HIV Justice Network

The HIV Justice Network (HJN) is the leading community-based NGO building a co-ordinated, effective global response to punitive laws and policies that impact people living with HIV in all our diversities.

HIV Justice Academy

The HIV Justice Academy (academy.hivjustice.net) is a brand new global learning and resource hub designed to support people who want to be part of the movement to end HIV criminalisation. It comprises three sections to address three different needs: on-demand Online Learning; practical Action Toolkits; and an extensive Resource Library.

Expert Consensus: Bringing Science to Justice

In 2018, twenty leading HIV scientists published the ‘Expert Consensus Statement on the Science of HIV in the Context of Criminal Law’ to address the misuse of HIV science in punitive laws and prosecutions against people living with HIV. Building on initial scoping report published in 2020, we undertook further research examining the impact of the statement in cases and advocacy in the five years since its publication.

HIV Justice Live!

This special edition of our webshow for HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day on 28th February 2024 featured Florence Riako Anam (GNP+); HIV and human rights consultant, Michaela Clayton; Mikhail Golichenko (HIV Legal Network); and Andy Tapia and Kerry Thomas (SERO Project) who explained why HIV criminalisation impacts us all, and what you can do it about it.

News by the HIV Justice Network

Zimbabwe’s victory:
A beacon of hope for HIV justice amid global challenges

28 March 2025

New case study and documentary examines how Zimbabwe repealed its HIV criminalisation law

5 March 2025

HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness Day:
A Call to Action in a Time of Crisis

28 February 2025

UK Parliamentary Reception Marks HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day

28 February 2025

HJN’s Executive Director’s remarks at the UK Parliamentary event commemorating HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day

26 February 2025

2024 in review: Progress amid challenges

16 January 2025

Introducing Positive Destinations:
Information and Advocacy on Travelling
and Relocating with HIV

18 December 2024

HJN’s Mid-Term Review:
Embracing innovation and inclusivity
in our advocacy, training and knowledge-sharing

25 November 2024

New HIV criminalisation data at AIDS 2024

6 September 2024

Meet HJN at AIDS 2024

16 July 2024

News curated from other sources

USA: Louisiana lawmaker renews push to criminalise STI exposure

KLFY

25 April 2025

Canada: Canada’s broken promise on HIV criminalisation reform

Catie

3 April 2025

US: North Dakota Governor signs into law House Bill 1217 to reform outdated HIV criminalisation laws

ACLU North Dakota - Janna Farley

28 March 2025

Ukraine: Parliament approves bill removing HIV criminalisation article from criminal code

Sudovo-Yurydychna Gazeta

18 March 2025

[Update] US: After years of effort, HIV decriminalisation bill heads to Governor’s desk

KX News

14 March 2025

Mexico: Activist calls for end to HIV criminalisation in Tlaxcala congress

Gentetlx

8 March 2025

Australia: Controversial HIV testing bill in South Australia faces backlash from experts

Graeme Watson - OUTinPerth

6 March 2025

US: The fight Against HIV criminalisation faces new hurdles under Trump

Adam Rhodes - PRISM

6 March 2025

US: Advocates hope report update will finally push Ohio to end HIV criminalisation

Ken Schneck - The Buckeye Flame

5 March 2025

Angola: Angola set to introduce new legislation against HIV/AIDS discrimination

Canal A

28 February 2025

The Global HIV Criminalisation Database

The Global HIV Criminalisation Database consolidates three databases in one: regularly updated information and analysis of HIV criminalisation laws; a regularly updated searchable global database of reported HIV criminalisation cases; and a directory of organisations around the world actively working against HIV criminalisation.

Featured resource

Advancing HIV Justice 4

Our latest in the Advancing HIV Justice series, published in July 2022, with the subtitle, 'Understanding Commonalities, Seizing Opportunities' provides a progress report of achievements and challenges in global advocacy against HIV criminalisation.

HIV criminalisation cases

Uzbekistan: Appeal court upholds verdict in case of alleged HIV transmission

14 April 2025

Uzbekistan: Woman sentenced to 5 years in jail for alleged HIV exposure

2 April 2025

Uzbekistan: Fergana Appeal Court dismisses appeal of man sentenced for alleged HIV exposure

2 April 2025

Belarus: Minsk resident charged with alleged HIV transmission

21 March 2025

Uzbekistan: Woman on ARV treatment sentenced to 3 years “restriction of freedom” for alleged HIV Exposure

18 March 2025

Russia: 40-year-old man sentenced to 1 year and 6 months for alleged HIV non-disclosure

13 March 2025

Argentina: Man sentenced to 3 years in jail for alleged HIV transmission

13 March 2025

Uzbekistan: Appeal court court dismisses appeal and confirms a 6-year jail sentence for alleged HIV transmission

12 March 2025

Uzbekistan: Court of appeal upholds five-year prison sentence for man accused of alleged HIV transmission

11 March 2025

Uzbekistan: Court dismisses appeal in HIV transmission case

5 March 2025

Bluesky

Women were twice as likely to be charged with HIV ‘exposure’ compared to men, irrespective of actual transmission risks. This reflects a lack of understanding or disregard of scientific facts about HIV transmission. Read more https://www.hivjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/THPEF632GlobalTrends.pdf

