Burkina Faso: Civil society organisations call for a review of HIV law to reflect science

Healthcare civil society stakeholders call for revision of Law 030 (Burkina 24)

Translated via Deep.com. For original article in French, please scroll down

Civil society organisations in the health sector met in Ouagadougou on 29 December 2023 to call on the Burkina Faso authorities to revise Law 030 on the fight against HIV/AIDS and the protection of people living with HIV/AIDS. The law dates back to 2008 and, according to the statement read out by the civil society actors, is no longer in line with current developments in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Civil society organisations have issued a statement calling for a review of Law 030 on combating HIV/AIDS and protecting the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. The statement, issued by the Convergence Communautaire du Faso-COCOFA, aims to speed up the process of revising this law to provide better protection for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Otherwise, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of COCOFA, Édouard Diapa, acknowledged that a consultation with government players augurs well for the future as far as the revision of law 030 is concerned.

However, he said, it was their duty to remain vigilant until the law was effectively revised. Why do they want this law revised? “Because the context has changed. From 2008 to now, there have been many developments in relation to the undetectable viral load, which allows people living with HIV to live with their partner without transmitting HIV. This was not the case in 2008, which is why the law needs to be revised”, explained Souleymane Bansé of the Association la vie continue.

The stakeholders therefore called on the government to focus on their advocacy, so that together they can achieve the three times 95 objective, i.e. 95% of people on treatment, 95% of people who know their serostatus and 95% of people tested.

Lutte contre le VIH/SIDA : Des acteurs de la Société civile en santé demandent la révision de la loi 030 (Burkina 24)
Des acteurs de la société civile en Santé se sont réunis le 29 décembre 2023 à Ouagadougou pour demander aux autorités burkinabè la révision de la loi 030 portant lutte contre le VIH/SIDA et protection des personnes vivant avec le VIH-SIDA. Une loi datant de 2008, qui selon la déclaration lue par ces acteurs de la Société Civile en Santé, ne cadre plus avec l’évolution de la lutte contre le VIH/SIDA actuellement.

C’est une action de veille qui a conduit des organisations de la Société civile à faire une déclaration relative pour demander la révision de la loi 030 portant lutte contre le VIH-SIDA et protection des droits des personnes vivant avec le VIH-SIDA. Cette déclaration portée par la Convergence communautaire du Faso-COCOFA vise à accélérer le processus de révision de cette loi pour une meilleure protection de personnes vivant avec le VIH/SIDA.

Sinon, le Président du Conseil d’Administration du COCOFA, Édouard Diapa, a reconnu qu’une concertation avec des acteurs du gouvernement augure de lendemain meilleur en ce qui concerne la révision de la loi 030.

Cependant, a-t-il dit, il est de leur devoir de maintenir la veille jusqu’à ce que la loi soit effectivement révisée. Pourquoi vouloir la révision de cette loi? « Parce que le contexte a évolué. De 2008 à maintenant, il y a eu beaucoup dévolutions par rapport à la charge virale indétectable qui permet à la personne vivant avec le VIH de vivre avec son partenaire ou sa partenaire sans lui transmettre le VIH. Chose qui n’était pas évidente en 2008, d’où la révision de cette loi est nécessaire », a expliqué Souleymane Bansé de l’Association la vie continue.
Ces acteurs ont donc invité le gouvernement à se pencher sur leur plaidoyer afin qu’ils atteignent ensemble l’objectif des trois fois 95 à savoir, 95% de personnes mises sous traitement, 95% de personnes qui connaissent leur statut sérologique et 95% de personnes dépistées.

Singapore: Ministry of Health review of HIV disclosure law will take latest science into account

HIV disclosure law being reviewed

A law requiring those with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to inform their sexual partners of the risk of HIV transmission or face jail time is being reviewed, said the Ministry of Health (MOH).

This is as studies have shown that people living with HIV who have been compliant with treatment and have maintained a stable undetectable viral load have practically no risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners, MOH said in response to queries from The Straits Times.

