Publications

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

In this article, Joanne Csete identifies some of the most important human rights questions that should be taken into account in the development of guidelines for national governments. The author argues that a scale-up of services to provide male circumcision provides an excellent opportunity to address issues concerning the subordination of women. Related Publications HIV/AIDS … Read more

FEATURES Male circumcision and HIV prevention: a human rights and public health challenge Commentary: Engendering bold leadership against HIV/AIDS CANADIAN DEVELOPMENTS Subcommittee fails to recommend legal reforms needed to promote human rights of sex workers Conservative government ends funding for research on Insite Draft evaluation suggests pilot safer tattooing program had potential to reduce disease … 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

“For more than two decades, the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) has tried to stop harm reduction and its HIV prevention programs. This posture is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of their responsibilities and of drug addiction itself — i.e. as a public health and clinical care matter made criminal by decree. A recent focal … 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

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

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