Reports

The Global HIV Epidemics among Men Who Have Sex with Men
Report by the CPHHR in partnership with The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
June 2011

This new study from the CPHHR, in partnership with The World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provides the first comprehensive economic analysis of evidence that better HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) are shown to improve overall HIV epidemic control. The Global HIV Epidemics among Men Who Have Sex with Men shows that MSM are at significantly higher risk for HIV infection than other groups in many low-and middle-income countries, where fewer than 1 in 10 MSM worldwide have access to even the most basic package of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services. The authors urge governments and donors to target MSM in national HIV/AIDS programs as an essential step toward reversing the global epidemic.

This volume presents the first global economic analysis undertaken to explore the emerging epidemics of HIV among men who have sex with men in low- and middle-income countries. Using a scenario-based approach, the book systematically reviews the available data to investigate and characterize these epidemics and propose evidence-based and rightsaffirming responses. These responses, which are demonstrated here to be cost-effective, constitute both a public health priority and a clear human rights imperative. Written to help governments, public health agencies, donors, and communities better understand and respond to the HIV epidemics among these often hidden and stigmatized populations, The Global HIV Epidemics among MenWho Have Sex with Menbrings together reviews of epidemiology and the HIV prevention literature; a novel approach to evaluating interventions in prevention, care and treatment; and modeling, costing, and human rights assessments. The book uses a mathematical model to assess the potential country-level impact of interventions, focusing primarily on Kenya, Peru, Thailand, and Ukraine as examples. In all four countries, greater investment in prevention, treatment, and care for men who have sex with men is shown to improve overall HIV epidemic control.
Press Release |Summary |Purchase | Full Report (PDF 4.48MB) | World Bank

Life Under the Junta: Evidence of Crimes Against Humanity in Burma's Chin State
Report by Physicians for Human Rights, the Chin Human Rights Organization, and the Center for Public Health and Human Rights
January 2011

Trained local surveyors performed a multi-stage, 90-cluster sample survey of households in Chin State from January to March 2010, using an 87-question survey instrument that was translated into five regional languages. Of 621 (89%) households that agreed and were questioned about their experiences over the past year, forced labor and other human rights violations, food security, their health status, and access to healthcare. Surveyed households in all nine townships in Chin State reported a total of 2,951 abuses in the 12 months prior to the interview, with forced labor being the most prevalent. Of the 621 households interviewed, 91.9% reported at least one episode of a household member being forced to porter military supplies, sweep for landmines, be servants, build roads, and do other hard labor. The Burmese military imposed two-thirds of these forced labor demands; they also accounted for all reported rapes. Government soldiers tortured or beat ethnic Chins (reported by 14.8% of households), and killed and abducted civilians with impunity. One out of eight Chin households was forcibly displaced (most to find food), and one-third of all forcible conscriptions were of children under The tatmadaw military accounted for more than 92% of all forced recruitment, and ethnic forces (for example the Chin National Army) were not reported to have forcibly conscripted any children or adults.
Executive Summary

Detention as Treatment: Detention of Methamphetamine Users in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand
Report by Nick Thomson, a CPHHR faculty member, and the International Harm Reduction Development Program of the Open Society Institute
March 2010

This report details, the prevailing responses have been compulsory detention—generally without medical management of detoxification. Detention in conditions that are themselves threats to health and life, has been done under the banner of “treatment” for drug use, but little or no evidence-based treatment has been available.This report makes clear that drug treatment is not occurring in these compulsory centers,and that what is happening to thousands of (mostly young) people is a threat to public health and safety, and represents ongoing violations of a range of basic human rights.

Human Rights and Non-Lethal Weapons Research
Report by Leonard Rubenstein, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences
Winter 2010

This report outlines essay some of the questions of the ethics of using scientific fields for the development of non-lethal weapons.  Questions of such research include:  the protections human dignity and human rights; whether the intention of the weapon is to inflict disproportionate or indiscriminate, unnecessary suffering on civilians, or to spread terror in the populationdue process of law; is due process with fair decision-making addressed during development and use; and what are the potential implications for new non-lethal weapons development in the other dimension of human dignity as well as the political level.

