PRESS STATEMENT ON VACCINE TRIALS

DITSHWANELO - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights would like to publicly clarify its position with regard to clinical trials for an HIV vaccine in Botswana. The vaccine is being developed by the Botswana Harvard Partnership. A recent news report this week stated that DITSHWANELO was concerned that the persons who will be the subject of the vaccine trials could be “human guinea pigs”. This is not an accurate reflection of the organisation’s position.

DITSHWANELO as a human rights organisation, believes that continuing advancement in scientific development to deal with the HIV epidemic is necessary. At the same time, DITSHWANELO is concerned that persons who participate in clinical trials should only do so with their informed consent. This means that they should be fully aware of both the benefits and potentially negative effects on them and their families. There is no national legislation in Botswana on the issue of clinical trials or scientific research on human subjects since this has never been done before in Botswana. Therefore, it is essential that when the proposed trials are conducted in Botswana, human rights and human dignity of the participants and the community are promoted and protected.

To this end, DITSHWANELO is a member of the Community Advisory Board on vaccine trials in Botswana.

5 November 2002
Gaborone