{"id":24302,"date":"2024-07-23T09:45:31","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T13:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/?page_id=24302"},"modified":"2024-07-25T09:09:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T13:09:43","slug":"hepatitis-c","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/our-work\/hepatitis-c\/?lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Hepatitis C"},"content":{"rendered":"<strong>Eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat is a matter of human rights.<\/strong> Medicine exists to cure Hepatitis C and to prevent Hepatitis B, yet, hundreds of thousands of people in Canada live with viral hepatitis, which, if left untreated, leads to liver damage, cancer, and even death. The burden of viral hepatitis is most acutely felt by already marginalized and stigmatized populations, including people who inject drugs; people in the prison system; Indigenous people; gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GMSM); and people from countries with higher prevalence rates of viral hepatitis. Eliminating viral hepatitis means eliminating the stigma, discrimination, and criminalization that these populations face, which limits their access to healthcare.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Our work focuses on <\/strong>laws and policies that affect access to viral hepatitis diagnosis, treatment, and care, such as Canada\u2019s drug policies, sex work laws, and prison policies. The goals that we are working towards include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Decriminalizing simple possession of drugs, and necessity trafficking;<\/li>\n<li>Funding and scale up of harm reduction interventions;<\/li>\n<li>Funding and support for Indigenous-led healthcare;<\/li>\n<li>Promoting low-barrier, culturally- and gender-sensitive STBBI testing and treatment;<\/li>\n<li>Eliminating laws that deny entry or stay on Canada based on medical conditions; and<\/li>\n<li>Other measures aimed at improving health equity across Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"pageFooter key-resources\">\n<p style=\"font-size:1.4em;\"><strong>The HIV Legal Network is a founding member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionhepatitiscanada.ca\/\">Action Hepatitis Canada<\/a>, a national coalition of organizations responding to viral hepatitis.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color:#000;\">Take a look at these reports to learn more about how laws and policies affect people living with hepatitis and where all levels of government in Canada stand on promises to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionhepatitiscanada.ca\/immigrationhealth.html\">Immigration Health is Public Health (2024)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionhepatitiscanada.ca\/progressreport.html\">Progress Toward Viral Hepatitis Elimination in Canada (2023)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.actionhepatitiscanada.ca\/prisonhealth.html\">Prison Health is Public Health (2022)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-default\" style=\"margin:15px 0;border-width:1px;border-color:#ccc\"><\/div>\n<h2>Learn more:<\/h2>\n<div class=\"our-work learn-more\">\n<div class=\"su-tabs su-tabs-style-default su-tabs-mobile-stack\" data-active=\"1\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-tabs-nav\"><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Publications<\/span><span class=\"\" data-url=\"\" data-target=\"blank\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">News<\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-tabs-panes\"><div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"Publications\">\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-default\" style=\"margin:15px 0;border-width:1px;border-color:#ccc\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"su-posts su-posts-default-loop \">\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-25409\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/securing-rights-2024-25-annual-report\/?lang=en\">Securing Rights &#8211; 2024\/25 Annual Report<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: December 16, 2025\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>We hope you\u2019ll read our 2024-25 annual report \u2014 Securing Rights: Using Our Values to Meet the Moment \u2014 to find out more about the kind of positive change we\u2019re making and get a glimpse of what we hope to accomplish in 2026.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-25263\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/open-letter-to-prime-minister-mark-carney-and-foreign-affairs-minister-anita-anand\/?lang=en\">Open Letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: November 3, 2025\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Download the letter Sign the letter here. The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P Prime Minister of Canada 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 November 7, 2025 Dear Prime Minister and Minister Anand, On behalf of the undersigned civil society and community-led organizations engaged in global health and international development, we take note of &#8230; <a title=\"Open Letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/open-letter-to-prime-minister-mark-carney-and-foreign-affairs-minister-anita-anand\/\" aria-label=\"More on Open Letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-24490\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/raising-the-bar-2023-2024-annual-report\/?lang=en\">Raising the Bar &#8211; 2023\/2024 Annual Report<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: October 16, 2024\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>The creation of our annual report always gives us a unique opportunity to look back at a year\u2019s worth of important work with hindsight, clarity, and pride. As you will see in Raising the Bar \u2014 our 2023\/24 annual report \u2014 our successes and challenges don\u2019t begin and end with the flip of a calendar &#8230; <a title=\"Raising the Bar &#8211; 2023\/2024 Annual Report\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/raising-the-bar-2023-2024-annual-report\/\" aria-label=\"More on Raising the Bar &#8211; 2023\/2024 Annual Report\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-24212\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/connection-care-community\/?lang=en\">Connection, Care, Community<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: June 12, 2024\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Drug policy affects the health of queer people and communities. The health of queer people who use drugs must not be overlooked in our fight for sensible drug policy. And 2SLGBTQ+ rights organizations must not ignore the rights and health of queer people who use drugs. Our new resources aim to raise awareness and build &#8230; <a title=\"Connection, Care, Community\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/connection-care-community\/\" aria-label=\"More on Connection, Care, Community\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-24087\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/the-right-to-care-hepatitis-c-among-priority-populations-in-canada\/?lang=en\">THE RIGHT TO CARE &#8211; HEPATITIS C AMONG PRIORITY POPULATIONS IN CANADA<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: April 19, 2024\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>A human rights approach is essential to eliminating HCV as a public health threat, and capturing the social, cultural, economic, and other barriers to the enjoyment of rights, including the right to health. This approach also provides a mechanism to hold governments accountable to their human rights promises. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<p><a class=\"search-all\" href=\"..\/..