After the Storm: Voices from the Delta
Joint report by CPHHR and  EAT-Burma
February 2009

The only independant, community-based report on human rights violations that occured during the attempts to bring relief and assistance to cyclone-afflicted communities in Burma after the destruction of Cyclone Nargis.

Health in Ruins: A Man-Made Disaster in Zimbabwe
PHR Report authored by Frank Donaghue, Rick Sollom, David Sanders, Susannah Sirkin, and Chris Beyrer
January 2009

The PHR report, which includes a preface by Justice Richard Goldstone, Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, accuses the Mugabe ZANU-PF regime of the systematic violation of a wide range of human rights, including the rights to life, health, food, water and work.

MSM, HIV and the Road to Universal Access- How Far Have We Come?
amFAR Special Report
August 2008 
The efforts of Drs. Baral, Sifakis, Beyrer, and Cleghorn have made significant contributions to this report (page 9) and serve to promote this important research agenda.

"The Gathering Storm: Infectious Diseases and Human Rights in Burma"
July 2007

The report details the factors that have contributed to Burma’s dire health situation and to the spread of infectious diseases in Burma and the border regions of China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. It also presents data about HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and lymphatic filariasis from health clinics operated by local governments and NGOs.

The authors explore whether it is possible to deliver international aid in a manner that is transparent and accountable, reach those most in need, and promote respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. They also provide recommendations to the ruling Burmese military regime, donors and foreign aid organizations, and other local and international groups, such as UN agencies and international governments, working on these issues.

"Responding to AIDS, TB, Malaria and Emerging Infectious Diseases in Burma: Dilemmas of Policy and Practice"
March 2006

This report released by the Center details what is known about infectious disease threats, including avian influenza (H5N1 virus) in Burma. It assesses the regional health and security concerns associated with these epidemics, as well as suggested policy options for responding to these threats in the context of tightening restrictions imposed by the ruling military junta.

The authors conclude that these threats constituted clear regional health and human rights concerns. An abridged version of the report was published in the open access journal PLoS Medicine.

Executive Summary in Chinese

Executive Summary in Burmese

"Chronic Emergency: Health and Human Rights in Eastern Burma"
September 2006

The Center for Public Health and Human Rights partnered with Mae Tao Clinic, ethnic minority health organizations and the Global Health Access Program to coordinate ongoing efforts to document the impact of human rights violations on health. The Global Health Access Program provided technical support and training for a health and human rights survey to measure the effect of forced displacement, crop destruction and other human rights violations on infant and childhood disease and death.

"From the Inside Out: Talking to Incarcerated Women About Health Care"
November 2005

The Center, in collaboration with the D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project, conducted an assessment of health care access and health needs, including mental health services, among women jailed at the two facilities in the District of Columbia. A total of 55 volunteers were trained on interview techniques and in the specifics of survey research for data collection.

Under the supervision of the project staff, the volunteers worked in the jail facilities over a period of five months to interview over 100 incarcerated women under attorney-client privilege. Questions addressed demographic variables, health status prior to arrest, including any known diagnoses and medication; access to care in the jail, medical services, prescription drug provision; sick call services; and new health conditions which occurred during incarceration, and how they were managed.

Support for this research and report was provided by Paul and Mariann Gertman.

"No Status: Migration, Trafficking and Exploitation of Women in Thailand"
July 2004

This report was released by Physicians for Human Rights at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, and documents how the lack of legal status of Burmese and Hill Tribe women, and girls in Thailand results in discrimination and exploitation, lack of personal security and inability to access health care and other services. It is based on fieldwork conducted in March, April and May of 2004 by Ms. Karen Leiter, Dr. Chris Beyrer, and Mr. Moh Wit and Mr. Christopher Guerry.