US: Ohio bill could increase prison sentences for people living with HIV

Advocates say Ohio bill would unjustly penalize people living with HIV

Andy’s Law is meant to make work safer for correctional officers, but it could have other severe consequences.

HIV education and prevention advocates are calling for changes to a bill designed to increase safety for Ohio corrections officers but that also has the potential to unjustly increase prison sentences for people living with HIV.

HB 338 would enact Andy’s Law, a set of provisions that increase penalties for crimes committed against correctional officers. One section of the proposed law would add a mandatory prison sentence of seven years to the crime of felonious assault and a mandatory prison sentence of at least three years to the crime of harassment with a bodily substance.

Contained within the crimes of “felonious assault” and “harassment with a bodily substance” are two of the six laws in Ohio that criminalize certain acts – including sex – for people living with HIV, or that substantially increase penalties for them compared to people who do not have the virus. These laws impose stiff penalties – regardless of whether the virus is or can be transmitted. In some situations, the law also requires sex offender registration.

Additionally, HB 338 would change policies and procedures with the intention of increasing “good behavior” of inmates, including banning educational opportunities and tablet use and limiting visitation rights to those in high-security facilities.

The bill is named after corrections officer Andrew Lansing, who was killed by an inmate at Ross Correctional Institution on Christmas Day 2024. The bill passed the Ohio House in November with bipartisan support – only three Democrats voted against it – and has had three hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee, most recently on June 10.

Advocates say the two new mandatory penalties created by Andy’s Law would create serious unintended consequences for Ohioans living with HIV.

According to a 2024 study released by OHMM and the Equality Ohio Education Fund, from 2014 to 2020, there were at least 214 confirmed HIV-related prosecutions in Ohio, of which over half (120 cases) came from the state’s “harassment with a bodily substance” law and about a third (77 cases) came under Ohio’s felonious assault law. The remainder (17 cases) were related to sex work.

Additionally, the research shows that Ohio’s HIV criminalization laws disproportionately impact Black communities, with at least 36% of defendants identifying as Black. Statewide, 29% of all defendants (62 people) were Black men.

“HB 338 seeks to improve correctional facility safety for officers and staff; however, it also sweeps in and increases penalties for two of the six HIV statutes which the Ohio Health Modernization Movement (OHMM) has targeted in recent years,” said Josh Meek, OHMM Steering Committee Member.

At the June 10 hearing, advocates urged lawmakers to reconsider parts of the bill that would increase sentences of prisoners living with HIV who cannot transmit the virus, but would be sentenced as if they could.

Adam Reilly, associate director of prevention at Caracole — a Cincinnati-based non-profit dedicated to ending the HIV epidemic — explained that the six laws on the books that unfairly target people living with HIV were written before current HIV treatment advances and medical understanding. The laws are focused on whether an Ohioan living with HIV has disclosed their HIV status to their sexual partners, regardless of whether they can transmit the virus.

“According to the CDC [Centers for Disease Control], a person living with HIV who is on treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load has zero risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners,” Reilly testified. “That means, under current law, if you’re living with HIV, you can get a second-degree felony for consensual sex that involves zero risk of transmitting HIV.”

In his testimony, Meek highlighted the same issue with harassment with a bodily substance: that actions are criminalized where transmission is not even possible.

“We believe this sentencing is disproportionate to the alleged harm, especially since in some circumstances there is no risk of HIV being transmitted,” he submitted in written testimony.

Meek told The Buckeye Flame that the over 80 opponent or interested-party testimonies submitted for the June 10 hearing was an indication that “there is still much work to be done.” He said there is hope that the Judiciary Committee excludes the HIV-related statutes – felonious assault from failure to disclose HIV status and harassment with a bodily fluid – from the mandatory sentencing.

“Since HB 338 didn’t pass before the summer recess, it seems the legislature has decided to take additional time to review the bill, which is a good indicator of the possibility that these changes will be included,” Meek said.

The Buckeye Flame reached out to Judiciary Committee Chair Nathan Manning and the bill’s primary sponsors, Reps. Mark Johnson and Phil Plummer, for comment, but no response was received before this publication date.

Mexico: Bill seeks to remove HIV transmission from the Criminal Code in Sinaloa

Translated with DeepL.com (free version), scroll down for original article in Spanish

Sinaloa +Incluyente is promoting a bill to repeal Article 149 of the Criminal Code and remove the criminalisation of HIV transmission.

Culiacán, Sinaloa – The civil society organisation Sinaloa +Incluyente has begun drafting a bill to amend Article 149 of the Criminal Code, which would remove criminal liability for the transmission of HIV.

According to Tiago Ventura, a member of the Sinaloa +Incluyente committee, this situation stigmatises people living with HIV, as well as fuelling hate speech and acts of hatred, such as discrimination and rejection towards HIV-positive people.

The civil society organisation maintains that this is a shared responsibility.

“The main aim is to decriminalise. In other words, there is a view that if a person contracts HIV, the blame lies with the other person (with whom they had sexual relations), and there are criminal grounds for prosecution in such cases,” Tiago told the media.

Although the draft bill is currently undergoing review and amendments by the legislature, it has already yielded positive results in states such as Tlaxcala and Mexico City.

What do the law and the initiative say?

The initiative drafted by the group seeks to repeal Article 149 of Chapter Three of the Penal Code of the State of Sinaloa, ‘Provisions common to homicide and bodily harm’, which specifies a penalty for any person who, knowing their condition, infects another person with a disease – an act punishable by at least six months’ imprisonment:

ARTICLE 149. Any person who, knowing that they are suffering from a serious and communicable disease, by any means endangers the health of another by risking infection, shall be sentenced to between six months and one year’s imprisonment; if, as a result of the infection, the victim’s life is endangered or they die, the relevant legal provisions shall apply.

Where transmission occurs between spouses or cohabiting partners, proceedings shall only be brought upon the complaint of the affected party.

For the community, this represents a constant violation of human rights and the criminalisation of people living with HIV; furthermore, they consider the penalty to be excessive.

According to the Council for the Prevention and Elimination of Discrimination (COPRED) in Mexico City, these practices and legal provisions constitute a violation of the human dignity of people living with HIV, AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.

The group therefore maintains that this is a social and health issue that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

They hope to resubmit the bill, with the required amendments incorporated, during the month of July.

Con iniciativa de ley, buscan quitar del Código Penal el contagio por VIH

Sinaloa +Incluyente impulsa una iniciativa para derogar el artículo 149 del Código Penal y eliminar la penalización por contagio de VIH.

Culiacán, Sinaloa.- La asociación civil Sinaloa +Incluyente ha comenzado a redactar una iniciativa de ley para modificar el artículo 149 del Código Penal, la cual evitaría la penalización por el contagio del virus del VIH.