The review opens up the possibility that such disclosures may no longer be prescribed – a change given that penalties were enhanced in 2008.

“MOH is conducting a review of the Infectious Diseases Act (IDA) following the White Paper on Singapore’s Response to Covid-19, and will take the latest scientific evidence into account when reviewing the sections on HIV to ensure continued relevance and alignment with our public health policy goals,” said its spokesman.

Infectious diseases and HIV experts that ST spoke to were of the view that the law, which was introduced in 1992, needed updating.

A section of the IDA currently requires those living with HIV to disclose this to their sexual partners before having sex, so that their partners can make an informed decision and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves.

In 2008, the maximum jail term for failing to do so was raised from two years to 10 years.

Culpability was also widened to include persons who do not know if they have HIV or Aids but who have reason to believe they have been exposed to significant risk of infection, such as if they have multiple sex partners.

The objective of the amendment was to promote condom use and regular HIV testing, while sending a strong message that no one has a right to put others at risk through irresponsible behaviour, said then Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan during the 2008 parliamentary debate on the amendment.

HIV attacks the immune system and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Aids) is the final stage of its infection. Aids is fatal if left untreated.

While there is no cure for HIV, antiretroviral therapy can improve the immune system and suppress the viral load in a patient’s body to an undetectable level.

Singapore has close to 7,000 people living with this disease out of a total of 9,331 who have been diagnosed since 1985, MOH said in an update on the HIV/Aids situation in June. The rest have died, including 107 in 2022.

There were 188 newly diagnosed cases of HIV in the first 10 months of 2023, 97 per cent of which were men. This is 10 per cent higher than the number of cases in the same period in 2022.

From 2019 to December 2023, six people were convicted for failing to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners.

In November, a transgender sex worker living with HIV was sentenced to three years and three months’ jail after being convicted of having sex with three men without informing them about the condition. Court documents identified him as male.

A medical report in June 2018 stated that his HIV viral load was undetectable, but his viral load was found to be high in November 2018 due to his non-adherence to HIV treatment. This usually involves consuming medication regularly.

“In such a situation, there is certainly a risk of HIV transmission,” said the MOH spokesman of the case. “If he had told his partners of his HIV status, as required by law, the partners may choose not to engage in sexual activities with him or to take precautions.”

But advocacy groups and infectious diseases experts said the current law may be counterproductive to public health goals.

In a Forum letter published in ST in November, Action for Aids Singapore president Roy Chan and the president of sex worker non-governmental organisation Project X, Dr Rayner Tan, argued that sexual health should be a shared responsibility between partners, regardless of their HIV status.

This includes adopting HIV-prevention strategies, like the proper use of condoms and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a medicine that reduces one’s chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.

Professor Chan and Dr Tan, who both specialise in HIV and sexually transmitted infections, also pointed to existing legislation outside the IDA that penalises deception and grievous harm to argue that a law governing HIV disclosure alone is unnecessary.

Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, is also of the view that the law should be repealed.

“It is a very extreme minority who want to deliberately infect other people with HIV, but everyone should know that they can protect themselves from HIV by using condoms or taking PrEP,” he said.

Dr Leong added that he advocates awareness, self-protection, safe sex, using oral quick tests and encouraging people to come forward and get tested.

In a February parliamentary reply, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the use of prophylaxis is a supplementary HIV-prevention option, as they are not fully effective nor do they protect against other sexually transmitted infections.

He cautioned against “sending the wrong signal that these drugs can substitute the recommended HIV-prevention methods, such as avoiding casual sex and correct use of condoms”.

Senior lecturer Ritu Jain at the Language and Communication Centre at Nanyang Technological University said she concurred with Prof Chan and Dr Tan.

A principal investigator for a National Centre for Infectious Diseases-funded study that interviewed 73 people, including 56 people living with HIV, Dr Jain told ST that the recently concluded study found that the law disincentivises testing and encourages a “don’t know, don’t tell” mindset, contrary to its aim.

Responding to ST’s queries, MOH said the current law accords choice and protection to the partner of someone with HIV, who can decide whether to engage in sexual activity, and, if so, to take precautions to reduce risk.

