Global Criminalisation Scan

PLHIV advocates in Nigeria have effectively stopped sections of a law that would criminalise HIV exposure and transmission. During a consultation on the new Nigerian anti-HIV discrimination bill, that took place on 5 and 6 February 2013, the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) presented results and recommendations from the PLHIV Stigma Index. This and other evidence, clearly shows both the ineffectiveness of HIV criminalization laws and the potential harmful consequences of such misguided legislation.

Following the presentations the paragraph on “willful and deliberate spread of HIV” was scrapped from the anti HIV discrimination bill “An Act to make provisions for the prevention of HIV discrimination and to protect the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV and affected by AIDS and other related matters”. While the bill is still at a draft stage, it is highly unlikely the paragraph will be reinserted.

In addition, NEPWHAN advocacy ensured the bill was developed beyond its initial workplace focus to also extended the protection to people living with HIV in schools, places of worship, correctional institutions, and the society at large.

 Click here for the draft bill. 211.56 Kb

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.

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.

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Le Global Criminalisation Scan 2010 offre un aperçu général de l’utilisation des lois pénales et autres lois à travers le monde, pour poursuivre les personnes vivant avec le VIH pour l’exposition au VIH et sa transmission.

L’impact total de ces lois sur les droits humains des personnes vivant avec le VIH et leur accès au traitement, aux soins et soutien n’a pas encore été totalement appréhendé. Mais les preuves présentées ici démontrent qu’il n’y a aucune corrélation entre la prévalence du VIH dans un pays et la disposition des pays à utiliser les lois pénales et autres mesures punitives pour réglementer la transmission.

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GNP+ a contribué et a adhéré à « 10 Reasons Why Criminalization of HIV Exposure or Transmission Harms Women » (10 raisons pour lesquelles la criminalisation de l’exposition au VIH ou de sa transmission porte préjudice aux femmes). Ce document, qui va être présenté lors de la Journée mondiale du Sida 2009, met en lumière les manières dont la criminalisation de l’exposition au VIH ou de sa transmission expose les femmes à d’autres dangers et violences plutôt que de leur offrir une protection contre l’infection. Adopté par 20 autres organisations du monde entier, le document appelle à la protection et à l’avancement des droits de la femme pour des ripostes efficaces au VIH.

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