Según Tiago Ventura, miembro del comité de Sinaloa +Incluyente, esta situación estigmatiza a las personas que viven con VIH, además de promover discursos y actos de odio, como la discriminación y el rechazo hacia las personas VIH positivas.

La asociación civil sostiene que se trata de una responsabilidad compartida.

“El propósito principal es despenalizar. O sea, hay uno que dice que si una persona se contagia de VIH, la culpa sería de la otra persona (con la que tuvo la relación sexual), y hay causales penales en ese caso”, dijo Tiago para los medios.

Aunque la iniciativa de ley se encuentra en revisiones y correcciones por parte del Legislativo, esta ya ha tenido resultados positivos en estados como Tlaxcala y la Ciudad de México.

¿Qué dice la ley y la iniciativa?

Con la iniciativa redactada por el colectivo se busca derogar el artículo 149 del tercer capítulo del Código Penal del Estado de Sinaloa, “Disposiciones comunes al homicidio y lesiones”, que especifica una pena para cualquier persona que, conociendo su condición, contagie a otra de una enfermedad, acto que se castiga con, por lo menos, seis meses de prisión:

ARTÍCULO 149. Al que, sabiendo que padece algún mal grave y transmisible, ponga por cualquier medio en peligro de contagio la salud de otro, se le impondrá de seis meses a un año de prisión; si con motivo del contagio se pone en peligro la vida o fallece la víctima, se atenderá a las disposiciones legales respectivas.

Cuando el contagio se dé entre cónyuges o concubinos, solo se procederá por querella de parte.

Esto, para el colectivo, representa una constante violación a los derechos humanos y una criminalización hacia las personas que viven con VIH; además, consideran que la penalización es excesiva.

Según el Consejo para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación de la ciudad de México (COPRED), estas prácticas y disposiciones legales conllevan una violación a la dignidad humana de las personas que viven con VIH, SIDA u otras infecciones de transmisión sexual.

Por tanto, asegura el colectivo, se trata de un problema social y de salud que necesita atenderse con la mayor prontitud.

Esperan poder volver a presentarla, con las revisiones atendidas, durante el mes de julio.

Countdown to Rio: HIV Justice at AIDS 2026

Next month, the HIV Justice Network (HJN) will head to the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro with a strong presence in both the main conference and the Global Village. Together with allies, advocates and community leaders from around the world, we will spotlight the growing harms caused by punitive laws, policies and practices that single out people living with HIV, while showcasing the global movements challenging them and sharing practical tools, strategies and best practices for advancing HIV justice.

HJN representatives will contribute across the conference programme, including within the conference’s Track F leadership and rapporteur teams. In addition, HJN Supervisory Board member Immaculate Owomugisha Bazare will speak during a high-profile Thursday morning plenary focused on HIV decriminalisation and human rights — an important and visible moment for the HIV justice movement.

HJN’s contributions to the conference will include oral and poster presentations, as well as a Global Village booth designed as a space for people living with HIV, advocates and allies from different regions to exchange experiences, share stories and strategies, and build solidarity.

Visit us at our booth at the Global Village in Pavillion 2 of the Riocentro to learn more about HJN’s activities and projects such as the *Global HIV Criminalisa*tion *Database*, the *HIV Justice Academy*, or *Positive Destinations – Information and Advocacy on Travelling and Relocating with HIV*. Tell us about your lived experience or advocacy around HIV criminalisation or travelling with HIV in our video recording booth.

Two dedicated Global Village sessions will focus on some of the movement’s most urgent priorities:

“Practical tools for community action against HIV criminalisation” will highlight advocacy resources, legal literacy tools and community-led strategies to challenge punitive laws and practices. The session will also mark the launch of HJN’s forthcoming Guidance on Good Practices in HIV Decriminalisation.

“Breastfeeding is not a crime! Building a consensus against surveillance, coercion and punishment”, will examine punitive responses to infant feeding by women living with HIV and promote rights-based, evidence-informed approaches grounded in bodily autonomy and informed choice.

At a time of escalating attacks on science, human rights and civil society, AIDS 2026 will be a crucial space to reaffirm that effective HIV responses must be grounded in evidence, justice, and community leadership. We know that many people living with HIV, advocates and allies who should be part of these conversations will not be able to travel to Rio due to funding cuts, visa barriers and growing political hostility. HJN will do everything we can to ensure that the fight against HIV criminalisation remains visible, urgent and impossible to ignore – amplifying community voices, sharing key discussions and outcomes, and keeping HIV justice firmly on the global agenda.

USA: Louisiana narrows HIV exposure law after years of advocacy

Louisiana enacts significant reform of HIV exposure law

Years of advocacy pave the way for historic reform as Louisiana takes a significant step toward ending HIV criminalization

(JUNE 2, 2026) – Louisiana took a significant step toward ending HIV criminalization after Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 808 (HB808) into law on May 15, 2026. The legislation narrows the state’s HIV exposure law by limiting prosecutions to conduct that poses a substantial likelihood of transmission and creates new protections for people living with HIV (PLHIV).

HB808 amends Louisiana’s exposure law (La.R.S. 14:43.5). Introduced by Rep. Wayne McMahen on February 27, 2026, the bill passed both chambers unanimously before being signed into law – a first for an HIV criminalization reform measure in the South. It will go into effect on August 1, 2026.

The law limits prosecutions to conduct involving a “substantial likelihood of transmission,” defined as contact involving blood, semen, or vaginal fluid that presents a significant probability of HIV transmission. It also excludes conduct posing only a negligible, theoretical, or medically unrecognized risk of HIV transmission.

HB808 further establishes an additional affirmative defense for PLHIV who disclose their status and maintain an undetectable viral load.

“These reforms represent an important step towards eliminating the threat of HIV criminalization, but decriminalization efforts in Louisiana will continue,” said Sean McCormick, CHLP Staff Attorney. “CHLP will remain a steadfast partner in implementing these reforms and pushing for additional changes to punitive laws targeting PLHIV in Louisiana.”

Prior to HB808, Louisiana’s HIV exposure law – enacted in the early years of the HIV epidemic – was among the harshest in the country and did not account for actual transmission risk. As a result, PLHIV could face prosecution for conduct such as biting or spitting despite posing a nonexistent or negligible risk of transmission. By incorporating current scientific understanding of HIV transmission, the new law better aligns state policy with medical evidence and helps prevent prosecutions based on conduct that poses little to no risk of transmission.

