Publication Language: English
“The Law is too Grey”: Liminal Legality and Moral Injury in Encounters with Drug Law Enforcement
Overdose mortality and the legitimacy crisis facing policing have propelled momentum for drug law reform. Yet, resulting reforms and associated protections are often functionally undermined by enforcement practices and the legal environment faced by people who use drugs. To explore this tension, we conducted a community-based study in Ontario, Canada. Our findings show that people’s … Read more
HARD TIME PERSISTS: HEALTHCARE AND HARM REDUCTION IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION
Everyone — including people who have been detained — has a right to the highest attainable standard of health and to healthcare that is at least equivalent to that which is available in the community, whatever their immigration status. The current system — which allows for indefinite and punitive detention without comprehensive oversight — fails … Read more
Joint Statement to the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Joint written statement submitted by Stichting HIV Justice, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Frontline AIDS LTD., Harm Reduction International, ICW Global Comunidad Internacional de Mujeres viviendo con VIH – SIDA., Asociación Civil, non-governmental organizations in special consultative status. Ending HIV Criminalisation and HIV-Related Entry, Stay and Residence Restrictions are Essential to Ending AIDS and Leaving No … Read more
HIV Legal Network Submission (January 2025) – Safer Municipalities Act, 2024 — Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substances Act, 2024
The HIV Legal Network urges the Ontario government to withdraw the Safer Municipalities Act, which will do nothing to address the crisis of homelessness and drug toxicity deaths in the province, and only further harm people who use drugs, particularly those who are unhoused.
Brief to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women for its Study on Gender-based Violence and Femicides in Canada
Submitted Wednesday, November 20, 2024 to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.
Know Your Rights: Accessing healthcare without permanent residence or citizenship in Canada
The right to healthcare is not consistently extended to people who do not have Canadian citizenship or permanent residence. In other words, access to healthcare is often restricted for individuals in the country who have only temporary immigration status or no immigration status. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health has called … Read more
Rapid Q&A on the “Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024”
On November 18, 2024, the Ontario government tabled Bill 223, Safer Streets, Stronger Communities Act, 2024. While the bill amends several laws, of relevance to drug policy is Schedule 4 of the legislation, titled Community Care and Recovery Act, 2024. This Q&A explains what is entailed in this Act.
Podcast – The Terrible Impact of Canadian Drug Laws on Black and Indigenous Communities
The HIV Legal Network recently launched a pair of new resources designed to provide information about Canada’s confusing and racist drug laws, for Black and Indigenous people. For Indigenous communities, these “Know Your Rights” resources were produced in partnership with CAAN, Communities, Alliances and Networks. For African, Caribbean, and Black communities, we worked with the … Read more