What the Experts Say

International Organisations

National Medical Organisations

National Policy Organisations

Other Health/Policy Organisations

International Organisations

For more than a decade, UN and other international agencies have recognised HIV criminalisation as a global concern, calling for review of legal frameworks and the use of laws to target HIV.

Expert meeting on the scientific, medical, legal and human rights aspects of criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission

http://files.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/document/2012/ReportUNAIDSExpertMeetingOnCriminalisationHIV_Final.pdf

This report contains the views, opinions and suggestions for policy orientation and formulation of the participants at an expert meeting (convened on 31 August–2 September 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland) that brought together scientists, medical practitioners and legal experts in order (i) to consider the latest scientific and medical facts about HIV that should be taken into account in the context of criminalisation, and (ii) to explore how to best address issues of harm, risk, intent and proof—including alternative responses to criminalisation—in light of this science and medicine.

Author
UNAIDS
Reference
Meeting Report Geneva, Switzerland 31 August – 2 September 2011
Format
Report
Countries
Global

Fast Track and Human Rights – Advancing human rights in efforts to accelerate the response to HIV

http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/JC2895_Fast-Track%20and%20human%20rights_Print.pdf

Spells out for the first time (on p23) that there must be “Non-criminalization of mother-to-child transmission” when a country applies for validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This  marks the first time in public health history that human rights guarantees are considered a prerequisite to validating disease elimination.

Author
UNAIDS
Reference
2017 Guidance
Format
Guidance Note
Countries
Global

Women and HIV criminalization

https://toolkit.hivjusticeworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Women_and_HIV_Criminalization-4.pdf?1728196575

This policy brief represents the view, as women living with HIV, of the current state of criminalization of HIV among women in Canada and the United States after reviewing academic and grey literature, statutes and policies and an unpublished survey of membership. ICW-NA members highlighted their concern about stigma and discrimination in the justice system related to HIV non-disclosure.

Author
The International Community of Women Living with HIV North America (ICW-NA)
Reference
December 2015
Format
Policy Brief
Countries
Canada, United States

Risks, Rights & Health – Supplement

https://toolkit.hivjusticeworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/HIV-and-the-Law-supplement-FINAL.pdf

This Supplement highlights developments since 2012 in science, technology, law, geopolitics, and funding that affect people living with or at risk from HIV and its coinfections. The recommendations add to and amplify those of the Commission’s 2012 report Risks, Rights & Health, which remain as relevant as they were six years ago.

Author
Global Commission on HIV and the Law
Reference
July 2018
Format
Report
Countries
Global
Alternative links
Russian,

Expert consensus statement on the science of HIV in the context of criminal law

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jia2.25161

Twenty scientists from regions across the world developed this Expert Consensus Statement to address the use of HIV science by the criminal justice system. Description of the possibility of HIV transmission was limited to acts most often at issue in criminal cases. The authors recommend that caution be exercised when considering prosecution, and encourage governments and those working in legal and judicial systems to pay close attention to the significant advances in HIV science that have occurred over the last three decades to ensure current scientific knowledge informs application of the law in cases related to HIV.

Author
Barré‐Sinoussi, F., Abdool Karim, S. S., Albert, J., Bekker, L.‐G., Beyrer, C., Cahn, P., Calmy, A., Grinsztejn, B., Grulich, A., Kamarulzaman, A., Kumarasamy, N., Loutfy, M. R., El Filali, K. M., Mboup, S., Montaner, J. S. G., Munderi, P., Pokrovsky, V., Vandamme, A.‐M., Young, B. and Godfrey‐Faussett, P.
Reference
J Int AIDS Soc. 2018; 21(7):e25161
Format
Consensus Statement
Countries
Global
Alternative links
Expertní prohlášení k vědeckým poznatkům o HIV v kontextu trestního práva ,

HIV Criminalization – Human Rights Fact sheet Series

https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/01-hiv-human-rights-factsheet-criminalization_en.pdf

Series of fact sheets on human rights highlighting the critical need to scale up action on rights. Short, easy to digest and accessible document outlining the latest epidemiology, the evidence of the impact of human rights interventions, the latest targets, and international guidelines, recommendations and human rights obligations.

Other factsheets in the same series released in June 2021 include: HIV and people who use drugs, HIV and gay men and who have sex with other men, HIV and transgender and other gender-diverse people, HIV and sex work, HIV and people in prisons and other closed settings and HIV and stigma and discrimination.

Author
UNAIDS
Reference
Human Rights Fact Sheet Series 2021
Format
Factsheet
Countries
Global

Ending overly broad criminalisation of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission: Critical scientific, medical and legal considerations

http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/20130530_Guidance_Ending_Criminalisation_0.pdf

Restates UNAIDS’ position on criminalisation and makes specific recommendations to help governments, policy-makers, law enforcement officials, and civil society limit the overly broad application of criminal law to HIV.

Author
UNAIDS
Reference
2013
Format
Guidance Note
Countries
Global
Alternative links
Spanish / Español

Criminalization of HIV transmission Policy Brief

http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/jc1601_policy_brief_criminalization_long_en.pdf

Urges governments to limit criminalisation of HIV to cases of intentional transmission. Argues that criminal law should not be applied in a range of circumstances, including where there is no significant risk of transmission.

Author
UNDP / UNAIDS
Reference
2008
Format
Policy Brief
Countries
Global
Alternative links
French/Français

General Comment No. 22 (2016) on the Right to sexual and reproductive health (article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights).

http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E/C.12/GC/22&Lang=en

Includes comment (at page 40) that States must reform laws that impede the exercise of the right to sexual and reproductive health. Examples include laws criminalizing non-disclosure of HIV status, and exposure to and transmission of HIV.

 

Author
United Nations Human Rights: Office of the High Commissioner
Reference
4 March 2016
Format
Statement
Countries
Global
Alternative links
Spanish / Español, Russian / Русский

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health

http://www.aidslaw.ca/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/4_R.Special2010EN.pdf

Commentary includes clear statements outlining many ways that criminalisation undermines effective HIV response.

Author
Anand Grover
Reference
UN General Assembly, Human Rights Council, Fourteenth session, Agenda item 3, A/HRC/14/20, April 27, 2010
Format
Statement
Countries
Global

Oslo Declaration on HIV Criminalisation

http://www.aidslaw.ca/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Oslo_declaration.pdf

Outlines the importance of a cohesive, evidence-informed approach to use of criminal law relating to HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission. Urges Ministries of Health and Justice, public health officials, policymakers and criminal justice system actors to ensure a proportionate response to HIV transmission risk.

 

Author
International Civil Society in Oslo, Norway
Reference
February 13, 2012
Format
Statement
Countries
Global
Alternative links
Chinese / 中文, French / Français, German / Deutsche, Italian / Italiano, Portuguese / Português, Russian / Русский, Spanish / Español

International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW) Position Statement on Criminalization of Women Living with HIV

https://toolkit.hivjusticeworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/267526864-ICW-Position-Statement-2015-CRIMINALIZATION-OF-WOMEN-LIVING-WITH-HIV-NON-DISCLOSURE-EXPOSURE-AND-TRANSMISSION.pdf?1728196583

Argues that criminalisation of women living with HIV for non-disclosure, exposure or transmission undermines public health strategies and increases risk of violence against women. Includes recommendations.

Author
The International Community of Women Living with HIV
Reference
2015
Format
Position Statement (Updated)
Countries
Global