The passage of HB808 represents years of grassroots-driven advocacy and collaboration. CHLP’s Positive Justice Project (PJP) has a longstanding relationship with the Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization (LCCH), the group leading the state’s decriminalization work. For nearly a decade, LCCH has worked to restrict the exposure law’s reach through policy change and minimize its negative impact by educating decision-makers and community members.

Recent advocacy efforts included a 2023 study resolution (HR130) directing lawmakers to examine the public health impacts of HIV criminalization. That process produced both a 2024 task force report and a community-led study documenting the need for reform. In 2025, LCCH and other advocates successfully defeated HB76, a proposal that would have added criminal penalties for people living with other STIs. That campaign resulted in a house resolution and helped lay the groundwork for the reforms enacted through HB808.

Throughout this work, PJP provided legal and policy technical assistance to LCCH, including educational sessions for PLHIV on ways to reduce their likelihood of prosecution and training modules on effective decriminalization advocacy. Consistent with prior legislative sessions, in 2026, PJP drafted bill language, crafted summaries and talking points, and strategized on emergent developments.

While HB808 significantly narrows the law’s reach, HIV exposure remains criminalized in Louisiana. Advocates view the legislation as an important step toward full repeal and will continue working to eliminate laws that single out PLHIV for criminal penalties.

Cyprus: Draft law could end HIV criminalisation in Cyprus

Science over stigma: Inside the push to decriminalise HIV transmission in Cyprus

Cyprus is on the verge of decriminalising HIV transmission, with a draft law approved by the National AIDS Committee now waiting for the Minister of Health to bring it before the Council of Ministers.

The AIDS Solidarity Movement (“the Movement”), an active member of the National AIDS Committee since 2016, drafted the proposal alongside the National AIDS Committee and the Ministry of Health to align Cypriot legislation with modern science.

At the heart of the reform is the globally accepted principle of Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U=U): people on HIV treatment achieve an undetectable viral load and thus cannot pass the virus to sexual partners, even without using condoms, and can naturally conceive HIV-negative children.

Founded in 1989, the Movement operates across four pillars: psychosocial support for people living with HIV, prevention, community empowerment and advocacy, and stigma reduction. Its prevention work encompasses Cy Checkpoint, the Cyprus PrEP Point, condom and lubricant distribution, DoxyPEP, and public awareness campaigns. It is, in effect, the main community-led infrastructure keeping Cyprus’s HIV response connected to its most vulnerable populations.

“The medical targets are succeeding, but our societal targets regarding stigma still need work,” the Movement’s President, Christos Krasidis, told en.philenews. “Public perception is frequently stuck in an outdated 1980s narrative, whereas the clinical and therapeutic reality has completely changed.”

That gap between science and public understanding is precisely what advocates say makes legal reform urgent. Criminalising transmission under conditions that medical consensus deems impossible to transmit sends a message, the Movement argues, that contradicts both the science and the rehabilitation of HIV in public life.

Cyprus’s public health record on HIV is, by international standards, exceptional. Healthcare frameworks across the island have officially surpassed the United Nations’ 95-95-95 targets for diagnosing and treating HIV, with national data showing the country has passed the 98 per cent mark in key tracking criteria, including viral suppression. The targets refer to 95% of all people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 95% of all people diagnosed with HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 95% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy have viral suppression.

The Movement attributes much of this to its community-led infrastructure, centred on Cy Checkpoint, a free anonymous rapid-testing hub launched in 2015, and the Cyprus PrEP Point, which advises the public on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis.

The checkpoint operates on a peer-to-peer model rather than a clinical setting, following international and European best practices. Visitors are met not by formal medical authorities but by peers from the community.

Testing is free, anonymous, and uses a simple finger-prick blood test that delivers precise results on the spot. Crucially, unlike testing through the national health system, where results are permanently logged into a central GHS database, Cy Checkpoint does not register identities — if a rapid test returns a reactive result, it serves as a starting point to link the person to care rather than entering them into a permanent state registry, something that would deter many individuals.

The Movement says roughly one-third of people who walk in are getting tested for the first time, and many explicitly choose the community space over public hospitals to protect their anonymity. The 95-95-95 achievement also reflects close collaboration with the specialised HIV clinical care system at the Gregorios HIV Reference Clinic.

“People do not come to us because we hold authority over them,” Krasidis said. “They come because we communicate on the same level, offer clear choices, and give personal health responsibility back to the individual without judgment.”

The epidemiological picture has shifted significantly since the Movement was established in 1989. Targeted awareness campaigns have successfully reduced new diagnoses within the LGBTQI population, to the point where transmission rates are now lower within that community than among heterosexual demographics. Public health strategies have since shifted focus to heterosexual groups.

Yet, the Movement warns that a persistent myth — that HIV is exclusively a concern for gay men — continues to deter heterosexual individuals, particularly those aged 45 and above, from seeking testing even when engaging in unprotected sex.

“We need the wider public to understand that vulnerability to the virus is universal,” Krasidis said. “Once the heterosexual population breaks through the historic stigma and understands that HIV can affect anyone, routine testing can become a normalised healthcare habit for everyone. In this context, criminalisation of HIV transmission acts as a barrier and further fuels stigma. This is why we must change these laws.”

Access gaps run deeper still. Asylum seekers and migrants face language barriers and legal instability that cut them off from care. People engaged in chemsex — the sexualised use of substances find state drug rehabilitation centres ill-equipped to handle the intersection of substance use and sexual health. Transgender individuals, sex workers, and women face distinct forms of local stigma that frequently cause them to be hesitant or unable to seek care from healthcare practitioners.

The Movement notes that many of the most vulnerable individuals carry parallel identities and that if a healthcare space fails to account for those facets holistically, it makes asking for support more challenging.

All of this work — the Cy Checkpoint, the popup clinics, the outreach at festivals, universities, and nightclubs — is carried out by a five-member board, one full-time staff member, one part-time employee, part-time Community Health Workers and a pool of volunteers. Cy Checkpoint receives no official or consistent state funding.

Its rapid tests and prevention work are kept alive by international grants from bodies including AHF, Mi-Health and EU-CORE. The Movement’s clinical psychology programme, which has run for 25 years, receives 80 per cent of its budget through annual Ministry of Health grants, but the frontline hub operates outside the state budget entirely.

“True equality in health access cannot depend on a single non-governmental organisation,” Krasidis said. “Personal doctors and general practitioners across GHS must be systematically trained in LGBTQI health and modern STI management so that no patient faces discrimination.”

Any member of the public can get tested every Tuesday afternoon, between 5-8 pm at the Cy Checkpoint’s Permanent Space in Nicosia. You can either book an appointment (through call or text at 99607005, or a message on Instagram & Facebook). Alternatively, you can walk-in without an appointment. Testing slots are every 20 minutes.

