HIV vaccine research and human rights: examples from three countries planning efficacy trials

The protection of human rights will be critical to the success of HIV vaccine trials throughout the world. A vaccine for HIV remains our best hope to control the global epidemic. In order to launch and sustain useful and successful human trials of HIV vaccines, a partnership between scientists, governments, pharmaceutical companies, and affected communities is essential. This article provides a review of some of the key issues relevant to human rights in the design, testing, and dissemination of HIV vaccines. The article gives specific examples from three countries -- Brazil, Thailand, and the United States -- which may initiate large-scale trials in the near future.