Austria’s Aidshilfen protest against discrimination of people with HIV in court and demand “the destigmatization of HIV-positive people in criminal law”. The support organisations state that HIV infection should no longer be covered by the criminal liability of Paragraph 178f. As long as this remains the case, “the current state of medical research must be taken into account when a court makes a decision. This means that both safer sex and the consistent use of drug therapy must be considered grounds for exclusion from proceedings.”
CSTE Recommendations for Modernization of Laws to Prevent HIV Criminalization
In October 2020, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists’ Executive Board unanimously approved an interim position statement presenting their recommendations for Modernisation of Laws to Prevent HIV Criminalisation. CSTE strongly opposes any criminalization of HIV exposure or transmission and recommends that all states, U.S. territories, and local jurisdictions eliminate HIV-specific statutes that criminalise HIV, eliminate prosecution of HIV under general statutes and change relevant state and local statutes to specifically prohibit the use of HIV-related, public health data for uses outside of public health purposes.
Making the case against an HIV-specific law in Jamaica
This assessment ‘Legal Assessment of the Effectiveness of HIV Criminalisation Laws-from High to Low-Income Countries’ demonstrates why the enactment of an HIV-specific criminal law in Jamaica would be harmful to the national HIV response. It sets out the bases on which the recommendation for an HIV-specific criminal law should be rejected and highlights the need for public health policy considerations to centre the discussions surrounding HIV criminalisation in Jamaica.
Opinion followed by recommendations on the criminalisation of the sexual transmission of HIV in France
Presents an assessment of the legal, ethical, societal and health issues raised by criminal proceedings brought in France for acts of transmission or exposure to the risk of sexual transmission of HIV.
Position Statement on Harm Reduction
Acknowledges the harms caused by stigma and criminalisation. In particular, it acknowledges that the harms of criminalisation are borne disproportionally by Indigenous peoples in Canada. The Statement recognises that while people make their own health decisions, these decisions are only one factor influencing health outcomes.
Resolution on HIV Discrimination and Criminalization
Calls for the elimination of HIV-specific criminal laws and implementation of approaches to HIV consistent with the treatment of similar health and safety risks. Endorses the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS for ending federal and state HIV-specific criminal laws, prosecutions, and civil commitments.
Resolution on Ending Federal and State HIV-Specific Criminal Laws, Prosecutions, and Civil Commitments
Calls for federal action to address criminalisation including review of laws and cases.
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Concerning HIV Criminalization
Opposes laws that base criminal liability and/or penalty on HIV status, rather than intent to harm. Argues that focus on knowledge of status as a key element of an HIV-related crime rather than intent and capacity to transmit the virus, is a classic example of an inadequate mens rea (or criminal intent) requirement and overly expansive criminalization.
Position on the Criminalization of HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Other Communicable Diseases
Highlights the detrimental effects of criminalization statutes and offers a statement of support for evidence-based prevention measures and interventions to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
Statement of Policy: Opposing Stigma and Discrimination Against Persons with Communicable Diseases
Notes disease-specific laws and policies resulting in prosecutions fuel stigma and discrimination. Encourages local health departments to assist state governments to review HIV-specific criminal statutes to ensure that they are consistent with current knowledge of HIV transmission and support public health approaches to prevention and treatment.