Global Criminalisation Scan

Programmes

Initiated by the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) and partner organisations, the Global Criminalisation Scan is a tool to map criminal and other laws used to prosecute people for transmitting HIV. The aim of this in-depth research is to create a pool of knowledge that will inform advocacy plans and can be shared with other jurisdictions.

The Global Criminalisation Scan already includes data of over 150 countries and territories in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. The research is currently being expanded to include data from Africa and the Caribbean. In addition, in- depth studies into selected cases are being conducted in the different regions, starting with North America.

From 2010 onwards, GNP and its partners will expand this work to look at how laws and regulations are applied in a way that impedes an effective response HIV, for example:

The criminalisation of engaging in commercial sex;
Prohibiting same sex sexual relations;
Prohibiting using/injecting drugs; and
Restricting or denying entry/stay/residence or require deportation of HIV positive non-nationals.

For more information on the information gathered and the partners in this exercise, please view the Global Criminalisation Scan website.

HIV Is Not a Crime - Video on US legal system response to HIV

Monday, 27 February 2012

HIV is a Crime is a US documentary showing the absurdities in the US legal system around using peoples' HIV status as a additional felony charge. The documentary is supported by GNP+ North America.

Experts endorse OSLO Declaration on HIV Criminalisation

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Amsterdam 23/02/2012. Representatives from international civil society have released the Oslo Declaration on HIV Criminalisation. The declaration is an advocacy and policy statement against the overly-broad use of the criminal law to regulate and punish people living with HIV for behaviour that in any other circumstance would be considered lawful. The declaration was created and endorsed by twenty individuals and representatives of civil society from around the world with expert knowledge in health, scientific, social, ethical, political, human rights and judicial issues relating to HIV.

2010 Global Criminalisation Scan Report

Saturday, 24 July 2010

The 2010 Global Criminalisation Scan gives a global overview of the extent to which criminal and other laws have been used to prosecute people living with HIV for HIV transmission and exposure.

The full impact of these laws on the human rights of people living with HIV and on access to treatment, care and support has yet to be fully understood. However, the evidence presented here shows that there is no correlation between the HIV prevalence in a country and the willingness of countries to use criminal laws and other punitive measures to regulate transmission.

Statement on Austrian Laws Impacting People Living with HIV

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Local and international organizers for the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) look forward to welcoming delegates to Vienna this month.

As delegates plan their stay in Vienna, this short statement provides an overview of some Austrian laws that impact on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The organizers of AIDS 2010 recommend that conference delegates read this statement to understand their legal position with respect to these areas of law. There are two key points in this statement:

Intentional and negligent acts capable of transmission of HIV are criminal offences in Austria;
Legal risks can be minimized through safer sex and safer injecting practices.

pdf Joint Statement Austrian Laws Affecting People living with HIV (0,06 Mb)

Position on Detention Centres for “Drug Treatment”

Sunday, 02 May 2010

It is well-recognised that blood transfer through the sharing of drug injecting equipment increases the risk of HIV infection. Of an estimated 16 million injecting drug users in the world, three million are living with HIV.