Human rights expert calls for mandatory STI tests

A human rights expert has called for tests for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to be made mandatory, as new statistics reveal that sexual health has become the most important issue for young couples.

Rosa Freedman, a human rights researcher at the University of London, has argued that mandatory tests are a necessary measure in the fight against rising infection rates and should be a legal requirement of sexually active people.

Writing in the Guardian last week, she claimed that the individual’s right to refuse knowledge of their health status is “trumped” by other people’s right to know the risk of infection when engaging in sexual activity.

Ms Freedman suggests that health insurers and criminal law discourage people from being tested. Private medical insurance becomes much more expensive for customers who have been diagnosed with an infection and a person may be prosecuted under the Offences Against the Person Act if they engage in unprotected sex whilst knowingly infected, encouraging people to choose ignorance.

Social stigma or embarrassment also prevents people from getting tested, especially teenagers and young adults. According to UNICEF: “Young people, particularly females, don’t use health clinics because they are too embarrassed or fear being judged by the staff there.”

When questioned about their views on mandatory STI tests, students at the University of Lincoln were found to be in overwhelming support of the proposal.

Meanwhile, a survey released last week shows that sexual health is now considered as one of the most important issues in a new relationship. The survey, conducted on behalf of the NHS-run ‘Chlamydia – worth talking about’ campaign, found that 70 percent of young adults believe discussing STI tests together is the most important sign that a new relationship will last.

Embarrassment and social stigma prevents the majority of young people from discussing STIs with their partner. Only 27 percent of respondents had raised the subject of STIs with a new partner before having sex with them and 30 percent said they feel uncomfortable asking a new partner to use a condom.

Cases of STIs have been increasing rapidly in recent years. Chlamydia, which is now the most common STI in the UK, affects about one in 12 women aged 20, is often symptomless and can lead to infertility.