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How HIV Criminalisation Undermines the HIV Response

Research showing HIV criminalisation does not increase disclosure or safer sex practices, reduces access to healthcare, and increases stigma

What the Experts Say

Official statements by leading international and domestic agencies arguing against HIV criminalisation

Organising Advocacy

Resources outlining community views about HIV criminalisation and examples of advocacy to mitigate or end it

Understanding the Law

Documents analysing HIV criminalisation laws and their use, including precedent-setting cases, the stories of those accused, and community education advice

Initiating Policy & Law Reform

Resources explaining how to undertake policy and law reform, including examples of successful strategies

Supporting Fair & Robust Trials

Resources explaining how to intervene in a case and how scientific evidence should be used in court

Using Science to Prove your Argument

Academic articles outlining the science of HIV transmission and treatment

Working with Police

Resources describing how police investigate alleged HIV criminalisation cases and guidelines for police

Educating Prosecutors

Resources describing advocacy for prosecutorial guidelines to limit the overly broad use of the law and examples of prosecutorial policy and guidelines

Educating Judges

Educational resources targeting judges and reports from judicial discussions of HIV and human rights

Communications and Media

Resources about effective ways to communicate anti-criminalisation messages and how to work with media

Other Toolkits

Other toolkits produced for lawyers and advocates relating to HIV criminalisaiton or broader human rights advocacy
Reading list

OptTEST case study 8: Criminalisation law reform in the Netherlands

This study looks at how The Netherlands tackled criminalisation of transmission & exposure.

To learn about the global movement to end HIV criminalisation and how you can be part of it, visit HIV Justice Worldwide

  • http://www.hivjusticeworldwide.org

To read the latest news about HIV criminalisation laws, prosecutions and advocacy against them, visit the HIV Justice Network

  • http://www.hivjustice.net

For the full text of HIV-related laws and a snapshot of HIV criminalisation in each country, visit the Global HIV Criminalisation Database

  • https://www.hivjustice.net/global-hiv-criminalisation-database/