MP blames AIDS on ‘promiscuous men’
A Tory MP has said the “true case” of HIV/AIDS is “sexually promiscuous” men in developing countries.
Speaking during Commons question time on Wednesday, Gary Streeter, the MP for Devon south-west, told
junior international development minister Ivan Lewis: “If we’re going to tackle this disease, we have to confront head-on the true cause which is men behaving in a sexually promiscuous manner in too many countries throughout the African continent and elsewhere.”
He added that there was more to the fight against the disease than access to drugs and condoms.
Mr Lewis replied: “”You are absolutely right… It is true that the role that women in society, the way that men in many developing countries see relationships is a major part of the problem.”
He added that “strong political leadership” was needed, along with a “zero tolerance approach” for violence against women.
Last week, Pope Benedict XVI said condoms could make the AIDS crisis in Africa worse.
Speaking on his first trip to the continent, the pontiff told journalists on his flight to Cameroon that the condition was “a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems”.