\/publications\/?lang=en&amp;_sft_publication_topics=criminalization\">Search all publications<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-tabs-pane su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" data-title=\"News\">\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-default\" style=\"margin:15px 0;border-width:1px;border-color:#ccc\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"su-posts su-posts-default-loop \">\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-25215\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/media-statement-canada-must-show-leadership-for-global-funds-eighth-replenishment\/?lang=en\">MEDIA STATEMENT: Canada Must Show Leadership for Global Fund\u2019s Eighth Replenishment<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: October 20, 2025\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>International Frontline Advocates in Ottawa to Rally Support for Critical Programming on Health and Human Rights &nbsp; This statement can be attributed to the HIV Legal Network October 20, 2025 \u2013 OTTAWA\/TORONTO \u2013 Tomorrow \u2014 one month from the day that the Eighth Replenishment event for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria &#8230; <a title=\"MEDIA STATEMENT: Canada Must Show Leadership for Global Fund\u2019s Eighth Replenishment\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/media-statement-canada-must-show-leadership-for-global-funds-eighth-replenishment\/\" aria-label=\"More on MEDIA STATEMENT: Canada Must Show Leadership for Global Fund\u2019s Eighth Replenishment\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-23881\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/national-organizations-deeply-concerned-with-saskatchewans-health-policy-shift\/?lang=en\">National Organizations Deeply Concerned with Saskatchewan\u2019s Health Policy Shift<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: January 26, 2024\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>People who use drugs will suffer the consequences of backward-thinking and restrictive policies January 26, 2024 |\u00a0Two leading national human rights organizations\u00a0have addressed the Saskatchewan provincial government\u00a0to express profound concern over changes that restrict access to vital harm reduction supplies and safety information. The HIV Legal Network and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition sent the &#8230; <a title=\"National Organizations Deeply Concerned with Saskatchewan\u2019s Health Policy Shift\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/national-organizations-deeply-concerned-with-saskatchewans-health-policy-shift\/\" aria-label=\"More on National Organizations Deeply Concerned with Saskatchewan\u2019s Health Policy Shift\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-23074\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/points-of-perspective-new-report-on-north-americas-first-ever-prison-needle-exchange-program-in-canada-shows-critical-limitations-and-challenges\/?lang=en\">POINTS OF PERSPECTIVE: NEW REPORT ON NORTH AMERICA\u2019S FIRST-EVER PRISON NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (IN CANADA) SHOWS CRITICAL LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: November 29, 2022\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>November 29, 2022 \u2014 Today, researchers at the HIV Legal Network and Toronto Metropolitan University have released Points of Perspective, the very first national independent study of Canada\u2019s \u201cPrison Needle Exchange Program\u201d (PNEP). It is based on interviews with people formerly incarcerated in federal prisons across the country and provides an overview of the PNEP &#8230; <a title=\"POINTS OF PERSPECTIVE: NEW REPORT ON NORTH AMERICA\u2019S FIRST-EVER PRISON NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (IN CANADA) SHOWS CRITICAL LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/points-of-perspective-new-report-on-north-americas-first-ever-prison-needle-exchange-program-in-canada-shows-critical-limitations-and-challenges\/\" aria-label=\"More on POINTS OF PERSPECTIVE: NEW REPORT ON NORTH AMERICA\u2019S FIRST-EVER PRISON NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM (IN CANADA) SHOWS CRITICAL LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-20076\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/media-release-leading-human-rights-and-public-health-organizations-release-national-drug-decriminalization-platform-for-canada\/?lang=en\">MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: December 9, 2021\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Leading human rights and public health organizations release national drug decriminalization platform for Canada \u00a0 The bill that the federal government introduced this week\u00a0to repeal mandatory minimum sentences and offer alternatives to prosecution for simple drug possession\u00a0is a step in the right direction, but doesn&#8217;t go far enough. For immediate release Thursday, December 9, 2021 &#8230; <a title=\"MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/media-release-leading-human-rights-and-public-health-organizations-release-national-drug-decriminalization-platform-for-canada\/\" aria-label=\"More on MEDIA RELEASE: LEADING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS RELEASE NATIONAL DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION PLATFORM FOR CANADA\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<div id=\"su-post-19841\" class=\"su-post \">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"su-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/hiv-hepatitis-c-and-sexually-transmitted-and-blood-borne-infections-in-canada-top-election-2021-issues\/?lang=en\">HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues<\/a><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPublished: September 14, 2021\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"su-post-excerpt\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Joint press release: HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues Health and human rights groups identify priorities for federal policymakers as people in Canada head to the polls Tuesday, September 14, 2021 \u2013 More than 60,000 people are currently living with HIV in Canada, approximately 13% of &#8230; <a title=\"HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/hiv-hepatitis-c-and-sexually-transmitted-and-blood-borne-infections-in-canada-top-election-2021-issues\/\" aria-label=\"More on HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n<\/div>\r\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<p><a class=\"search-all\" href=\"..\/..\/newsroom\/?lang=en&amp;_sft_publication_topics=criminalization\">Search all news articles<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat is a matter of human rights. Medicine exists to cure Hepatitis C and to prevent Hepatitis B, yet, hundreds of thousands of people in Canada live with viral hepatitis, which, if left untreated, leads to liver damage, cancer, and even death. The burden of viral hepatitis is &#8230; <a title=\"HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/hiv-hepatitis-c-and-sexually-transmitted-and-blood-borne-infections-in-canada-top-election-2021-issues\/\" aria-label=\"More on HIV, Hepatitis C and Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections in Canada: Top Election 2021 Issues\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24310,"parent":9,"menu_order":76,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24302","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24302"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24317,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24302\/revisions\/24317"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hivlegalnetwork.ca\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}