Initiating Policy & Law Reform

Targeting lawmakers

Politicians are the key to law reform as they are charged with making laws. This section includes resources outlining different mechanisms to engage with politicians, arguing for appropriate legislation to support a strong HIV response.


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UNAIDS Handbook for Legislators on HIV/AIDS, Law and Human Rights

Aims to assist parliamentarians and other elected officials to undertake appropriate law reform and develop effective legislation to fight against AIDS. Provides examples of best legislative and regulatory practices from around the world. (This resource contains content that is broader than HIV criminalisation.)

Alternative links
French / Français

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Effective Laws to End HIV and AIDS: Next Steps for Parliaments

Informs parliamentarians about the types of laws that are helpful and unhelpful in the AIDS response. Gives examples of legislation from around the world that has been effective in limiting the spread of HIV, and draws lessons from the experiences of parliamentarians involved. (This resource contains content that is broader than HIV criminalisation.)

Alternative links
French / Français,

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Chapter 13, A controversial issue: HIV transmission/exposure offences, Taking Action Against HIV and AIDS: A Handbook for parliamentarians

Serves as a call to action for parliamentary leadership and a reference guide for legislators and legislative staff. Contains information and guidance on issues specific to the AIDS response. (This resource contains content that is broader than HIV criminalisation.)

The Positive Justice Project Steering Committee Voices Strong Opposition to Alabama Bill that Increases Penalties for Transmission of or Exposure to STIs

Letter to Alabama legislators about proposed laws to increase punishment for people convicted of exposure to or transmission of a sexually transmissible infection.

Missouri House Committee Holds Hearing on Bill which Criminalizes People Living with HIV

Testimony to Missouri House Committee on Civil and Criminal Proceedings that saw a bill defeated criminalizing individuals knowingly infected with HIV who spit at another person.

Best Practices Guide to Reform HIV-Specific Criminal Laws to Align with Scientifically-Supported Factors

Provides technical assistance to states wanting to re-examine HIV-specific criminal laws to ensure that existing policies “do not place unique or additional burdens on individuals living with HIV/AIDS” and that policies “reflect contemporary understanding of HIV transmission routes and associated benefits of treatment.”

Reform of Offences Against the Person

Recommends replacing the outdated Offences Against the Person Act 1861 with a modified version of a 1998 draft Bill. Includes a detailed discussion of submissions by 35 concerned stakeholders (at chapter six: ‘transmission of disease’) .

‘The intention may not be cruel… but the impact may be’: understanding legislators’ motives and wider public attitudes to a draft HIV Bill in Malawi

Participatory Action Research undertaken during consideration of new HIV criminalisation laws in Malawi in 2010/11 indicated the proposed bill manifests a tension between intention and impact. By incorporating criminal sanctions as part of the proposed HIV bill, the lawmakers actively seek to use stigma to shape social attitudes and attempt to guide normative behaviour.

Comments to Uganda’s Parliamentary Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Matters about the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Bill

Argues that a draft HIV bill (2009) including a provision criminalising HIV transmission, contravenes the right to equal protection and non-discrimination under Uganda’s constitution and Uganda’s obligations under international human rights law. Furthermore, these provisions will prove counterproductive to reducing the burden of the HIV epidemic in the country.

Open civil society letter to the participants of the “Capacity building workshop on human rights and gender in HIV legal frameworks”

Raises serious human rights concerns about the N’Djamena “model law” and the national HIV laws that have followed it. Urges development of guidance on how countries should use legislation to respond to HIV.