Canada: Endorse the Consensus Statement by the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization

Endorse the CCRHC Consensus Statement: End Unjust Prosecutions for HIV Non-disclosure

Posted on October 27, 2017

We find ourselves at a crucial moment in our efforts to reform discriminatory and unjust laws and practices that criminalize people living with HIV.

The Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization (CCRHC) has developed a Community Consensus Statement on actions federal, provincial and territorial governments must take to address the overly broad use of the criminal law in cases of alleged HIV non-disclosure.

In developing this statement, the CCRHC consulted with people living with HIV, service providers, communities affected by HIV and over-criminalization, scientific experts and others, through multiple rounds of in-person and electronic consultation throughout Canada.

We are now seeking wide endorsement by organizations in Canada involved in human rights and the response to HIV with the aim of building a common advocacy agenda aimed at limiting unjust and harmful prosecutions.

Please read and sign on to the Community Consensus Statement on behalf of your organization today using this link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CCRHCstatement.

 

Mexico: 20 NGOS set up the Network against HIV criminalisation in Mexico

A network of organisations fights against HIV criminalisation law in Mexico Google translation (see below for original article in Spanish)

Mexico, Oct 29 (EFE) .- Twenty NGOs have set up the Network against HIV Criminalization after several Mexican sates try to tighten existing but little known laws, that sanction the possibility of spreading the virus or other sexually transmitted infections.

“The objective (of the network) is to stop a witch hunt, because it was surprising that in the last two years three different (state) congresses have been discussing” this law, stated Leonardo Bastida, head of Information of the group Letter S.

In Mexico, 30 of the 32 states contain in their criminal codes the “crime of transmission”, which sanctions those who can transmit a non-curable disease to another person.

“The possibility of transmission is sanctioned, even if it is involuntary, for example, by ignorance, said Bastida, who produced a study that determined that since 2000, 39 criminal proceedings were filed for that cause.

There are 15 reported cases in Veracruz, nine in Sonora, five in Tamaulipas and in the State of Mexico, three in Chihuahua, one in Mexico City and one in Nuevo Leon.

Most of these were resolved with administrative fines, although a person in Sonora is serving a 10-year sentence, despite the fact that “you can not clearly see how the virus is acquired.”

Many state penal codes were born in the first half of the twentieth century with this concept, although at the beginning there was talk of venereal diseases and it was usually circumscribed to syphilis.

The codes were modified to include new terms. And even in states like Coahuila (in the north) a specific chapter on HIV was created.

Currently, only Aguascalientes and San Luis Potosí do not criminalize this crime, although in the second state they tried only a year ago, without success, to legislate in this regard.

In the southeastern state of Quintana Roo, the issue is still hot after a congresswoman proposed tightening legislation, with sentences of up to 15 years.

“For her, this was to benefit and to reduce HIV cases, but we told her that this was not the right way,” Édgar Mora, president of the Círculo Social Igualitario association, told Efe.

Together with other NGOs, the State Human Rights Commission and the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH), they established discussion groups with a group of legislators and it was agreed, although the vote on the plenary is still pending, to overturn the article 113 of the Criminal Code of Quintana Roo.

For the 26 NGOs that have formed the Network of organizations against HIV Criminalization, there is a fear that, if laws are tightened, prevention and detection will decrease.

“That people stop being tested for HIV for fear of getting positive and, subsequently, having to face justice,” Mora said.

In Veracruz, the Chamber of Deputies approved in 2015, unanimously, to modify the local penal code to add the term “contagion” to the term “sexually transmitted infections”, Patricia Ponce, member of the Multisectoral Group on HIV / AIDS and STI from Veracruz, told Efe.

Even before the law existed, there was no definite sanction. With the reform of article 158, six months to five years of imprisonment were stipulated.

“Any person who in a ‘willful’ way transmits HIV is penalized, which is a very ambiguous word,” said the doctor.

Several state-run NGOs unsuccessfully attempted to repeal the article by the state Congress and, with the support of the CNDH, filed an unconstitutional appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), where it is still under discussion.

Ponce is confident that the resolution of the Supreme will be favorable. “It is important that the Supreme Court declares in favour of health, life, and human rights,” he said.

Otherwise, she fears that other states will bet on criminalizing laws. “The deputies, and congressmen are deeply ignorant” in the matter, he explained.

In Mexico, it is estimated that there are about 220,000 people with HIV, although about 100,000 of them are unaware of it.

The hardening of the laws would also impact on the LGBT community. “We have not understood in 30 years what HIV is, and this results in stigma, discrimination and the replication of speeches against homosexuality,” Bastida said.

On a global scale, 68 countries have laws in force, with Russia accounting for the highest number of defendants in the last two years with 23 cases, according to the HIV Justice Network.

