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.
New

Positive Destinations

The new home for the Global Database on HIV-Specific Travel and Residence Restrictions (hivtravel.org), now hosted by the HIV Justice Network. Some countries still restrict entry, stay, or treatment for people with HIV, creating barriers to travel, study, or relocation. ‘Positive Destinations’ helps people living with HIV navigate these challenges with confidence and clarity.

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Latest edition HIV Justice News - 2 October 2026
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Learning and resources

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.
Key resource

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.

News by the HIV Justice Network

The Irony of HIV Exceptionalism

Opinion
4 September 2026

The next phase of HIV decriminalisation: closing the translation gap

Opinion
31 July 2026

New global Guidance on HIV decriminalisation launched at AIDS 2026

News
30 July 2026

New data presented at AIDS 2026 reveal renewed rise in HIV criminalisation amid global anti-rights backlash

News
29 July 2026

New research identifies how healthcare systems become gateways to HIV criminalisation

News
29 July 2026

HIV Justice Network at AIDS 2026: new research, practical tools and global advocacy for HIV justice

News
20 July 2026

Countdown to Rio: HIV Justice at AIDS 2026

Press Release
12 June 2026

2025 in review: more reported cases, uneven reform

Feature
7 January 2026

From Courtrooms to Communities:
Funding Advocacy to Sustain HIV Responses

Opinion
12 November 2025

Humanising the Law: Reflections on Two Decades of Advocacy Against HIV Criminalisation

News
26 September 2025
Show more

News curated from other sources

Mexico: Yucatán repeals HIV exposure law from its criminal code

Yucatán Ahora
1 October 2026

Tajikistan: Tajikistan expands mandatory HIV testing requirements

Azattyk Asia
30 September 2026

China: Chongqing joins other cities requiring disclosure of HIV status to partners

City News Service
25 September 2026

US: Ohio advocates launch first Advocacy Day for HIV law reform

The Buckeye Flame
23 September 2026

Türkiye: Concerns raised over isolation of people with HIV and access to treatment

Bianet
23 September 2026

Fiji: Response to the national HIV emergency must be centred on human rights and human dignity

Fijivillage
16 September 2026

Türkiye: LGBTQ+ and HIV support groups targeted in nationwide police raids

Associated Press
14 September 2026

Senegal: Six months into Senegal’s LGBTQ+ crackdown, concerns grow over its HIV impact

Seneplus
12 September 2026

“The evidence is overwhelming: criminalisation does not prevent HIV, it fuels it”

Aidsmap
22 August 2026

Russia: New rules require health services to report HIV among foreign nationals

RBC
19 August 2026
Show more
Impact report

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.
Webshow

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.

HIV criminalisation cases

US: 33 year-old man arrested in New Orleans for alleged HIV exposure

1 October 2026

Senegal: Criminal prosecutions underway as crackdown on LGBTQ+ people continues [updated daily]

1 October 2026

Nigeria: 8 people arrested following HIV transmission complaint after alleged homosexual encounters

28 September 2026

[Update]Argentina: 35-year-old man in custody on charges of HIV transmission

25 September 2026

France: Man sentenced to 3 years suspended and 2 years electronic tagging for alleged HIV transmission

17 September 2026

Myanmar: Authorities jail dozens of alleged sex workers in name of HIV prevention

22 August 2026

India: Police investigate allegations of HIV transmission and concealed status

22 August 2026

China: Woman sex worker sentenced to one year and nine months in prison for alleged HIV exposure

22 August 2026

Tajikistan: Ten people arrested in Dushanbe for alleged HIV transmission since January 2026

17 August 2026

Uzbekistan: Man sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment for alleged HIV transmission

13 August 2026
Show more

Bluesky

For decades, exceptional political attention and funding helped drive major advances in HIV science, treatment and activism. Yet HIV criminalisation persists.

5 October 2026

The latest issue of #HIVJustice News leads with a personal reflection from our ED who recently turned 64 after more than four decades of living with HIV. Plus the latest #HIVcriminalisation news and cases & related developments affecting HIV justice. https://mailchi.mp/hivjustice.net/hiv-justice-news-2-october-2026

2 October 2026

Ending HIV criminalisation requires more than changing laws. It requires action at every level. The newly launched Guidance on Good Practices in HIV Decriminalisation provides adaptable recommendations, legal frameworks, and advocacy strategies for civil society, governments, and justice systems.

