The importance of leadership, especially human rights-driven leadership, in the fight against HIV/AIDS is widely recognized. However, argues Michael Pates in this commentary, the type of bold leadership required to really make a difference has been lacking. Pates calls for the development of an AIDS Leadership Initiative and describes how it might happen. Related Publications … Read more
According to the current legal framework and professional guidelines in Canada, safe injection facility (SIF) staff cannot assist clients in the administration of their drugs and SIF clients cannot help each other inject. However, recent evaluations show that the HIV prevalence rate for people who require assistance when injecting illegal drugs is double that of … Read more
This paper reviews the research literature of relevance to Canada on the impact of law enforcement practices on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment for people who use illegal drugs. We consider the impact of national and provincial/state laws and municipal bylaws or regulations, as well as the impact of policing at a local level. We … Read more
The goal of widely available and utilized HIV testing services can be pursued in many ways. At the federal level and in some provinces, governments in Canada state their commitment to human rights-based responses to HIV/AIDS. This not only means ensuring access to HIV testing as part of protecting and promoting the right to health, … Read more
This is a series of 12 info sheets on HIV testing in Canada. Evolution of HIV testing policy and technology in Canada Shifting HIV testing policies Consent to HIV testing Counselling Anonymous HIV testing Confidentiality Access to HIV testing HIV testing and pregnancy Rapid HIV testing Home HIV testing Mandatory and compulsory testing for HIV … Read more
Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime is not delivering on the country’s pledge to help developing countries get affordable medicines. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network recommends a number of changes that will help fix the current, flawed Regime. Our central recommendation would replace the existing process for obtaining a compulsory licence with something considerably more streamlined … Read more
This document, written by former Legal Network Executive Director Ralf Jürgens and published by Health Canada, aims to: increase knowledge of and access to the literature on issues related to HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in prisons; and increase the capacity of governments, non-governmental organizations,and researchers to respond effectively to the challenges posed by … Read more
“We write to draw to your attention the important health implications of Budget 2007, specifically the allocations for the federal strategy on illicit drugs and the striking absence of any budgetary support for harm reduction measures.”