Enforcement of HIV Criminalization in Indiana: Body Fluid/Waste Enhancement Laws
Using data obtained from the Indiana Office of Court Services, online court-tracking tools, and Probable Cause Affidavits, this study from the Williams Institute examines the enforcement of Indiana’s HIV-related body fluid laws.
Document on criminalisation case on the risk of HIV transmission through exclusive breastfeeding
The purpose of this paper is to report on a recent case of HIV criminalisation that occurred in August 2022, in the province of San Luis, Argentina, where a woman with HIV was criminalised for accessing her right to choose how to exclusively breastfeed her baby.
Please note this is a DEEPL translation of the Spanish report.
Breastfeeding and HIV: An example of what stigma, discrimination and lack of information can cause.
This video reflects the story of a woman from Argentina who was prosecuted for wanting to breastfeed her baby and in the success of the defense of her rights with the accompaniment of ICW Argentina so that she could comply with the reproductive right of breastfeeding.
Expert affidavit in E.L. case on the impact of laws applied to criminalise HIV transmission or exposure
Affidavit provided to the High Court from Michaela Clayton, a human rights lawyer with extensive expertise in HIV/AIDS and human rights issues, concluding that, in her expert opinion, HIV criminalisation was unlikely to prevent new infections or reduce women's vulnerability to HIV but could in fact harm women rather than assist them, and also may negatively impact both public health and human rights.
- Alternative links
- Traduction française automatisée
WHO Guideline: Updates on HIV and Infant Feeding (2016)
The overall purpose of this guideline is to improve the HIV-free survival of HIV-exposed infants by providing guidance on appropriate infant feeding practices and use of ARV drugs for mothers living with HIV in countries with high HIV prevalence and settings in which diarrhoea, pneumonia and undernutrition are common causes of infant and child mortality.
The guideline addresses four aspects of infant feeding in the context of HIV:
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the duration of breastfeeding by mothers living with HIV;
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interventions to support infant feeding practices by mothers living with HIV;
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what to advise when mothers living with HIV do not exclusively breastfeed; and
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what to advise when mothers living with HIV do not plan to breastfeed for 12 months.
The guideline informs national policy-makers on what may be relevant for national policies and programmes, it provides guidance to health-care providers, researchers and clinicians involved in managing pregnant women and mothers living with HIV at various levels of health care.
E.L. Judgement, Malawi High Court (2016)
On 19 January 2017, the Zomba High Court in Malawi delivered a landmark ruling on the application of criminal law to cases of HIV transmission and exposure through breastfeeding.
The appellant was a woman living with HIV who was convicted of negligently and recklessly doing an act which is “likely to spread the infection of any disease which is dangerous to life” under section 192 of the Malawi Penal Code for accidentally breastfeeding another person’s child. She was unrepresented at her trial and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.
Before the High Court, she appealed her conviction and sentence and challenged the constitutionality of section 192 of the Penal Code for being vague and overbroad. She raised expert evidence to show the “infinitesimally small risk” of HIV transmission by women on antiretroviral treatment through breastfeeding. The State agreed that the appellant’s conviction and sentence should be overturned and set aside.
At the hearing on 2 December 2016, the Court, per Ntaba J, granted an order that the appellant’s identity be concealed to protect her confidentiality and that of the children concerned.
On 19 January 2017, the High Court acquitted the appellant and ordered her immediate release. It held that the proceedings in the trial court were irregular and “blatantly bias” against the appellant, compromising her right to a fair trial. The Court held that the appellant did not have the requisite knowledge or belief that breastfeeding the complainant’s child was likely to spread HIV and cautioned against the misapplication of criminal law in cases of HIV transmission and exposure. The Court recommended the constitutional challenge be filed for separate determination considering the national interest in the issue.
The appellant was represented by Mr Wesley Mwafulirwa of John Tennyson Associates.
- Alternative links
- HJN feature on the impact of this case, SALC resources on this case
Observations Générales No.1 sur l’article 14 (1) (d) et (e) du Protocole à la Charte africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples relatif aux droits de la Femme en Afrique
Le Protocole à la Charte africaine des droits de l'homme et des peuples relatif aux droits de la Femme en Afrique (Protocole de Maputo) est le premier instrument international des droits de l'homme, juridiquement contraignant, à reconnaître la corrélation entre les droits humains des femmes et le VIH. En son article 14 (1) (d) et (e) le Protocole de Maputo consacre le droit des femmes à se protéger et d'être protégées contre le VIH ainsi que leur droit d'être informées sur leur statut sérologique et le statut de leurs partenaires conformément aux normes et pratiques internationales en vigueur. A ce titre, le Protocole de Maputo se relève être, dans la pratique, un outil important de réduction de l'effet disproportionné de la pandémie du VIH sur la vie des femmes en Afrique. Bien que jugées révolutionnaires, les dispositions du Protocole de Maputo sur le VIH ne sont pas très explicites quant aux mesures à prendre par les Etats parties, pour garantir aux femmes la mise en application totale de l’ensemble de leurs droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive. C’est pour répondre à cet objectif que la Commission Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples (la Commission) a adopté lors de sa 52e Session Ordinaire tenue du 9 au 22 octobre 2012 à Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire) les présentes Observations générales sur l'article 14 (1) (d) et (e).
Le VIH, la loi et les droits de l’homme dans le système africain des droits de l’homme: Principaux défis et opportunités pour les réponses au VIH fondées sur les droits
Rapport sur l’Étude de la Commission africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples. Le rapport présente l’état actuel de l’épidémie du VIH en Afrique dans la perspective des droits de l’homme et du genre. Il contient aussi une analyse détaillée des principaux défis des droits de l’homme affectant la réponse au VIH sur le continent, notamment la criminalisation des personnes vivant avec le VIH et des membres des populations clés.
HIV: A Guide for Police Forces. How to address HIV in police occupational health policies and blood-borne training, UK.
Includes information about how HIV is transmitted, what to do if exposed to HIV, how to respond to someone with HIV, and information about criminal prosecution for HIV transmission. Also has an easy-to-use check-list to ensure blood borne virus training and occupational health policies are fit for purpose and up-to-date. Endorsed by the British HIV Association.
Risk of HIV Infection Per Single Sexual Exposure to an Individual Living with HIV, and Other Life Events Comparable Risk of Occurrence
Compares risk of HIV transmission from a single sexual encounter with odds of illness or death from other life events.
Amicus Curiae brief of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., Community AIDS Resource and Education Services, Michigan Positive Action Coalition, and Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service Inc.
Urges court to drop a bioterrorism charge against an HIV positive man who bit his neighbour during an argument, explaining the facts about HIV transmission risk. The bioterrorism charges were dropped.
Pity Mpofu Samukelisiwe Mlilo v The State, Consitutional Court of Zimbabwe
On appeal, the Consitutional Court of Zimbabwe decided the only defence to prosecution is disclosure of known or potential HIV infection and suggested people with HIV can be discriminated against by the law if the reason is to protect public health.
Zaburoni v The Queen
Clarifies that recklessness regarding HIV transmission risk is not the same as intention to transmit HIV. This ruling means that if people are convicted of having sex without disclosing their HIV status, they will be convicted of lesser charges with lower penalty.