Africa needs to decriminalise to win the battle against HIV

Over 20,000 people descended on the city of Durban, South Africa as the International AIDS Conference returns to the continent after 16 years.

This year, there was something missing from the action; the absence of African leaders.

The last time the conference was on the continent, Mandela was just at the end of his presidency in South Africa and Mbeki was spreading myth about HIV.

It was the moving speeches given by Mandela and Tutu that led to the political will power from the west and the heavy investment in HIV treatment and prevention on the continent of Africa.

Sixteen years later, Mandela dead, Tutu frail, the politicians that build their career on the legacy of these men refused to show up, speak up and stand up for the people infected and affected by the virus.

We left Durban with rhetoric and lack of action.

As part of the conference, I gave this interview to the BBC Focus on Africa. I specifically call for an end to the criminalisaiton of “Sex work”, “Drug users” and “Same sex people”.