PopUps are also being organised, which you can follow by looking at Cy Checkpoint’s Monthly schedule on Instagram & Facebook.

The following outreach testing is also being conducted at:

International Condom Day (every February)
Femme-Fest (every May)
Spring European Testing Week (every May)
Cyprus Pride (every May/June)
Up-to-Youth Festival (every September)
United by Pride (every September/October)
European HIV/Hepatitis Testing Week (every November)

Senegal: Lawyers challenge phone searches and lack of legal counsel in LGBTQ+ cases

Senegal’s anti-homosexuality law: violations of defendants’ rights are causing concern among lawyers and NGOs

In Senegal, a month and a half after the enactment of a law toughening penalties for homosexuality, and with over a hundred people having been arrested for alleged ‘unnatural acts’ and some accused of wilful transmission of HIV, lawyers are concerned about violations of defendants’ rights, including unauthorised searches of mobile phones, interrogation reports ending up in the press, and the absence of legal representation for a number of those arrested.

with RFI correspondent in Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff

The lobby of the High Court in Dakar is bustling with people…

No case involving “unnatural acts” is being heard that day, but Maître Kandiak François Senghor wishes to discuss the conditions under which one of his clients, arrested for alleged homosexuality in early February, was questioned at the Keur Massar police station.

“The commander had confiscated and searched his mobile phone without his consent. And… in his office, he forced him to waive his right to a lawyer – that’s not right! It was also he who leaked details of the investigation to the press – it’s shocking! ‘Maître Senghor assures us that this violation of the right to legal representation is a first since 2016 and the entry into force of the UMOA regulations governing the legal profession in Senegal, but it is far from being the only one,’ explains Maître Abdou Dieng. “In the cases involving me regarding acts against nature, at least 100 people have been arrested, and of those 100, not a single one was assisted by a lawyer during questioning – that is not legal! ”

On 10 February, the two lawyers therefore filed a complaint against the brigade commander of the Keur Massar police station for procedural violations during the interrogation of their two clients: the right to be assisted by a lawyer, as well as the searching of phones without consent, and the breach of medical confidentiality with medical records published in the press.

For Mr Abdou Dieng, urgent action is needed: “Leaking information about a person’s serological status is dangerous, as it is confidential, yet it is all over TV programmes and in the press! It is very serious, in truth! ”

Filed on 16 February, the complaint is still under investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Dakar Court of Appeal.

For its part, the NGO Amnesty International is also concerned about these mass arrests of suspected homosexuals, which are, for the most part, based on searches of mobile phones.

Loi anti-homosexualité au Sénégal: les violations des droits des prévenus inquiètent avocats et ONG

Au Sénégal, un mois et demi après la promulgation d’une loi qui durcit les peines pour homosexualité, et alors que plus d’une centaine de personnes ont été arrêtés pour « actes contre nature » présumés et certains accusés de transmission volontaire du VIH, des avocats s’inquiètent de cas de violation du droit des prévenus avec des fouilles de téléphone portables non consenties, des procès-verbaux d’interrogatoire qui atterrissent dans la presse et l’absence d’avocat pour un certain nombre de personnes arrêtées.

avec la correspondante RFI à Dakar, Léa-Lisa Westerhoff

Le hall du tribunal de grande instance de Dakar bruisse de monde…

Aucune affaire d’« acte contre nature » n’est jugée ce jour-là, mais maître Kandiak François Senghor veut revenir sur les conditions dans lesquelles l’un de ses clients, arrêté pour homosexualité présumée début février, a été auditionné au commissariat de Keur Massar.

« Le commandant avait confisqué et fouillé son portable sans son consentement. Et… dans son bureau, il l’a contraint à renoncer à son droit à un avocat, ce n’est pas normal ! C’est également lui qui a fait fuiter les éléments de l’enquête dans la presse, c’est choquant ! »Maître Senghor l’assure, cette violation du droit d’être assisté par un avocat est une première depuis 2016 et l’entrée en vigueur du règlement UMOA qui régit la profession d’avocat au Sénégal, mais elle est loin d’être la seule, nous explique Maître Abdou Dieng. « Pour les dossiers qui me concernent d’acte contre nature, on est au moins à 100 personnes arrêtées, et sur ces 100 personnes aucune n’a été assistée par un avocat au moment de l’interrogatoire, ce n’est pas légal ! »

Le 10 février dernier les deux avocats ont donc porté plainte contre le commandant de brigade du commissariat de Keur Massar pour des violations de procédure lors de l’interrogatoire de leurs deux clients : celle d’être assisté par un avocat, mais aussi des fouilles de téléphone sans consentement, ou encore la violation du secret médical avec des statuts médicaux publiés dans la presse.

Pour maître Abdou Dieng il est urgent d’agir : « Distiller des informations sur l’état sérologique d’une personne, c’est quand même dangereux car c’est un secret or c’est partout sur les plateaux de tv et dans la presse ! C’est très grave en vérité ! »

Saisie depuis le 16 février, la plainte est toujours en cours d’instruction devant le parquet général de la cour d’appel de Dakar.

De son côté, l’ONG Amnesty international s’inquiète, elle aussi, de ces arrestations en série d’homosexuels présumés qui reposent, pour la plupart, sur des fouilles de téléphones portables.

African leaders call on Senegal’s President to suspend arrests targeting LGBT+ people in Senegal

Open letter to Bassirou Diomaye Faye

The recent adoption of measures tightening criminal penalties against homosexuals is causing serious concern. A climate of fear, hatred and violence has taken hold in the country. Is this really what ‘left-wing Pan-Africanism’ is all about?

Mr President,

We are writing this letter to you in a spirit of solidarity and dialogue. It is written by women and men of African origin, living both on the continent and in the diaspora, who are deeply committed to the future of Senegal and, beyond that, to the future of the pan-African project.

When you came to power, your election sparked considerable hope, far beyond the borders of Senegal and the continent. Many saw you as the embodiment of political renewal, that of a new generation, championing the values of justice, dignity and sovereignty. You presented yourself as inspired by a ‘left-wing pan-Africanism’, thereby arousing enthusiasm and expectation among those who aspire to a freer, fairer and more united Africa.

Unfortunately, as far as we are concerned, this hope has been overshadowed in recent weeks.

The recent adoption of provisions tightening the criminalisation of homosexuals, along with the resulting social climate, is causing deep concern. The consequences are already visible and dramatic. A young man, perceived as homosexual – rightly or wrongly – was stabbed in the street. Others have been beaten, imprisoned, or rejected by their families and communities. Still others are now seeking to flee their own country, the country they loved. At the same time, people living with HIV, including heterosexuals, no longer dare to go to health centres for testing or treatment, for fear of being stigmatised and arrested – something that has happened on more than one occasion. The organisations that used to support those most at risk can no longer do so. This situation risks exacerbating the spread of the epidemic and increasing morbidity and mortality in Senegal.

