LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- When HIV-positive Winnie Sseruma was invited to speak on the subject at the United Nations in New York last June , she never expected that her condition would prevent her from obtaining a visa . HIV positive Winnie Sseruma was repeatedly questioned before being allowed into the United States . Winnie Sseruma has been living with the disease for over 20 years . Preparing for her trip , UK-based Winnie discovered that the United States was one of 70 countries worldwide that either banned or restricted inbound travel for people with HIV . `` I was told I needed to come to the U.S. embassy for an interview and bring a doctor 's letter stating I was fit to travel , '' Sseruma , HIV coordinator for charity Christian Aid , told CNN . `` At first , the embassy told me that the first available appointment for my interview would be at a date past the U.N . High-level Meeting I was meant to attend . '' Only when the U.N. intervened on Sseruma 's behalf was she granted an earlier interview date . Sseruma was relieved when she finally received her visa on time . But the hurdles were far from over . At the airport in New York , Sseruma was detained twice for further questioning . `` It was so humiliating , '' Sseruma said . `` The immigration officers were asking me very personal questions about my health . '' A month after Sseruma 's ordeal , the U.S. Senate passed the re-authorization of President Bush 's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ( PEPFAR ) , including an amendment to the ban on travel and immigration for HIV-positive non-citizens . But the United States travel ban still remains in effect , and will continue to be the law until the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) modifies its regulations . Fifty-eight Members of Congress have sent a letter to the HHS , urging them to take action . Russia also places restrictions on travelers with HIV . Affected visitors are not permitted to stay in the country for more than three months . Anyone applying for a visa for long-term stay must present a certificate stating that they are HIV negative . The Russian embassy 's spokesperson in London told CNN no changes to the ban were currently being considered and declined to comment further . Crusading against these bans is `` Ctrl.Alt.Shift , '' a UK-based organization that attempts to engage youth to combat global and social injustices . The organization argues that there is no public health rationale for `` restricting liberty of movement or choice of residence on the grounds of HIV status . '' Are these laws outmoded ? What do you think ? Tell us in the Sound Off below . The fight against stigmas associated with HIV and AIDS has been widely adopted by the organization 's young members . Many are joining Ctrl.Alt.Shift 's protests across London . Last week , following two protests at the embassies of Saudi Arabia and South Korea -- both countries ban HIV positive travelers from entering their borders -- the organization launched its third protest in front of the Russian embassy in London . `` The level of proliferation of the HIV virus in countries that do not implement bans on HIV travelers is proof that these bans have no impact whatsoever , except for reinforcing the stigma , '' said Neil Boorman , Ctrl.Alt.Shift 's project manager . Boorman told CNN that the bans and restrictions further the spread of the epidemic by driving the issue underground and force people to lie about their health on visa applications . Tinchy Strider , a 22-year-old British rap artist , was also present at the protest . `` I 'm here because many young people are not aware of these issues , but if they knew these bans existed , they would want to do something about it , '' Tinchy explained . Eighteen-year-old Sian Anderson agrees . Anderson believes it is bad enough to live with HIV and that these regulations make life `` even harder . '' `` Some people are completely not at fault , they might have gotten the virus through blood transfusion and Russia does n't take that into consideration , '' Anderson said . `` Science has moved on from the days where HIV was an unknown virus . Now the world needs to move on too , '' Sseruma said . `` Stigma remains our biggest challenge . ''
Russia is one of several countries worldwide that restricts HIV positive visitors . The U.S. announced similar ban last July , but has not yet been implemented . Protesters claim that Russia forces them to talk about health to gain publicity .