Manifesto of the SEC and FEC in support of AIDS prevention and sexually transmitted diseases.

The Spanish Society of Contraception (SEC) and the Spanish Foundation of Contraception (FEC) have issued a manifesto in defense of prevention of sexually transmitted infections / AIDS further to the recent statements by Pope Benedict XVI. The SEC is a scientific society of over five hundred doctors and nurses gynecologists. The SEC is headed by Dr. Esther de la Viuda and the FEC by Dr. Ezequiel Perez Campos. The manifesto is as follows:

Given recent statements by the highest Catholic hierarchy on the unsuitability concerning the dissemination of condoms to prevent AIDS and even counterproductive character, the SEC and the FEC, in its intention to maintain adequate information on issues affecting the sexual and reproductive health in the light of scientific evidence, are obliged to say:

1) Our respect to any ideological position in favor or against the use of contraceptives in general and condoms in particular, by those who share a particular religious doctrine and positioning.

2) Our total opposition to manipulation with statements that do not respond to scientific evidence to try these doctrines prevail, undermining them, to not be enhanced by a free choice of the people but mediated by telling the truth.

3) The claim undeniable Medical Science of the beneficial effect of condoms in controlling the spread of sexually transmitted infections in general and HIV / AIDS in particular. This clearly demonstrated and not up for discussion among the scientific community.

4) There are also scientific evidence that the approach of avoidance of STIs with a commitment to abstinence, shows data of this sort of pathology not less than the general population, so this type of intervention is not effective prevention measure.

5) The great importance of objective information for informed choice about whether people prefer condoms or abstinence to prevent STDs and AIDS. In the safety of religious conviction, fallacious arguments are not needed for monitoring.

With the intention of preserving the prevalence of scientific evidence and informed choice of people, consider it a priority to maintain the claims that science gives us about the effectiveness of condoms in preventing STIs and HIV / AIDS. Statements in another direction could worsen the problem, especially in places like sub-Saharan Africa with 22 million affected by HIV infection, a real tragedy for this entire population that requires decisive action in light of the scientific realities, without prejudice to religious ideologies indicate to his followers what is the way that supports their doctrine. Everyone is free to follow the path he wants, but it is unfair to manipulate scientific truth to get a human action that is appropriate to a particular conception of the world, life and relationships between people.