28 September 2026

HIV criminalisation sits at the crossroads of law, science, and stigma. The HIV Justice Academy Resource Library helps you navigate it all — from court rulings and policy guidance to lived experiences and advocacy insights. https://academy.hivjustice.net/resource-library/

24 September 2026

While the World Health Organization concluded as far back as 1987 that HIV travel restrictions lack public health justification, 16 countries still enforce severe restrictions in 2026.

21 September 2026

There is a misconception that these laws only target malicious acts. In reality, laws are often exceedingly broad, making people living with HIV vulnerable to human rights violations based on perceived risks that may not even exist. www.hivjustice.net

17 September 2026

Did you know that in some health systems, centralised HIV registration and mandatory 'legal warnings' are used to initiate criminal investigations without a complainant's involvement? #HIVJustice #criminalisation #HIV

14 September 2026

Our latest research presented at AIDS 2026 reveals a concerning global trend: HIV criminalisation is on the rise again after several years of decline.

10 September 2026

“The criminalisation of people living with HIV, then, cannot be disentangled from wider struggles for bodily autonomy, racial justice, gender equity, and freedom of expression.” Read the full paper https://academy.hivjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Bernard-EJ-Humanising-the-law-AIDS-Care-published-online-20-Sep-2025.pdf

7 September 2026

HIV is no longer exceptional. So why is it still exceptional in law? That’s today’s lead story in #HIVJustice News. Also this week: the latest #HIVcriminalisation news & cases + related developments on civic space, drug policy, LGBTIQ+ rights, and HIV travel & migration. https://mailchi.mp/hivjustice.net/hiv-justice-news-4-september-2026

4 September 2026

Your knowledge about visa requirements, healthcare access, and general travel logistics is invaluable. Fill out our secure, confidential form on our Positive Destinations website. www.positivedestinations.info #HIVAdvocacy #GlobalHealth #MigrantHealth #TravelSafely

3 September 2026

New to HIV criminalisation? Or need a solid global overview? The HIV Criminalisation Online Course explains what these laws are, why they exist, and how they cause harm — all at your own pace. Free, accessible, and grounded in evidence. academy.hivjustice.net/learning/ #HIVJustice #HIV

31 August 2026

The HIV Justice Network, on behalf of HIV JUSTICE WORLDWIDE and the Global Partnership to Eliminate HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination, has launched the Guidance on Good Practices in HIV Decriminalisation.

24 August 2026

Despite the challenges, we are seeing progress. In the past year, we have seen "danger of contagion" laws repealed in five Mexican states and the removal of mandatory sex offender registration in Tennessee. In Zimbabwe, sustained community advocacy led to the repeal of HIV-specific criminal law.

20 August 2026

Around 50 jurisdictions worldwide still maintain HIV-related migration barriers, and progress to eliminate them has stalled. Presented at #AIDS2026, our new research poster examines how travel restrictions have evolved. Read our full poster here: https://www.hivjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/THPEF618-Positive-Destinations-ONLINE.pdf

17 August 2026

Efforts to end HIV criminalisation usually focus on changing laws, but how do cases actually reach the courts? Our latest research poster presented at AIDS 2026 explores how routine healthcare interactions can inadvertently lead to criminal prosecution. https://www.hivjustice.net/news/new-research-identifies-how-healthcare-systems-become-gateways-to-hiv-criminalisation/

13 August 2026

Is the rise in HIV criminalisation part of a broader global anti-rights resurgence? Our research suggests that punitive HIV laws thrive where civic space is shrinking and scientific expertise is under attack. Dive into the global data from the HIV Justice Network https://www.hivjustice.net/news/new-data-presented-at-aids-2026-reveal-renewed-rise-in-hiv-criminalisation-amid-global-anti-rights-backlash/