24 April 2025

Our Defence Toolkits contain key resources to be court-ready in cases of 🔸 Sexual exposure/transmission 🔸 Spitting and biting 🔸 Breastfeeding https://academy.hivjustice.net/action-toolkits/

22 April 2025

Advocates, legal experts, and community leaders worked together to repeal Section 79 of Zimbabwe’s Criminal Code, which criminalised HIV. Learn what happened when a new law threatened to reintroduce HIV criminalisation. https://youtu.be/L8B9s56yR4M?si=w4TN8lZ41D8dHobr

17 April 2025

Threats of prosecution for #HIV non-disclosure create fear, abuse, and silence. Support HIV policies that prioritise human rights and public health. 💡 Learn how HIV criminalisation affects human rights on academy.hivjustice.net

14 April 2025

Read news stories about advocacy or information relating to #HIV-related travel or migration curated from reliable sources around the world Explore Positive Destinations 🌏🌎🌍 www.positivedestinations.info/news/

11 April 2025

HIV CRIMINALISATION does not contribute to #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll. In fact it may deter mothers and others from ensuring better health outcomes for children under their care and preventing HIV transmission. Demand supporting and enabling health systems. ➡️ academy.hivjustice.net

7 April 2025

Diagnosed with #HIV, a medical student abroad faced deportation and denied healthcare. Undeterred, he navigated a complex web of self-medication and discreet doctor consultations. His journey continued through strict regulations that hindered access to medication. ➡️ www.positivedestinations.info

3 April 2025

Transgender and other gender-diverse people are frequently invisibilised and left behind in the #HIV response HIV criminalisation and other punitive measures increase the stigma, invisibility and vulnerability of transgender and gender-diverse people. ➡️ https://academy.hivjustice.net/learning/hiv-criminalisation-online-course/

31 March 2025

Zimbabwe’s #HIVcriminalisation law repeal is a major victory, but the fight for #HIVJustice isn’t over. With funding in crisis, our work is more crucial than ever. Read the latest HIV Justice News on why we must keep pushing for change https://mailchi.mp/hivjustice.net/hiv-justice-news-28-march-2025

28 March 2025

The impact of #HIV criminalisation is not felt equally. Different communities experience different burdens from the presence of punitive HIV laws. Check out our analysis on Global Trends in HIV Criminalisation https://www.hivjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/THPEF632GlobalTrends.pdf

27 March 2025

Explore our newly revamped Resource Library! We've made it easier to find the information you need. Find academic papers, legal analyses, opinion pieces, and practical guidance. Access tools to support, reform and prioritise #humanrights and health. https://academy.hivjustice.net/resource-library/

24 March 2025

Far from protecting public health, HIV criminalisation fuels stigma and discrimination, making it harder for people to access essential healthcare. 📖 Understand the broader impacts of HIV Criminalisation https://www.hivjusticeworldwide.org/en/what-is-hiv-criminalisation/

20 March 2025

Each person is unique, each experience unrepeatable, and what works in one place for one person may not be optimal for someone else or in another place. Still, we compiled information to address Frequent Asked Questions about travelling and relocating with #HIV. Take a look buff.ly/Vg6Oy71

17 March 2025

Discover the latest developments on laws, cases and advocacy, by the HIV Justice Network and curated from other sources on HIV #criminalisation and related topics such as LGBTI+, migration, drug use or global health. buff.ly/utBPLme

13 March 2025

Prosecutions for alleged #HIV non-disclosure or transmission can lead to harsh penalties, even without intent or harm. These laws perpetuate injustice. 📖 Learn about the misuse of the law against people living with HIV 👉 buff.ly/cAiC7yU

10 March 2025

NEW: Zimbabwe made history by repealing its HIV criminalisation law! 🇿🇼✨ Our powerful new case study & documentary explores how activists fought for justice – and won. 💪🏾📜 📺 Watch & learn how communities can advocate so that #HIVisNotaCrime everywhere! 🔗👇 👉 https://www.hivjustice.net/news/new-case-study-and-documentary-examines-how-zimbabwe-repealed-its-hiv-criminalisation-law

6 March 2025

TOMORROW Wednesday, 5 March 9am EST / 3pm CET / 4pm CAT join us for a special webinar with the @iasociety.bsky.social's Heart of Stigma programme where we will premiere a powerful new documentary and toolkit on Zimbabwe’s decriminalisation of HIV. https://iasociety.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jfQz0TqURACDwQZvpFUF2A#/registration

4 March 2025

📢 Today is #HIVIsNotACrime Awareness Day! 🛑⚖️ Across the world, people living with HIV continue to be criminalised, discriminated against, and denied their rights. With shrinking resources and growing political opposition, the fight for justice has never been more urgent.

28 February 2025

Thank you @aditicampaigns.bsky.social for your support and for the wonderful photos. You can read more about the event here: https://www.hivjustice.net/news/uk-parliamentary-reception-marks-hiv-is-not-a-crime-awareness-day/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]

28 February 2025

Our ED @edwinjbernard.bsky.social speaking at @ukparliament.parliament.uk event hosted by @appghiv.bsky.social HIV decriminalisation is possible, even in challenging political environments. But it takes: ✅ Community leadership ✅ Parliamentary action ✅ Global coordination ✅ Sustained funding

27 February 2025

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