At the 2008 debate to amend the IDA, Mr Khaw said the Government’s intention behind enhancing the law was not to criminalise HIV-infected patients, but to push them to act more responsibly and not to hide behind the ignorance of their HIV status.

“We will only act if there is a complaint from an aggrieved victim, and only after a thorough investigation to establish the facts,” he added.

Mexico’s first trans congresswomen advocates for the repeal of HIV and STI criminalisation article

María Clemente proposes decriminalising the transmission of sexual diseases

Translated with Deepl.com – For article in Spanish, please scroll down

The Morena deputy’s initiative seeks to repeal article 199 bis on the danger of contagion of sexual diseases.
María Clemente García Moreno, a member of the Morena party, has presented an initiative to decriminalise sanctions related to the transmission of sexual diseases.

The project seeks the repeal of several parts of the Federal Penal Code, specifically article 199 bis which deals with the danger of contagion.

This article, published in the Official Journal of the Federation on 14 February 1940, establishes that those who, knowing that they are sick with syphilis or another venereal disease in its contagious stage, may put the health of another at risk through sexual relations, will face penalties of up to three years in prison and fines of up to three thousand pesos.
This applies even if the contagion does not occur. Legal action can only be taken in cases of spouses with a complaint from the aggrieved spouse.

Discrimination against persons with sexual diseases
García Moreno points out that this provision criminalises people with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially those living with HIV, subjecting them to criminal law simply because of the possibility of exposing others to infection. She argues that this law is discriminatory and disproportionately affects these communities.

The MP finally argues that “in each of these acts there is always a minimal possibility that a new infection will be generated, either by a failure of a condom or the efficacy of antiretroviral [sic] drugs”.

Debate between Congress and civil society
The MP argues that the key is to implement preventive and educational strategies to protect the health of all citizens. Her proposal has generated intense discussions, dividing legislators: some believe that criminal sanctions are necessary to safeguard public health and hold accountable those who endanger others.

On the other hand, there are dissenting voices, pointing out that criminalising disease transmission is not the solution and advocating greater awareness and access to health services to prevent the spread of infections.

Meanwhile, human rights organisations and activists are vigilant, calling for fairer legislation that addresses the needs of all, regardless of their health status.

María Clemente propone despenalizar transmisión de enfermedades sexuales

La iniciativa de la diputada de Morena, busca derogar el artículo 199 bis sobre peligro de contagio en enfermedades sexuales.
María Clemente García Moreno, diputada de la bancada Morena, ha presentado una iniciativa para despenalizar las sanciones relacionadas con la transmisión de enfermedades sexuales.

El proyecto busca la derogación de varias partes del Código Penal Federal, específicamente el artículo 199 bis que trata sobre el peligro de contagio.

Este artículo, publicado en el Diario Oficial de la Federación el 14 de febrero de 1940, establece que aquellos que sabiendo que están enfermos de sífilis u otra enfermedad venérea en su etapa contagiosa, puedan poner en riesgo la salud de otro mediante relaciones sexuales, enfrentarán penas de hasta tres años de cárcel y multas de hasta tres mil pesos.
Esto se aplica incluso si el contagio no se produce. Solo se puede proceder legalmente en casos de cónyuges con una denuncia del cónyuge agraviado.

Discriminación a personas con enfermedades sexuales
García Moreno señala que esta disposición penaliza a personas con infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS), especialmente a quienes viven con el VIH, sometiéndolos al derecho penal simplemente por la posibilidad de exponer a otros a una infección. Ella afirma que esta ley es discriminatoria y afecta desproporcionadamente a estas comunidades.

La diputada finalmente argumenta que “en cada uno de estos actos siempre hay una mínima posibilidad de que se genere una nueva infección, sea por una falla del condón o de la eficacia de los medicamentos antirretrovirales [sic]”.