11 August 2026

The latest HIV Justice Network Newsletter is here! Inside: highlights from #AIDS2026, our new global Guidance on HIV decriminalisation, groundbreaking research and the latest from HJN's work advancing HIV justice worldwide. Read now: https://mailchi.mp/hivjustice.net/hiv-justice-news-special-edition-7ww3wttckf #HIVJustice #EndHIVCriminalisation

31 July 2026

This afternoon at #AIDS2026, our Executive Director, Edwin Bernard, will present new research on HIV criminalisation as a form of structural violence. 📅 Today, Thursday 30 July 🕟 16:30–17:30 📍 Room 203 OAF32: Criminalized, but still we rise #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice #EndHIVCriminalisation

30 July 2026

It’s today! 📍 Join us at 10:45 in the Global Village Session Room for the official launch of the Guidance on Good Practices in HIV Decriminalisation. We'd love to see you there! #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice

30 July 2026

⏰ Set your alarm for tomorrow’s morning plenary! HJN Supervisory Board member ✨Immaculate Owomugisha Bazare✨ will be a featured speaker in Thursday morning’s plenary focusing on HIV decriminalisation and human rights. 📅 PL03: Breaking Down Silos https://programme.aids2026.org/Programme/Session/6129 #AIDS2026

29 July 2026

Join us at 16:30 in the Global Village Workshop Room for: 🔸 Breastfeeding is not a crime! Building a consensus against surveillance, coercion and punishment 💡 Add it to your reminders now so you don't miss it! 🧠 Breakout discussions in English, Spanish and Russian #AIDS2026 #BreastfeedingIsNotACrime

29 July 2026

What do global HIV criminalisation trends and healthcare have in common? They both show that HIV criminalisation causes harm – not only to people living with HIV, but also to healthcare, public health and human rights. Come and discuss how can we work to end HIV criminalisation. #AIDS2026

28 July 2026

Add these Global Village sessions to your AIDS 2026 agenda! 📅 Wednesday 29 July 🔸 Breastfeeding is not a crime! Building a consensus against surveillance, coercion and punishment 📅 Thursday 30 July 🔹 Practical tools for community action against HIV criminalisation #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice

28 July 2026

We're ready to welcome you to AIDS 2026! Stop by the HIV Justice Network booth to meet the team, explore our latest resources and connect with advocates from around the world. Find out where, when and how to meet the HJN team at AIDS 2026. Link in bio. #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice

28 July 2026

Looking for practical tools to strengthen your HIV justice advocacy? Join us for the official launch of the Guidance on Good Practices in HIV Decriminalisation. 📅 Thursday 30 July ⏰ 10:45–11:45 💡 Add it to your conference agenda – we'd love to see you there. #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice

26 July 2026

Join us in an interactive workshop 🔸explore criminalisation and other punitive responses to women living with HIV who breastfeed, 🔸bring together community advocates, researchers and clinicians to build consensus around rights-based, evidence-informed approaches. #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice

25 July 2026

If you are fortunate enough to be attending AIDS 2026 in Rio, drop by the HIV Justice Network booth (150) in Pavilion 2 of the Global Village to explore our latest work on HIV justice Information about legal rights, travel regulations, and access to our digital tools. #AIDS2026 #HIVJustice

23 July 2026

HIV criminalisation is rooted in structural stigma. It shifts the response to HIV away from health, support and prevention, and towards blame, punishment and the search for someone to hold responsible.

20 July 2026

We're heading to #AIDS2026! Join us in Rio for: • Guidance on Good Practices in HIV Decriminalisation launch • Breastfeeding is not a crime! workshop • new research presentations and posters • our Global Village booth and more #HIVjusticeRio https://www.hivjustice.net/news/hiv-justice-network-at-aids-2026-new-research-practical-tools-and-global-advocacy-for-hiv-justice/

20 July 2026
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Together we can make HIV JUSTICE WORLDWIDE a reality!

The HIV Justice Network serves as the secretariat for a global coalition campaigning for HIV JUSTICE WORLDWIDE. Visit www.hivjusticeworldwide.org (also available in French, Russian, and Spanish) to learn more about what we do, and how you can join the movement to end HIV criminalisation.