Can the US government compel non-governmental organziations (NGOs) to condemn prostitution?<\/p>\n
Yes, if those NGOs want to qualify for government funds. That’s the upshot of a ruling on Tuesday by a federal appeals court.<\/p>\n
Since 2003, the US has required that to qualify for funds from the $15 billion PEPFAR<\/span> program for AIDS<\/span>, nonprofit groups abroad have to explicitly oppose prostitution and sex trafficking.<\/p>\n NGOs say that taking an explicit antiprostitution stance would make it harder for them to work with sex workers, one of the highest risk groups for HIV<\/span> infection. In 2005, Brazil refused $40 million from the US rather than comply with the requriements.<\/p>\n Even within the US, the law has been controversial and has gone through a long process of rulings and counter-rulings.<\/p>\n In 2005, after the law expanded to include US groups<\/a>, DKT<\/span> International, a Washington D.C-based organization, sued the government, arguing that the law violated its free speech rights.<\/p>\n Last year, a lower court agreed and ruled that the law is unconstitutional. But on Tuesday, US Circuit Judge A Raymond Randolph reversed that ruling, saying that the US Congress has authorized the Bush administration to fund these groups “on such terms and conditions as the President may determine.”<\/p>\n What do you think? Are these acceptable strings?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Can the US government compel non-governmental organziations (NGOs) to condemn prostitution? Read more<\/a> Continue reading