Debate entre el Congreso y la sociedad civil
La diputada argumenta que la clave está en implementar estrategias preventivas y educativas para proteger la salud de todos los ciudadanos. Su propuesta ha generado discusiones intensas, dividiendo a los legisladores: algunos creen que las sanciones penales son necesarias para salvaguardar la salud pública y responsabilizar a quienes ponen en peligro a otros.

Por otro lado, hay voces que discrepan, señalando que penalizar la transmisión de enfermedades no es la solución y abogando por una mayor conciencia y acceso a servicios de salud para prevenir la propagación de infecciones.

Mientras tanto, organizaciones y activistas de derechos humanos están atentos, exigiendo una legislación más justa que atienda las necesidades de todos, independientemente de su estado de salud.

Mexico: HIV criminalisation reform proposal approved by Mexico City Justice Commission; it now progresses to legislative plenary

Mexico City Commission launches initiative to end criminalisation of people living with HIV

Translated via Deepl.com. For original article, please scroll down

The Commission of Administration and Procuration of Justice of the Congress of Mexico City approved the resolution of the initiative to reform and repeal various provisions of the local Penal Code, with the aim of eliminating article 159 that criminalises people with HIV.

The initiative also seeks to amend articles 76 and 130, with the aim of eliminating the criminalisation of people with sexually transmitted diseases.

The document notes that HIV-related stigma and fear continue to proliferate in many regions and discriminatory practices are widespread in health and other social services.

“Depriving people of their liberty because of their health status violates their right to legal equality, the right to non-discrimination, sexual and reproductive rights, the right to health protection and the right to quality, timely, safe and effective health care,” the initiative states.

In an extraordinary virtual session, the deputy José Octavio Rivero Villaseñor (Morena), president of this commission, explained that the opinions of several legislators interested in the issue were gathered for this ruling.

It is expected that next Thursday in session, the legislative plenary will raise the initiative for general approval and repeal.

Mexico: Sexual connotation removed from BCS article on “danger of contagion” but full repeal denied

To avoid discrimination, article of the BCS Penal Code on “danger of contagion” was reformed

Translated via Deepl.com – Scroll down for original article in Spanish

The sexual connotation was removed from the wording of Article 168 of the BCS Penal Code, which addresses the “Danger of Contagion”.

La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS). This week, the Legislative Power approved a citizen’s initiative to reform article 168 of the Penal Code for Baja California Sur, referring to “danger of contagion”, in whose wording the sexual connotation was removed, following a citizen’s initiative.

The text defined the danger of contagion as “whoever, with the knowledge that he or she suffers from a serious and transmissible disease, puts the health of another in danger of contagion, through sexual relations or any other transmissible means”, as stated.

Therefore, a generic term was proposed and approved by the assembly, to read as follows: “Whoever, with the knowledge that he or she is suffering from a serious and transmissible disease, endangers the health of someone else by any transmissible means”.

In its opinion, the Standing Committee on Constitutional Points and Justice established that the previous wording does indeed refer, in particular, to sexual relations as a means of committing the crime, which could result in a form of discrimination against people suffering from HIV.

It is worth mentioning that, in the original initiative, it was proposed to repeal the article in its entirety, however, the deputies considered reforming the law.

“The text referring to ‘sexual relations’ was deleted, with the aim of not falling under the assumption of the unconstitutionality action number 139/2015, where the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation invalidated the contested normative part, that is, the added expression ‘sexually transmitted infections’,” explained the president of the Constitutional and Justice Commission, José María Avilés Castro.

Para evitar discriminación, reforman artículo del Código Penal de BCS sobre “peligro de contagio”

Se suprimió la connotación sexual en la redacción del Artículo 168 del Código Penal en BCS, misma que aborda el “Peligro de Contagio”

La Paz, Baja California Sur (BCS). Esta semana, en el Poder Legislativo se aprobó una iniciativa ciudadana que reforma el artículo 168 del Código Penal para Baja California Sur, referente al “peligro de contagio”, en cuya redacción se suprimió la connotación sexual; esto, tras una iniciativa ciudadana.