A climate of fear, hatred and violence has taken hold in the country. Is this really what ‘left-wing Pan-Africanism’ is all about?

As we understand it, Pan-Africanism is based on the inclusion of all Africans, both on the continent and in the diaspora. It is a project of unity, solidarity and shared dignity. As for left-wing Pan-Africanism, in our view, it aims all the more to emancipate all Africans, not to lock up consenting adults who are harming no one. Moreover, globally, it is rather at the opposite end of the political spectrum—and particularly on the far right—that discriminatory agendas are deployed, whether against Black people, women or homosexuals.

The emancipatory Pan-Africanism that we espouse has been powerfully embodied by major historical figures. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, both Nobel Peace Prize laureates, consistently fought against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Jesse Jackson, with his Rainbow Coalition, included gay and lesbian people in his struggle for equality. Angela Davis, for her part, has always championed an intersectional view of these struggles, linking the fights against racism, sexism, capitalism and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Furthermore, several African countries have recently moved towards greater recognition of rights: Botswana, Mozambique, Gabon and Angola have decriminalised homosexuality in recent years. These choices show that, within Africa itself, there are diverse paths forward, and that no inevitability condemns the continent to repression.

We wish to make this clear: this is not about condemning Senegal, nor about denying its sovereignty, which must be respected. But Senegal is a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Charter, which enshrine, in particular, the right to privacy and the principle of non-discrimination. So why does Senegal refuse to honour its own African and international commitments?

Some claim that homosexuality is alien to Africa. This idea does not stand up to scrutiny. All African historians and ethnologists know this. In many African languages, including Wolof, terms have long existed to describe realities related to homosexuality, proof that it is neither new nor imported. In Senegal, the goorjigeens had a place in society. What will become of them? On the other hand, the laws that repress them are, for the most part, a legacy of colonisation. Whether it be the French-inspired penal codes or the ‘sodomy laws’ introduced by the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria, these provisions were imposed from outside. And the foreign forces pushing Senegal to prosecute homosexual and transgender people, and even to ban any calm debate on the issue, are very diverse.

As for the religious argument, it too calls for caution. We believe that some people confuse faith with the law. Faith is a matter of the most fundamental individual freedom and must be respected. But civil law cannot simply be a transposition of religious doctrine. Article 1 of the Constitution proclaims that ‘the Republic of Senegal is secular, democratic and social’. Senegal is a democracy, renowned for its pluralism; it has never been a theocracy based on Sharia law. Such a shift would pose risks not only to sexual minorities, but also to women, non-Muslims, and, more broadly, to all civil liberties.

Senegalese Islam used to be a tolerant form of Islam. Today, is a fundamentalist form of Islam taking hold in the country? Senegal’s image on the international stage is already being affected. Several studies show that discrimination hinders development. Senegal needs all its children.

Today, in certain regions of Africa, we are witnessing the rise of fundamentalist and violent movements across various religious traditions. These movements undermine societies and threaten African unity by spreading ideologies of hatred, division and exclusion.

In the face of this, we feel it is urgent to reaffirm another path: that of dialogue.

We are all part of the same pan-African family. And as in any family, disagreements may arise. But it is through discussion, whether under the baobab tree or elsewhere, that these disagreements can be resolved. It is in this spirit that we write to you today.

We wish to invite the Senegalese authorities to open a respectful and constructive dialogue on these issues. In the meantime, however, we call for a moratorium on arrests and the enforcement of sentences in order to ease tensions and allow for collective reflection. We also hope that the March 2010 law on HIV/AIDS will be respected, particularly Article 12, as testing must be carried out freely and voluntarily, and results must remain confidential.

Mr President, it is our hope that Senegal will continue to be a beacon for Africa, not only through its political stability, but also through its commitment to human dignity.

Please accept, Mr President, the assurance of our highest consideration and our pan-African solidarity.

Signatories:

-Alice Nkom, lawyer, member of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

-Doudou Diène, former UN Special Rapporteur on new forms of discrimination

-Victorin Lurel, Senator for Guadeloupe, former minister

-Marcelin Nadeau, Member of Parliament for Martinique

-Olivier Serva, Member of the National Assembly for Guadeloupe

-Annah Bikouloulou, Deputy Mayor of Paris, responsible for equality, human rights and the fight against discrimination

-Nouriati Djambae, Member of the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council

-Jean-Jacob Bicep, former Member of the European Parliament, member of the Human Rights Committee

-Dominique Sopo, President of SOS Racisme

-Achille Mbembé, philosopher

-Jean-Claude Barny, filmmaker

-Eva Doumbia, director, writer

-Brian Scott Eagle, founder of the Josephine Baker Museum,

-Matthieu Niango, essayist, writer

-Brahim Naït-Balk, radio presenter, football coach

-Jo Amaranthe, co-founder of Black Pride

-Fabrice Nguena, human rights defender, author

-Carlos Idibouo, human rights defender

-Félicité Esther Zeifman, barrister at the Paris Bar

-Brice Nzamba, barrister at the Paris Bar

-Nadia Chonville, writer

-Brice Armien Boudré, co-president of Kap Caraïbe

-Jeanne-Marie Rugira, PhD, professor and researcher at UQAR

-David Andrew, writer, poet, human rights defender

-Jérémy Clamy-Edroux, former professional rugby player, engineer and lecturer

-Emma Onekekou, communications specialist, writer

-Agée Lomo, senior lecturer

–Sabine CHYL, human rights activist

-Blaise Ndala, writer, lawyer

Collectif d’universitaires, politiques, écrivains, avocats d’origine africaine

Lettre ouverte à Bassirou Diomaye Faye

L’adoption récente de dispositions renforçant la pénalisation des personnes homosexuelles suscite une vive inquiétude. Un climat de peur, de haine et de violence s’est installé dans le pays. Est-ce vraiment cela, le « panafricanisme de gauche » ?

Monsieur le président,

Nous vous adressons cette lettre dans un esprit de fraternité et de dialogue. Elle est portée par des femmes et des hommes d’origine africaine, vivant sur le continent comme dans la diaspora, et profondément attachés à l’avenir du Sénégal et, au-delà, à celui du projet panafricain.

Lorsque vous êtes arrivé au pouvoir, votre élection a suscité un espoir considérable, bien au-delà des frontières du Sénégal et du continent. Beaucoup ont vu en vous l’incarnation d’un renouveau politique, celui d’une nouvelle génération, porteuse de valeurs de justice, de dignité et de souveraineté. Vous vous êtes présenté comme étant inspiré par un « panafricanisme de gauche », suscitant ainsi enthousiasme et attente parmi celles et ceux qui aspirent à une Afrique plus libre, plus juste et plus unie.

