Semba Judgement, High Court of Zimbabwe (2015)
Judge Charles Hungwe's reasoning that allowed the appeal on behalf of a 26 year old woman, was charged with the crime of deliberate transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (“HIV”) as defined in s 79 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law Code for briefly mistakenly breastfeeding another woman's baby.
The judgement found that the prosecution was "ill-conceived as the legislature did not intend that breast-feeding by infected but ignorant women be criminalised. In any event there was no proof that the appellant fully appreciated that her conduct would result in HIV transmission. In the result she was entitled to an acquittal at her trial."
- Alternative links
- Traduction française automatisée, Brief news story on post-appeal aquittal
High rates of forward transmission events after acute/early HIV-1 infection
Uses a population-based phylogenetic approach to characterize HIV transmission dynamics in Quebec. Found early infection accounts for approximately half of onward transmissions. Suggests therapy at early stages of disease may prevent onward HIV transmission.
Risques, Droits et Santé
Présente des analyses et constats probants et convaincants fondés sur les droits de l'homme et sur les questions juridiques liées au VIH, et offre des commentaires et recommandations.