El texto definía al peligro de contagio como “a quien con conocimiento de que padece una enfermedad grave y transmitible, ponga en peligro de contagio la salud de otro, por relaciones sexual u otro medio transmitible”, según lo expuesto.

Por lo anterior, se propuso un término genérico y fue aprobado por la asamblea, para quedar de la siguiente forma: “A quien con conocimiento de que padezca una enfermedad grave y transmitible ponga en peligro de contagio la salud de alguien por cualquier medio transmitible”.

La Comisión Permanente de Puntos Constitucionales y de Justicia en su dictamen estableció que la redacción anterior efectivamente hace alusión, en forma particular, a las relaciones sexuales como medio de comisión del delito, lo que se podía traducir en una forma de discriminación a las personas que padecen VIH.

Conviene mencionar que, en la iniciativa original se proponía derogar el artículo en su totalidad, sin embargo, los diputados consideraron reformar la Ley.

“Se suprimió el texto referente a ‘relaciones sexuales’, con la finalidad de no caer en el supuesto de la acción de inconstitucionalidad número 139/2015, donde la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación invalidó la parte normativa impugnada, esto es, la expresión adicionada ‘infecciones de transmisión sexual’”, explicó el presidente de la comisión de Puntos Constitucionales y de Justicia, José María Avilés Castro.

Mexico: Proposal for reform of HIV and STI criminalisation law put forward to Puebla Justice Commission for consideration

Proposed repeal of penalties for people with sexually transmitted diseases

Translated via Deepl.com – Scroll down for original article in Spanish

Because they are discriminatory, they are proposing to the State Congress to repeal the sanctions applicable to those who are carriers of a sexually transmitted disease that could put other people at risk of infection.

Jocelyn Olivares López, a member of the National Regeneration Movement (Morena), said that articles 213 and 214 of the Puebla Penal Code violate the human rights of people diagnosed with one of these diseases.
She pointed out that the discrimination experienced by people with AIDS or any sexually transmitted infection is unfortunate, as prevention and care of the diseases are put on the back burner and their criminalisation is encouraged.

“The purpose is to eliminate the sanctions established for those who, knowing that they suffer from a sexually transmitted infection or any other chronic or serious disease that can be transmitted sexually or by any other direct means, put the health of another person at risk of infection”.
The initiative proposed by the Morena legislator was turned over to the Commission for the Procuration and Administration of Justice of the LXI Legislature for its study and corresponding resolution.

Proponen derogar sanciones aplicables a portadores de enfermedades venéreas

Por ser discriminatorias, proponen al Congreso del Estado la derogación de las sanciones aplicables a quienes siendo portadores de una enfermedad de transmisión sexual pudieran poner en riesgo de contagio a otras personas.

La diputada por el Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional (Morena), Jocelyn Olivares López, dijo que los artículos 213 y 214 del Código Penal de Puebla vulneran los derechos humanos de las personas diagnosticadas con alguno de estos padecimientos.
Señaló que es lamentable la discriminación que viven las personas con Sida o alguna infección de transmisión sexual, pues se deja en segundo plano a la prevención y atención de las enfermedades y se fomenta su criminalización.

“El propósito es eliminar las sanciones establecidas a quien sabiendo que padece un mal venéreo o cualquier otra enfermedad crónica o grave que sea transmisible por vía sexual o por cualquier otro medio directo, pusiere en peligro de contagio la salud de otra persona”.
La iniciativa planteada por la legisladora de Morena fue turnada a la Comisión de Procuración y Administración de Justicia de la LXI Legislatura para su estudio y resolución correspondiente.

Mexico: HIV Criminalisation reform one of the pending issues in Mexico City backlog of legislative reforms

Congress is behind on reform to decriminalise HIV

Translated via Deepl.com. Scroll down for the original article in Spanish.