Malheureusement, pour ce qui nous concerne, cet espoir a été assombri ces dernières semaines.

L’adoption récente de dispositions renforçant la pénalisation des personnes homosexuelles, ainsi que le climat social qui en découle, suscitent une vive inquiétude. Les conséquences sont déjà visibles et dramatiques. Un jeune homme, perçu comme homosexuel – à tort ou à raison – a été poignardé en pleine rue. D’autres ont été battus, emprisonnés, ou rejetés par leur famille et leur communauté. D’autres encore cherchent maintenant à fuir leur propre pays, le pays qu’ils aimaient. Dans le même temps, des personnes vivant avec le VIH, y compris hétérosexuelles, n’osent plus se rendre dans les centres de santé pour se faire dépister ou soigner, par peur d’être stigmatisées et arrêtées, ce qui est arrivé plus d’une fois. Les associations qui accompagnaient les personnes les plus exposées ne peuvent plus le faire. Cette situation risque d’aggraver la propagation de l’épidémie et d’accroître la morbidité et mortalité au Sénégal.

Un climat de peur, de haine et de violence s’est installé dans le pays. Est-ce vraiment cela, le « panafricanisme de gauche » ?

Tel que nous le comprenons, le panafricanisme repose sur l’inclusion de tous les Africains, du continent comme de la diaspora. Il s’agit d’un projet d’unité, de solidarité et de dignité partagée. Quant au panafricanisme de gauche, selon nous, il entend a fortiori émanciper tous les Africains, et non enfermer en prison des adultes consentants qui ne nuisent à personne. Au demeurant, dans le monde, c’est plutôt à l’opposé du spectre politique, et notamment à l’extrême-droite, que se déploient les agendas discriminatoires, que ce soit contre les noirs, contre les femmes ou contre les personnes homosexuelles.

Le panafricanisme émancipateur qui est le nôtre a été incarné avec force par des figures historiques majeures. Nelson Mandela et Desmond Tutu, tous deux Prix Nobel de la paix, ont constamment lutté contre les discriminations liées à l’orientation sexuelle. Jesse Jackson, avec sa Rainbow Coalition, avait inclus les personnes gaies et lesbiennes dans son combat pour l’égalité. Angela Davis, quant à elle, a toujours défendu une vision intersectionnelle des luttes, articulant les combats contre le racisme, le sexisme, le capitalisme et les discriminations liées à l’orientation sexuelle.

Par ailleurs, plusieurs pays africains ont récemment évolué dans le sens d’une plus grande reconnaissance des droits : Botswana, Mozambique, Gabon, ou encore Angola ont dépénalisé l’homosexualité ces dernières années. Ces choix montrent qu’il existe, en Afrique même, des trajectoires diverses, et qu’aucune fatalité ne condamne le continent à la répression.

Nous tenons à le dire clairement : il ne s’agit pas ici de condamner le Sénégal, ni de nier sa souveraineté, qui doit être respectée. Mais le Sénégal est signataire de la Charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples et de la Charte des Nations unies, qui consacrent notamment le respect de la vie privée et le principe de non-discrimination. Dès lors, pourquoi le Sénégal refuse-t-il de respecter ses propres engagement africains et internationaux ?

Certains affirment que l’homosexualité serait étrangère à l’Afrique. Cette idée ne résiste pas à l’analyse. Tous les historiens et ethnologues africains le savent. Dans de nombreuses langues africaines, y compris en wolof, des termes existent depuis longtemps pour désigner des réalités liées à l’homosexualité, preuve qu’elle n’est ni nouvelle ni importée. Au Sénégal les goorjigeensavaient une place dans la société. Que vont-ils devenir ? En revanche, les lois qui les répriment sont, pour l’essentiel, héritées de la colonisation. Qu’il s’agisse des codes pénaux d’inspiration française ou des « sodomy laws » introduites par l’Empire britannique à l’époque de la Reine Victoria, ces dispositions ont été imposées de l’extérieur. Et les forces étrangères qui poussent le Sénégal à poursuivre les personnes homosexuelles et transgenre, et même à interdire tout débat serein sur la question, sont très diverses.

Quant à l’argument religieux, il appelle également à la prudence. Nous pensons que certains confondent la foi et la loi. La foi relève de la liberté individuelle la plus fondamentale, et doit être respectée. Mais la loi civile ne saurait être la simple transposition d’une doctrine religieuse. L’article premier de la constitution proclame que « la République du Sénégal est laïque, démocratique et sociale ». Le Sénégal est une démocratie, reconnue pour son pluralisme ; il n’a jamais été une théocratie, fondée sur la charia. Une telle évolution ferait peser des risques non seulement sur les minorités sexuelles, mais aussi sur les femmes, les non-musulmans, et, plus largement, sur toutes les libertés publiques.

L’islam sénégalais était un islam tolérant. Aujourd’hui, est-ce un islam intégriste qui est en train de s’imposer dans le pays ? L’image du Sénégal en est déjà affectée sur la scène internationale. Plusieurs études montrent que les discriminations portent atteinte au développement. Le Sénégal a besoin de tous ses enfants.

Aujourd’hui, dans certaines régions d’Afrique, on observe la montée de courants fondamentalistes et violents, dans différentes traditions religieuses. Ces mouvements fragilisent les sociétés et menacent l’unité africaine en diffusant des idéologies de haine, de division et d’exclusion.

Face à cela, il nous semble urgent de réaffirmer un autre chemin : celui du dialogue.

Nous faisons toutes et tous partie d’une même famille panafricaine. Et comme dans toute famille, des désaccords peuvent exister. Mais c’est par la palabre, sous le baobab ou ailleurs, que ces désaccords peuvent être discutés. C’est dans cet esprit que nous vous écrivons aujourd’hui.

Nous souhaitons inviter les autorités sénégalaises à ouvrir un dialogue respectueux et constructif sur ces questions. Mais en attendant, nous appelons à l’instauration d’un moratoire sur les arrestations et l’application des peines afin d’apaiser les tensions et de permettre une réflexion collective. Nous souhaitons aussi que la loi de mars 2010, relative au VIH-Sida, soit respectée, et notamment son article 12, car les tests doivent être effectués de façon libre et volontaire, et les résultats doivent rester confidentiels.

Monsieur le président, nous formons le vœu que le Sénégal, continue d’être un phare pour l’Afrique, non seulement par sa stabilité politique, mais aussi par son engagement en faveur de la dignité humaine.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le président, l’expression de notre haute considération et de notre attachement panafricain.

