexual minorities. It represents a challenge for the understanding of its impact on political, social, and economic processes. My central goal in this piece is twofold. First, I underline the importance of a political and human rights perspective to the analysis of the global response to the pandemic, and I introduce the concept of policy networks for a better understanding of these dynamics. Second, I argue that, in the case of Mexico, the constitution of HIV/AIDS policy networks, which incorporate civil society and state actors, such as sexual minority activists and public officials, and their actions—both domestic and international—have resulted in a more inclusive HIV/AIDS policy-making process. However, serious human rights violations of HIV/AIDS patients and sexual minorities still remain.

Resumen

Resumen

El combate al VIH/SIDA representa un esfuerzo global a favor de la salud sexual y la protección de los derechos humanos, incluyendo a las minorías sexuales, así como un reto en términos del análisis de su impacto político, social y económico. En este trabajo son dos mis objetivos centrales. Primero, quiero enfatizar la importancia de una perspectiva de derechos humanos en el estudio de la respuesta global a la pandemia e introducir el concepto de redes de políticas públicas para la mejor comprensión de esta última. En segundo lugar, sostengo que la formación de redes de políticas públicas con trabajo en VIH/SIDA en México, las cuales incorporan servidores públicos y activistas gays, y las acciones emprendidas por estas —tanto a nivel doméstico como internacional— han dado como resultado un proceso de hechura de políticas públicas más incluyente. Sin embargo, se observan persistentes violaciones a los derechos humanos de pacientes con VIH/SIDA y de minorías sexuales en general.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , 2011 , pp. 30 - 53
Copyright
Copyright ©2011 by the Latin American Studies Association

Footnotes

I thank LARR's editors and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful critiques and suggestions. Special thanks to the interviewees and all who generously shared their time and knowledge with me. An early version of this article was first presented at the Latin American Studies Association conference in Montreal, as part of a stimulating panel organized by Juan Marsiaj, at which I received generous comments for the improvement of this piece from the rest of the panel, and especially from Elisabeth Friedman. All remaining errors are mine.

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