Congress is behind on reform to decriminalise HIV

The local Congress has an initiative on the agenda to remove the stigmatisation of people with HIV from Article 159 of the Penal Code, said the Attorney General of Justice, Ernestina Godoy. This Article establishes that a person can go to prison for up to 10 years for living with a “serious illness” for the crime of “danger of contagion”. “The Mexico City Congress is now debating proposals to repeal the criminal offence of danger of contagion, because it stigmatises and criminalises people living with HIV,” said the Prosecutor. “This would be a very important step forward in the fight against discrimination. ,
The reform is one of the pending issues in the backlog of this legislature, and the head of government, Martí Batres, said that the law criminalises people with HIV, which is why he asked legislators to remove it. “Today (Friday), which is World AIDS Day, we reiterate the call we made to the Congress of Mexico City to repeal Article 159,” said Batres. He added that criminal behaviour should be included in the Penal Code. “And we must decriminalise those behaviours that are not part of criminal activities, that is why today (Friday) we reiterate this call to repeal Article 159 of the Penal Code,” he insisted. “It criminalises an intention and a risk, not criminal behaviour”. The Head of Government underlined that the provision will contribute to building a city of human rights.

Adeuda Congreso reforma para despenalizar VIH

El Congreso local tiene agendada una iniciativa para suprimir la estigmatización de las personas con VIH del Artículo 159 del Código Penal, señaló la Fiscal General de Justicia, Ernestina Godoy. Este Artículo establece que una persona podrá ir a prisión hasta 10 años por vivir con una “enfermedad grave” por el delito de “peligro de contagio”. “El Congreso de la Ciudad de México debate ahora propuestas para derogar el tipo penal de peligro de contagio, debido a que estigmatiza y criminaliza a las personas que viven con VIH”, planteó la Fiscal. “Esto sería un avance muy importante en la lucha contra la discriminación”.
La reforma es uno de los pendientes acumulados en los rezagos de esta legislatura.El Jefe de Gobierno, Martí Batres , expuso que tal ordenamiento criminaliza a las personas con VIH, por lo que se pidió a los legisladores quitarlo. “Hoy (viernes), que es el Día Mundial de Lucha contra el SIDA, reiteramos el llamado que hicimos al Congreso de la Ciudad de México para derogar el Artículo 159”, urgió Batres. El Mandatario agregó que en el Código Penal deben estar las conductas criminales. “Y debemos descriminalizar aquellas conductas que no forman parte de actividades delictivas, por eso el día de hoy (viernes) reiteramos este llamado para derogar el Artículo 159 del Código Penal”, insistió. “Criminaliza una intención y un riesgo, y no una conducta criminal”. El Jefe de Gobierno subrayó que la disposición abonará en construir una Ciudad de derechos humanos.

US: Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution statute violates the Americans with Disabilities Act

Justice Department Finds that Enforcement of Tennessee State Law Discriminates Against People with HIV

he Justice Department announced today its finding that the State of Tennessee, including its Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO), violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by enforcing the state’s aggravated prostitution statute against people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Today’s announcement comes on World AIDS Day, an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic.

The department’s comprehensive investigation found that the state and the SCDAO subject people living with HIV to harsher criminal penalties solely because of their HIV status, violating Title II of the ADA.

“Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution law is outdated, has no basis in science, discourages testing and further marginalizes people living with HIV,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “People living with HIV should not be treated as violent sex offenders for the rest of their lives solely because of their HIV status. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are protected from discrimination.”

Tennessee’s aggravated prostitution statute elevates what would otherwise be misdemeanor conduct to a felony because the individual has HIV, regardless of any actual risk of harm. A person convicted of aggravated prostitution faces three to 15 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, while a person convicted of a misdemeanor charge based on the same conduct is subject to a sentence of no more than six months and up to a $500 fine. While the aggravated prostitution statute applies statewide, it has been enforced most frequently in Shelby County.

Aggravated prostitution is also categorized as a “violent sexual offense” mandating registration by those convicted on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, in most cases for life. The state maintains the registry through the TBI. Individuals placed on the registry due to convictions for aggravated prostitution are restricted in where they may live, work and go in public, and have experienced increased homelessness and unemployment. These individuals also face public disclosure of information about their HIV status, which can lead to harassment and discrimination. The department opened this investigation in response to complaints about enforcement of the statute.

