For Immediate Release:
March 8, 2005

Contact: Adrienne Verrilli
at: 212-819-9770 x325

Media Alert

New York, NY - On March 2, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Randall L. Tobias, gave testimony on President Bush's FY 2006 budget request for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. Following his prepared testimony, the Ambassador was pressed by Representative Rothman (D-NJ) on remarks he made in May 2004 when he misrepresented data from a 2003 study as the basis for downplaying condom use as part of the U.S. global AIDS initiative.

"Misrepresenting data in order to disparage the role of condoms in the global fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic has become all too common for Ambassador Tobias and the Bush Administration," said Bill Smith, vice president for public policy at the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS). "HIV/AIDS is a global crisis that requires bold leadership based on sound science, not ideological fiction," Smith continued.

In May 2004, speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Ambassador Tobias quoted research that he attributed to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine finding that "less than 50 percent of women used condoms with nonregular partners." He concluded, "this shows that condoms simply are not effective." The ambassador cited the same study in a May 2004 New York Times letter-to-the-editor, again misrepresenting its conclusions. In fact, these misstatements prompted the president of London University to explain to the Ambassador in a letter that condoms are considered an effective HIV-prevention tool.

The Ambassador is actually citing data from a 2003 study on microbicides issued by the International Family Health. In his explanation, Ambassador Tobias ignores the context of the data and draws a wholly irrelevant conclusion. The low rate of condom use among regular partners was presented as support for microbicide development not an argument against condom education or distribution. The report concludes that "….even when an effective microbicide is identified, condoms will still have an important role in HIV prevention." In fact, the report specifically recommends, "increased investment in condom promotion, distribution, and strengthened logistics are required, as current supplies are severely inadequate."

"HIV/AIDS is an immensely complex problem. Nuanced research cannot be oversimplified to promote an ideological agenda if we expect to save lives," explained Smith. "With so many resources at its disposal, the U.S. government's support for comprehensive, science-based HIV/AIDS prevention programs is critical."

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