Signataires :

-Alice Nkom, avocate, membre du Forum Permanent de l’ONU pour les personnes d’ascendance africaine

-Doudou Diène, ancien rapporteur spécial de l’ONU pour les nouvelles formes de discrimination

-Victorin Lurel, sénateur de la Guadeloupe, ancien ministre

-Marcelin Nadeau, député de la Martinique

-Olivier Serva, député de la Guadeloupe

-Annah Bikouloulou, adjointe au maire de Paris, chargée de l’égalité, des droits humains et de la lutte contre les discriminations

-Nouriati Djambae, conseillère départementale des Bouches du Rhône

-Jean-Jacob Bicep, ancien député européen, membre de la commission des droits humains

-Dominique Sopo, président de SOS Racisme

-Achille Mbembé, philosophe

-Jean-Claude Barny, cinéaste

-Eva Doumbia, metteuse en scène, écrivaine

-Brian Scott Eagle, fondateur du musée Joséphine Baker,

-Matthieu Niango, essayiste, écrivain

-Brahim Naït-Balk, animateur radio, entraîneur de football

-Jo Amaranthe, co-fondateur de la Black Pride

-Fabrice Nguena, défenseur des droits humains, auteur

-Carlos Idibouo, défenseur des droits humains

-Félicité Esther Zeifman, avocate au Barreau de Paris

-Brice Nzamba, avocat au Barreau de Paris

-Nadia Chonville, écrivaine

-Brice Armien Boudré, co-président de Kap Caraïbe

-Jeanne-Marie Rugira, Ph.D professeure-chercheure à l’UQAR

-David Andrew, écrivain, poète, défenseur des droits humains

-Jérémy Clamy-Edroux, ex-joueur professionnel de rugby, ingénieur et conférencier

-Emma Onekekou, communicante, écrivaine

-Agée Lomo, maître de conférences

–Sabine CHYL, activiste pour les droits humains

-Blaise Ndala, écrivain, juriste

US: Arkansas’s outdated HIV laws fuel fear and deter people from getting tested and treated

Advocates call on Arkansas lawmakers to decriminalize HIV, fund treatment and prevention

As Arkansas tops another terrible list, this time as the state with the highest rate of HIV transmission, advocates are calling on Arkansas lawmakers to decriminalize the sexually transmitted disease and commit funding for prevention, treatment and education.

A coalition of people from community organizations including Central Arkansas Pride, Arkansas Rapps, Intransitive, Arkansas Black Gay Men’s Forum and Arkansas Queer Men United, along with several people living with undetectable HIV, gathered in the Old Supreme Court Room in the State Capitol before several Democratic state representatives on Monday.

Advocates argued that Arkansas’s HIV laws, which haven’t been updated since the 1980s, are outdated and create a culture of fear that prevents people from getting tested and treated for HIV. They asked lawmakers to commit $1.5 million from the state’s surplus of more than $367 million to HIV prevention, treatment and education.

Under Arkansas law, knowingly exposing another person to HIV is a Class A felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. But critics like the Center for HIV Law and Policy say these woefully outdated laws are out of step with modern science, rooted in stigma and punish behavior that carries no or negligible risk of actually transmitting the disease.

With proper treatment, HIV can become undetectable in a person, meaning it can’t be transmitted to another person through sex, but Arkansas law doesn’t account for this.

“HIV criminalization laws like ours here in Arkansas are opposed by public health and national justice experts such as the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers,” said Tian Estell, policy director of Intransitive. “We need to modernize and stop punishing people for having a virus.”

Tian added that “Black, transgender and non-binary individuals in the South are disproportionately impacted by HIV” due to other contributing factors like lack of housing, transportation and employment and limited or no access to healthcare.

“Discriminatory policies also generate and enhance stigma and fear, creating barriers to prevention and care,” Tian said. “Intransitive serves transgender people and migrants, and we’ve seen a rise in fear associated with HIV testing and disclosure of positive status”

HIV is a larger problem in Arkansas than in most states, and advocates argue our laws are only making it worse.

In 2019, the federal Health and Human Services Department started an initiative to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, identifying Arkansas as one of seven priority states where the burden of HIV is the highest.

“Arkansas continues to see new HIV diagnoses each year. In fact, Arkansas ranked number one in the highest increase of new HIV cases, seeing a roughly 67% spike since 2018,” said Raheem White, program director for Arkansas Rapps. “The burden does not fall equally. Black communities tend to carry a higher share of these diagnoses. Central Arkansas and parts of Northwest Arkansas show higher impact, while rural areas face a different challenge with fewer services and longer distances to care.”

Tommy Sproles, a community outreach organizer for Arkansas Rapps, said those numbers may not be representative of the full scope of cases in Arkansas, especially in rural areas.

“It’s a concern of ours that the numbers do not accurately reflect the real life experiences within those other parts of the state, such as the rural areas where we think that the numbers would be higher, but they’re going under-reported because of the lack of testing in those areas,” Sproles said. “As we’re talking about the data that we receive, what we’re basing our stuff on is the data that the Arkansas Department of Health actually receives, but that doesn’t even cover the full scope of everyone who is testing, if you’re not a clinic or a subcontractor for the Arkansas Department of Health, that data is not even being accumulated.”

Arkansas Rapps, for example, uses telehealth to connect people in Arkansas with testing, medication and preventative medicine like PrEP, which is up to 99% effective at preventing the transmission of HIV.

Advocates said criminalizing HIV and not funding its prevention costs Arkansas millions of dollars in both healthcare and incarceration.

“Pulaski County has the highest rate of HIV-criminalization arrests, with most other counties having only one or no arrests. This not only speaks to a disproportionate application of the law, but a significant waste of resources,” said Amber Kincade, a comprehensive prevention specialist with Engaging Arkansas Communities.

“According to data from the Arkansas Department of Corrections, from 2007 to 2023 the average sentence per count for the HIV-related convictions was 24 years. According to the fiscal year 25 Inmate Cost Report, the cost per incarcerated person a day was $74.46, which was a $4.03 increase from 2024. This means that a sentence of 24 years would cost the state roughly $652,272,” Kincade said. “The lifetime cost of treating HIV is estimated to be over $500,000. Therefore, for one case of a person living with HIV receiving such a sentencing, the cost will be over $1 million.”

Kincade added that Texas decriminalized HIV in 1994 and increased public health funding for prevention and testing.

“Texas has saved an estimated $500,000 in lifetime cost per case in HIV treatment,” Kincade said.

Sanjay Johnson, a man living with undetectable HIV, told lawmakers he was prosecuted in Pulaski County for knowingly transmitting HIV, despite the virus being undetectable in his system, in 2017.