The department’s letter provides Tennessee, TBI and the SCDAO, with written notice of its findings and details the minimum remedial measures necessary to address them.

The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the ADA’s goals of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov.

US: Louisiana debates overhaul of controversial HIV criminalisation law

State task force weighs revising Louisiana law criminalizing HIV exposure

By Meghan Friedmann

Some state legislators are pushing to change Louisiana’s HIV criminalization law, which mandates up to 10 years in prison and 15 years on the sex offender registry for people convicted of intentionally exposing people to the virus.

Advocates for changing the 1987 law say it is overly broad and results in false accusations and convictions even when no HIV transmission occurs. They also say the law relies on a flawed understanding of how HIV is spread, and that it discourages HIV testing because it shields people who do not know their status from criminal liability.

Proponents for keeping the law say it protects people from getting HIV, and that there shouldn’t be leniency for those who put others at risk of infection.

The state’s Task Force to Study HIV Criminalization, which met last week, is taking up those issues. The panel, which includes legislators and health care professionals, could ultimately ask the Legislature to consider revising the law.

Legislator members include State Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, who co-authored the House resolution that convened the panel; Rep. Vanessa LaFleur, D-Baton Rouge, and Rep. Wayne McMahen, R-Minden.

“I do hope the members of the (Legislature) will see the reasons for this change,” Freeman said in an interview. “It’s just to update a law that’s using old science.”

McMahen, the task force’s lone Republican legislator, said in an interview that he was open to updating the law but hadn’t yet made any decisions on what changes should occur.

“You want a pathway forward, but you’ve got to have guardrails on that pathway too, to protect both sides of the population,” McMahen said, referring to people who are HIV positive and people who are not. “This was a fact-finding, information-gathering task force. … then we need to see what we can come up with.”

It remains to be seen whether the issue will be supported by other lawmakers or by Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, the state’s hard-right attorney general who has promised to be tough on crime.

A Landry spokesperson said she could not provide comment by deadline. Landry is widely expected to call a special session on crime in January.

At issue is a statute that holds that “no person shall intentionally expose another to HIV through any means or contact without the knowing and lawful consent of the victim, if at the time of the exposure the infected person knew he was HIV positive.”

Convictions result in a decadelong prison sentence or a $5,000 fine, or both, with slightly steeper penalties for those convicted of exposing a first responder to the virus. Louisiana also requires people convicted of crimes involving HIV to register as sex offenders.

A defendant can only avoid conviction if they prove the person exposed knew the defendant had HIV and knew the act could result in an infection, or if they prove both that they disclosed their status and either a medical professional told them they were noninfectious, or they “took practical means to prevent transmission.”

Between 2011 and 2022, at least 176 people were arrested under Louisiana’s HIV criminalization statute. About 91% of those arrested were Black men, a population that makes up 44% of state residents living with HIV.

During last week’s task force meeting, Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, expressed skepticism over whether it was necessary to change the law. Bagley is not a member of the task force but sat in as McMahen’s proxy.

“With somebody that would pass HIV along knowingly, I wouldn’t have any sympathy at all for them, and as a legislator, I would never vote to change those laws where we’re going to allow those things,” he said. “Regardless of what is said it can lead to your death. … I’m going to take a pretty strong stance there.”

But other task force members who support changes stressed that an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence and noted that modern-day treatment options can make it impossible for HIV-positive individuals to infect others.

George Nawas, a clinical assistant professor at Xavier University, said HIV is the only sexually transmitted infection that Louisiana criminalizes. HIV criminalization may work against public health by reducing test rates, he added. In 2020, Louisiana had the fourth-highest HIV case rate in the country.

“(The law) is putting responsibility on people living with HIV if at the time of the exposure the infected person knew he was HIV positive. One of the things that we know to end the HIV epidemic is to encourage people. … to get tested,” Nawas aid. “So by someone reading this statute here … people are discouraged to know their status.”

