Gao Yaojie
Dr. Gao Yaojie (高耀潔) is a prominent AIDS's activist living in Zhengzhou, Henan province, Peoples Republic of China. Henan was the site of the Bloodhead scandal which resulted in rapid spread of the HIV virus during the 1990s among the impoverished rural population who sold blood at unsanitary collection centers. Reported to be 80 in 2007, she is a medical doctor who specialized in ovarian gynecology. [1] Her AIDS work followed retirement from Henan College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is noted for her work during the HIV epidemic in Henan, and for advocating resolution of the problem. [2] In 2001 she was awarded the Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights, [3] In 2003 she was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in Manila, Philippines. [1] [4] In both instances she was denied permission to travel outside China to accept the awards. [5] In 2003 she was designated on of the “Ten People Who Touched China in 2003” by China Central Television.
Slated to be awarded the "Global Leadership Award, Women Changing Our World" by the Vital Voices Global Partnership along with 3 other women from India, Guatemala, and Sudan at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on March 14, 2007, Dr Gao was reported in February, 2007 to have been held in house arrest and unable to travel. [2] She has been pressured by local official to sign a statement that she is "unable to travel due to poor health." [5] Vital Voices Global Partnership advocates women playing active leadership roles in society. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a prominent participant in the organization. [6]
The house arrest of Dr. Gao is part of the continuing pattern of disrespect and harassment grassroots AIDS activists in China have been subjected to. In 2006 Wan Yanhai, another prominent activist, was detained and prevented from holding a AIDS conference in Beijing. Dr. Gao's blog has been vandalized by unknown parties and false reports have been printed in China's media regarding her in an attempt to cover up her detention. [5]
External links
Information sites
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Citation for Gao Yaojie, Ramon Magsaysay Award Presentation Ceremonies
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "China Places AIDS Activist Under House Arrest" article by Jim Yardley in the New York Times, February 6, 2007
- ↑ Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights
- ↑ Gao Yaojie's acceptance speech upon receipt of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "China Covers Up Detention of AIDS Doctor" reporting by Jim Yardley, New York Times, February 16, 2007
- ↑ "About Us" Vital Voices Global Partnership