The HIV Legal Network made this submission to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Committee (“Committee”) in advance of its review of Canada’s periodic report, detailing our concerns about Canada’s implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This submission provides information on violations of Articles 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, and … Read more
We are deeply disappointed by the Federal Court’s decision dismissing the HIV Legal Network’s application (“motion”) for public interest standing in the constitutional challenge to Canada’s medical inadmissibility regime. In February 2024, the HIV Legal Network joined RA, an international student living with HIV, in challenging section 38(1)(c) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act … Read more
Bill C-12 will overhaul how people in Canada can access refugee protection or maintain lawful status by introducing new eligibility bars to refugee protection, broadening government discretion to end refugee claims, granting government sweeping new powers to cancel immigration status, and authorizing increased data-sharing of personal information across government agencies and with foreign governments. Submission … Read more
It’s Not So Simple: The impact of simple drug possession and trafficking offences on health equity builds on research demonstrating the many harms resulting from laws and policies that punish people who use drugs by specifically examining the consequences of recent shifts in how police and prosecutors pursue and lay drug possession and trafficking charges. … Read more
As a region, the Caribbean has the second-highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, after sub-Saharan Africa. UNAIDS and regional and national agencies have long identified homophobia as a factor contributing to this startling statistic. The legal and social environment varies significantly across the region, as does community organizing to defend and advance the human … Read more
Find out about the legal implications of operating an Overdose Prevention Site in Ontario and protections for operators and patrons. Supervised Consumption Sites (SCS) and Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS) are proven to save lives. In Ontario, 6-7 people die each day from toxic, unregulated drugs. Yet, as of 2025, Ontario has closed various kinds of consumption … Read more
June 17, 2025 The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, P.C., M.P. Minister of Public Safety House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, P.C., M.P. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 RE: The Strong Borders Act and its Harm to People Living with HIV and Other … Read more
In 2007, the HIV Legal Network (Legal Network) published Hard Time: HIV and Hepatitis C Prevention Programming for Prisoners in Canada, exploring health and harm reduction policies and practices in Canada’s provincial, territorial, and federal prisons. Then, as now, the Legal Network confirmed that everyone benefits from improved healthcare in prison, and that imprisonment is … Read more
kiskinohtahêw (s/he guides someone) proposing a legal remedies action plan to support and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in alignment with Canadian law This action plan outlines specific measures to ensure that Canada’s laws are consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, based on … Read more
On Friday, April 11, the HIV Legal Network wrote to the party leaders in the Canadian Federal election with key questions on their party’s positions on issues related to HIV, human rights, and the law. Download the response from the Bloc Québécois, received on April 16, 2025 (French only):