Belize: Senate follows House of Representatives and votes for repeal of HIV criminalisation law

Law which makes it a crime to spread HIV repealed

Ву Ааrоn Нumеѕ: Fоllоwіng frоm thе Ноuѕе оf Rерrеѕеntаtіvеѕ, thе Ѕеnаtе соnѕіdеrеd thе аmеndmеntѕ tо thе Сrіmіnаl Соdе, ѕресіfісаllу ѕесtіоnѕ 46(а) аnd 73(а) соnсеrnіng сrіmіnаl rеѕроnѕіbіlіtу fоr trаnѕmіѕѕіоn оf thе humаn іmmunоdеfісіеnсу vіruѕ (НІV) whісh lеаdѕ tо Асquіrеd Іmmunоdеfісіеnсу Ѕуndrоmе (АІDЅ).

Іn thе Ноuѕе, Міnіѕtеr оf Неаlth, Кеvіn Веrnаrd, ѕtаtеd: “Рunіtіvе lаwѕ аrе nоt thе mоѕt еffесtіvе wау tо соmbаt thіѕ еріdеmіс. Тhеу саn, іn fасt, роѕе ѕіgnіfісаnt bаrrіеrѕ tо НІV рrеvеntіоn, trеаtmеnt, аnd саrе. Ву сrіmіnаlіzіng thе trаnѕmіѕѕіоn оf НІV/АІDЅ, wе run thе rіѕk оf drіvіng thе dіѕеаѕе undеrgrоund, dіѕсоurаgіng thоѕе аt rіѕk frоm ѕееkіng tеѕtіng, соunѕеlіng, аnd trеаtmеnt fоr fеаr оf lеgаl rерrіѕаl. Тhеrеfоrе, Маdаm Ѕреаkеr, thе Міnіѕtrу оf Неаlth аnd Wеllnеѕѕ fіrmlу bеlіеvеѕ thаt thе bаttlе аgаіnѕt НІV/АІDЅ ѕhоuld nоt bе fоught іn thе соurtrооm, but іn оur соmmunіtіеѕ, оur hоѕріtаlѕ, аnd оur сlіnісѕ. Wе ѕhоuld fосuѕ оur еffоrtѕ оn еduсаtіоn, рrеvеntіоn, саrе, аnd ѕuрроrt rаthеr thаn рunіѕhmеnt. Wе ѕhоuld аіm tо rеduсе thе ѕtіgmа аnd dіѕсrіmіnаtіоn thаt ѕurrоundѕ thіѕ dіѕеаѕе tо еnсоurаgе mоrе реорlе tо gеt tеѕtеd, tо knоw thеіr ѕtаtuѕ, аnd tо ѕееk trеаtmеnt. Аnd ѕо, dеfіnіtеlу, Маdаm Ѕреаkеr, thе rереаl оf thіѕ ѕесtіоn, 46А, аnd 73А, іѕ а ѕtер tоwаrdѕ а mоrе соmраѕѕіоnаtе, mоrе еffесtіvе аррrоасh tо аddrеѕѕіng НІV/АІDЅ.”

Іn thе Ѕеnаtе, Місhаеl Реуrеfіttе ѕuggеѕtеd аn ехсерtіоn fоr іnѕtаnсеѕ оf rаре аnd ѕехuаl аѕѕаult, роіntіng оut thаt а rаріѕt іѕ nоt lіkеlу tо rеvеаl thеіr НІV ѕtаtuѕ bеfоrе соmmіttіng thе асt.

Ѕеnаtоr Јаnеllе Сhаnоnа rесаllеd hеr јоurnаlіѕm dауѕ аnd nоtеd thаt ѕtіgmа аnd dіѕсrіmіnаtіоn rеmаіn rеаl fоr реrѕоnѕ wіth НІV аnd thаt а dіѕсuѕѕіоn оn ѕехuаl hеаlth аnd рrоtесtіоn іѕ nееdеd mоrе thаn еvеr.

Веlіzе hаѕ аvеrаgеd mоrе thаn 200 іnfесtіоnѕ frоm НІV реr уеаr іn thе lаѕt dесаdе wіth а hаndful оf dеаthѕ rероrtеd.