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Criminalisation of HIV transmission in Europe

A rapid scan of the laws and rates of prosecution for HIV transmission within signatory States of the European Convention of Human Rights
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Hungary

Estimated number of people living with HIV: 2,800
Number of people prosecuted for HIV transmission: At least 3
Number of people convicted for HIV transmission: 0-Not certain

Applicable law: Criminal Code. Article 170 - Causing Bodily Harm

Key wording in the law:

170. Testi sértés

(4) Buntettet követ el, és egy évtol öt évig terjedo szabadságvesztéssel büntetendo az elköveto, ha a testi sértés maradandó fogyatékosságot vagy súlyos egészségromlást okoz, illetoleg, ha a súlyos testi sértést különös kegyetlenséggel követi el. (5) A büntetés két évtol nyolc évig terjedo szabadságvesztés, ha a testi sértés életveszélyt vagy halált okoz. (6) Aki a súlyos testi sértést gondatlanságból követi el, vétség miatt egy évig terjedo szabadságvesztéssel, közérdeku munkával vagy pénzbüntetéssel, a (4) bekezdésben meghatározott esetben három évig, életveszélyes sérülés okozása esetén öt évig terjedo szabadságvesztéssel büntetendo.

§ (4) is the paragraph that would be used for transmission with intent: if the causing of bodily harm results in a permanent disability or a severe damage to health, the perpetrator can be sentenced to 1 to 5 years of prison. § (6) would be used for negligence: if the causing of severe bodily harm is perpetrated by negligence but causes the results described in (4), the perpetrator can be sentenced to up to 3 years of prison.

Discussion:

From the responses received, it appears there is no precise information available for the numbers of people prosecuted for transmitting HIV in Hungary. However, the Hungarian Civil liberties Union (HCLU) reported being aware of at least three cases.

The three people known to HCLU were male and they were exposed to transmission through homosexual sex. HCLU do not know whether there was actual transmission. All three were Hungarian citizens. One was an actor and model in the pornography industry; details of the occupations of the other two were not available.

This suggests that only actual transmission of HIV to another person is punished. However the response from the HCLU indicates that exposing another person to the risk of transmission can also be punished. The maximum sentence applicable is five years’ imprisonment.

Transmission of other sexually transmitted infections is subject to prosecution under the same article.

A completed questionnaire was received from the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union.

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