Judging the epidemic has been prepared as a resource to help judges, magistrates, arbitrators and other judicial officers throughout the world adjudicate cases involving HIV-related issues. This handbook may also be used by judicial trainers and ministries of justice to deliver educational programmes to judges and magistrates on legal issues related to HIV and human rights. It may also be relevant to advocates, lawyers and other legal practitioners, and civil society organisations (including people living with HIV) that seek to gain specific understanding of HIV-related legal issues and the potential role of the courts in advancing human rights in the context of the epidemic. Based on international legal and human rights standards, the handbook contains examples of decided cases from different jurisdictions, good-practice advice and judicial rulings on HIV-related issues.
UNAIDS releases handbook to enhance the capacity of the judiciary to address HIV-related legal and human rights issues
News curated from other sources

Canada: Canada’s broken promise on HIV criminalisation reform
HIV criminalization and the Canadian government’s failed law reform project: Another. Incredible. Disappointment. Surprise!
April 3, 2025

US: North Dakota Governor signs into law House Bill 1217 to reform outdated HIV criminalisation laws
North Dakota decriminalises State HIV laws
March 28, 2025

Ukraine: Parliament approves bill removing HIV criminalisation article from criminal code
A separate article for HIV or other incurable infectious disease virus will be removed from the Criminal Code – the Verkhovna Rada has approved the changes
March 18, 2025

[Update] US: After years of effort, HIV decriminalisation bill heads to Governor’s desk
State lawmakers vote to decriminalize HIV in North Dakota
March 14, 2025

Mexico: Activist calls for end to HIV criminalisation in Tlaxcala congress
Collective of the LGBTQI + community pronounces against the criminalization of HIV in Tlaxcala
March 8, 2025
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