The true scale of the daily discriminations experienced by PLHIV cannot be described, and the data compiled here can only provide a limited picture of the consequences of statutory regulations. There is currently no system and no organization which centrally collects relevant cases and reports on them.
We only have individual, anecdotal reports. Further uncertainty about the true extent of these regulations is created by the fact that existing laws are sometimes not applied or only applied by some officials. The following information provides an overview of the extent of the problem:
* Approx. 40 million people worldwide are living with HIV. Most of the affected persons live in low and middle-income countries. Many of them have an urgent need for treatment options in order to survive.
* According to figures from the United Nations World Tourist Organisation (UNWTO), there were approx. 935 million international arrivals worldwide in 2010.
* Approx. 191 million migrant workers live outside their own countries, according to estimates by the IOM. The refugee commission of the United Nations (UNHCR) assesses the number of refugees and people seeking asylum at 20.8 million worldwide.
* With respect to the countries with discriminatory entry regulations, more reliable monitoring of actual conditions is required for the future. This is the only way we can show how PLHIV suffer disadvantages and discrimination on a global level.