Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, policymakers and politicians have been tempted to punish those of us with, and at risk of, HIV. Sometimes propelled by public opinion, sometimes themselves noxiously propelling public opinion, they have tried to find in punitive approaches a quick solution to the problem of HIV. One way has been to use HIV criminalisation – criminal laws against people living with HIV who don’t declare they have HIV, or to make potential or perceived exposure, or transmission that occurs when it is not deliberate (without “malice aforethought”), criminal offences. Most of these laws are appallingly broad. And many of the prosecutions under them have been wickedly unjust.
The Advancing HIV Justice reports show how far we have come. This second iteration of these important progress reports documents how the movement against these laws and prosecutions is gaining strength. Laws have been repealed, modernised or struck down across the globe – from Australia to the United States, Kenya to Switzerland.
Advancing HIV Justice 2 highlights many of these courageous and pragmatic ventures by civil society. Not only have they monitored the cruelty of criminal law enforcement, acting as watchdogs, they have also played a key role in securing good sense where it has prevailed in the epidemic. This publication provides hope that lawmakers intending to enact laws propelled by populism and irrational fears can be stopped. Our hope is that outdated laws and rulings can be dispensed with altogether.
Download the resource to learn more.