“The language itself is damaging, because with that, people think that transmission actually occurred, which in my case was not the case. It never occurred at all,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s case lasted two years, and his lawyer got the charge reduced from a felony to aggravated assault with five years of probation. That’s despite Johnson’s medical records, which said he was undetectable, being shown in court, he said.

“You wonder why HIV is the only STD that someone can be charged for. Not gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, etc, etc. HIV is the only sexually transmitted disease that can be criminalized here,” Johnson said.

Senegal: Arrests threaten Senegal’s HIV response as patients avoid clinics

HIV patients in Senegal skip treatment, fearing arrest amid anti-LGBTQ crackdown

DAKAR, April 29 (Reuters) – Fewer patients are visiting some HIV treatment centres in Senegal amid a wave of arrests targeting LGBTQ people, according to health officials and government data seen by Reuters, threatening the country’s fight against the virus.

Last month, Senegal, where homosexuality is illegal, doubled the maximum prison term for same-sex sexual acts to 10 years and criminalised what it described as any efforts to promote it. The country also ‌increased the maximum fine to 10 million CFA francs ($18,000).

According to local human rights activists and media reports, 86 people have been arrested in a crackdown that began in early February, when President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s government was preparing to introduce the new anti-LGBTQ law in parliament. That includes 18 arrested in a single raid on April 19 in Linguere, 300 km (186 miles) northeast of Dakar.

There have been two convictions under the new law.

Those arrested have been accused of “acts against nature” and, in some cases, deliberately giving HIV to others. The government did not provide the number of arrests.

Data from the Senegalese government’s National Council for the Fight Against AIDS (CNLS), made available to Reuters, suggests that patients are forgoing vital antiretroviral drugs, which both treat and suppress HIV, for fear of arrest or abuse.

A government spokesperson, police spokesperson and a lawmaker who backed the law did not respond ⁠to requests for comment.

In a first, some Senegalese media outlets have put arrested individuals at risk of stigmatisation and abuse by publishing their full names and HIV statuses, said Dr Safiatou Thiam, a former health minister and CNLS executive director.

“We certainly fear, and this has been confirmed, that this wave of arrests will have repercussions for our work,” she said, adding health workers are committed to upholding patient confidentiality and encouraging law enforcement to do the same.

Senegal is one of just four countries in West and Central Africa that has experienced a rise in new HIV infections in recent years, according to UNAIDS.

‘I DON’T DARE LEAVE THE HOUSE’

One queer Senegalese community health worker who previously distributed tests and HIV prevention tools in Dakar is now afraid to go outside.

“I don’t dare leave the house anymore, so I’m literally holed up inside. I double-lock all the doors and windows just to avoid being found,” they said, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

“I’m afraid there will be more deaths related to HIV… people will be afraid to show or keep their medication. Some won’t even want to continue their treatment for fear of being seen or associated with it.”

Reuters reported last month that Senegalese proponents of the anti-LGBTQ bill discussed strategy with a U.S.-based “pro-family” group that calls homosexuality a public health threat.

PATIENTS CITE FEAR OF ARRESTS, HARASSMENT

CNLS conducted a survey of 22 HIV/AIDS treatment centres over three ‌days at the ⁠end of February, after warning the arrests could lead to a drop in HIV testing and treatment disruptions.

The responses showed that 1,803 patients visited in February, down from 2,425 in January – a drop of 25.6%.

Follow-up interviews by CNLS with more than 50 men who have sex with men (MSM) showed they were avoiding the sites because they feared being denounced, arrested or subject to verbal and physical harassment.

The findings, which have not been published, make clear the drop in patients is linked to the arrests, said Dr. Cheikh Bamba Dieye, head of the research unit at CNLS.

National HIV prevalence is 0.3% in Senegal, far lower than the continent’s worst hit countries, many in southern Africa. But new infections increased by 36% between 2010 and 2024, according to UNAIDS.

If a patient stops ⁠receiving treatment, the virus is more transmissible.

HIV in Senegal is concentrated in so-called key populations like MSM, where the prevalence is 27.6% according to government figures.

The World Health Organization has warned in recent years about re-emerging and new HIV epidemics among MSM and has urged governments to remove punitive laws, reduce discrimination and address homophobic violence.

UNAIDS said in response to Senegal’s new law: “Evidence shows that criminalization causes people to turn away from health services.”

The HIV/AIDS treatment sites surveyed by CNLS serve all HIV patients, but there are indications ⁠that some will be hit harder by treatment disruptions.

In an email dated February 23, the National Alliance Against AIDS (ANCS), an NGO working with key populations, informed partners it was “suspending interventions aimed at the groups most exposed to HIV/AIDS, in particular MSM and transgender people.”

The email, seen by Reuters, attributed the move to “the difficult working environment” created by the arrests.

The new law includes a provision stating that activities carried out by health organizations will not be considered illegal.

While some MSM ⁠have fled to other countries including Mauritania, Gambia and Ivory Coast, others remaining in Senegal have assumed a low profile.

“We’ve seen a lot of people lost to follow-up care in hospitals because they think, ‘as soon as I go to a hospital to pick up my medication, I’ll be labeled a homosexual’,” said the community health worker.

“I’m exhausted, emotionally and physically. It’s draining me, and I expect to be arrested at any moment – for helping my community access healthcare, for creating an organization that works for the well-being of LGBTQ people… and simply because I’m gay.”

Reporting by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Ngouda Dione; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Alexandra Hudson

Canada: A new podcast series from the HIV Legal Network on HIV criminalisation and indigenous realities

Not a Crime: Indigenous perspectives on HIV criminalization

Over the coming weeks, the HIV Legal Network will be sharing a series of conversations with people from Indigenous communities on the impact of HIV criminalisation.

In Canada, Indigenous peoples — particularly women and youth — are disproportionately affected by HIV. Although they represent just 5% of the population, they accounted for over 18% of new HIV transmissions in 2020 and 10% of all people living with HIV. At the same time, criminalisation continues to shape lives and outcomes: at least 224 people have been charged for alleged HIV non-disclosure, most often with aggravated sexual assault — one of the most serious offences in Canadian law. Among them are at least 15 Indigenous people, including Indigenous women who are significantly overrepresented among those prosecuted.

In this episode, the HIV Legal Network speaks with Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis, Okimâw (Chief Executive Officer) of CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks. A leading voice in Indigenous health advocacy, she brings decades of experience working to improve outcomes for Indigenous peoples affected by HIV, combining Cree knowledge systems with community-led health approaches.

🎧 Listen to the conversation and explore how criminalisation intersects with Indigenous health, rights and lived realities.

Learn more about CAAN and the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization.