AIDS XVII, Mexico City: Reason for Hope or Panic?

Abstract

The XVIIth International Conference on AIDS in Mexico delivered a pleasant surprise to those of us who exhibited on behalf of the International Coalition for Genital Integrity: most of the African women delegates to whom we spoke, AIDS workers on the front lines, were skeptical that male circumcision (MC) would prove an HIV panacea of any worth. Indeed, many delegates described MC as a double trap for women. They worried aloud that “medically circumcised” men will tout themselves as uniquely immune to HIV and thus in no need of a condom. Delegates also noted that circumcision only protects HIV(–) men from HIV+ women, to only 60%, if it does that. It delivers no protection to HIV(–) women from infected men. Well-financed proponents of MC locked out any discussion or open forum on the issue in Mexico, and were quick to claim, “the train has already left the station.” How soon this first-time public health condemnation of a normal body part, an apparent well-financed fait accompli, stumbles remains the interesting question.