This model law establishes balanced means and methods of regulating the circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors, and plants containing said substances (hereinafter “narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances”), to achieve the following interconnected objectives: • Protecting the life and health of all citizens, including people who use drugs • Ensuring state and public … Read more
Richard joined the HIV Legal Network staff in January 1999 as Director of Policy and Research, following an 18-month term on its board of directors. He became Deputy Director in 2005 and Executive Director in 2007, serving in that role until 2021. Richard now works as a consultant, focusing on HIV, health and human rights, … Read more
The context of criminal prosecutions related to HIV varies widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. This section highlights some important and useful case law internationally, guidelines for prosecutors which limit the pursuit of such cases as well as relevant guidance for judges on HIV, Human Rights and the Law. For more information about legal developments internationally, … Read more
This section provides detailed descriptions of the applicable national laws on HIV transmission and/or exposure, key decisions from national courts (some also included below in section 3), as well as articles from the relevant legal literature and other useful materials. It focuses on three countries — namely Canada, France and Switzerland — however, resources for … Read more
Some lawyers and service providers have lots of experience with HIV, while others may not have as much. There are a lot of common misconceptions about HIV — and left unchecked, they can pose problems for your client, in and out of the courtroom. This section includes basic information about HIV, HIV transmission and treatment, … Read more
This section provides information about the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and/or transmission across the world as well as actions taken to reduce inappropriate use of the criminal law against people living with HIV. The section includes materials describing the challenges associated with HIV criminalization and its impact on public health and human rights. Global … Read more
This section provides international recommendations on the use of criminal law in cases of HIV non-disclosure, transmission and/or exposure. African Commission on Human & People’s Rights, HIV, The Law and Human Rights System: Key Challenges and Opportunities for Rights-Based Responses Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Concluding observations on the combined eighth and ninth … Read more
This section provides a detailed and fully referenced compilation of the latest scientific evidence and materials regarding treatment, per-act risks of HIV transmission and proving actual HIV transmission from one person to another. Overview Review of available scientific research, including the risk of HIV transmission during sexual relations and the nature of HIV F. Barré-Sinoussi … Read more