Published in La Vanguardia on Oct 29, 2017

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Una red de ONG lucha contra ley que criminaliza el VIH en México

México, 29 oct (EFE).- Una veintena de ONG se han configurado en la Red contra la Criminalización del VIH, después de que varios estados mexicanos intentan endurecer las leyes, ya existentes aunque poco conocidas, que sancionan la posibilidad de contagiar el virus u otras infecciones de transmisión sexual.

“El objetivo (de la red) es que no empiece una cacería de brujas, porque fue sorprendente que en los últimos dos años se haya discutido en tres congresos (estatales) diferentes” esta ley, explicó a Efe Leonardo Bastida, jefe de Información de la entidad Letra S.

En México, 30 de los 32 estados contienen en sus códigos penales el “delito de peligro de contagio”, que sanciona a quien pueda transmitir una enfermedad no curable a otra persona.

Se sanciona “la posibilidad” de transmisión, aunque sea de forma involuntaria, por ejemplo, por desconocimiento, afirmó Bastida, quien elaboró un estudio que determinó que, desde el 2000, se registraron 39 procesos penales por dicha causa.

Se reportan 15 casos en Veracruz, nueve en Sonora, cinco en Tamaulipas y en el Estado de México, tres en Chihuahua, uno en la Ciudad de México y otro en Nuevo León.

La mayoría de estos se resolvieron con multas administrativas, si bien una persona en Sonora cumple una pena de 10 años, pese a que “no se puede comprobar de forma clara cómo se adquiere el virus”.

Muchos códigos penales estatales nacieron en la primera mitad del siglo XX con esta figura, si bien al principio se hablaba de enfermedades venéreas y se circunscribía habitualmente a la sífilis.

Los códigos fueron modificándose para incluir nuevos términos. E incluso en estados como Coahuila (norte) se creó un capítulo específico sobre VIH.

Actualmente, solo Aguascalientes y San Luis Potosí no tipifican este delito, aunque en el segundo estado hace apenas un año se buscó, sin éxito, que se legislara al respecto.

En el suroriental estado de Quintana Roo, el tema sigue candente después de que una diputada propusiera endurecer la legislación vigente, con penas de hasta 15 años.

“Por parte de ella, esto era para beneficio y para disminuir los casos de VIH. Pero le manifestamos que esta no era la manera adecuada”, contó a Efe el presidente de la asociación Círculo Social Igualitario, Édgar Mora.

Junto a otras ONGs, la Comisión Estatal de DD.HH. y la Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH) se establecieron mesas de discusión con un grupo de legisladores y se acordó, si bien aún falta la votación del pleno, la derogación del artículo 113 del Código Penal de Quintana Roo.

Para las 26 ONGs que han conformado la Red de organizaciones contra la Criminalización del VIH, existe el miedo de que, si se endurecen las leyes, disminuya la prevención y la detección.

“Que la gente deje de hacerse la prueba del VIH por temor a salir reactiva y, posteriormente, tener que enfrentar la justicia”, relató Mora.

En Veracruz, la Cámara de Diputados aprobó en 2015, por unanimidad, modificar el código penal local para agregar al delito “del contagio” el término “infecciones de transmisión sexual”, dijo a Efe la integrante del Grupo Multisectorial en VIH/Sida e ITS de Veracruz Patricia Ponce.

Si bien antes existía la ley, no había sanción determinada. Con la reforma del artículo 158, se estipularon de seis meses a cinco años de cárcel.

“Queda penalizada cualquier persona que de manera ‘dolosa’ transmite el VIH, que es una palabra muy ambigua”, indicó la doctora.

Varias ONGs estatales intentaron sin éxito que el Congreso estatal derogara el artículo y, con el apoyo de la CNDH, presentaron un recurso de inconstitucionalidad a la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN), donde todavía se está debatiendo.

Ponce se muestra confiada en que la resolución del Supremo será favorable. “Es importante que la Corte Suprema declare a favor de la salud, de la vida, y de los derechos humanos”, indicó.

De lo contrario, teme que otros estados apuesten por leyes criminalizadoras. “Los diputados, diputadas y congresos son profundamente ignorantes” en la materia, explicó.

En México se estima que hay unas 220.000 personas con VIH en México, si bien unos 100.000 de ellos lo desconocen.

El endurecimiento de las leyes impactaría, además, sobre el colectivo LGBT. “No hemos entendido en 30 años qué es el VIH, y ello deriva en estigma, discriminación y la réplica de discursos contra la homosexualidad”, denunció Bastida.

A escala global, 68 países mantienen leyes vigentes en la materia, siendo Rusia el que mayor número de procesados registra por dicha causa en los últimos dos años con 23 casos, según HIV Justice Network.

US: California Governor signs landmark bill reforming outdated HIV criminalisation laws

Governor Signs Bill Modernizing California HIV Laws

October 6, 2017

CONTACT: Naina Khanna, naina.khanna.work@gmail.com, 510.681.1169

or Jennie Smith-Camejo, jsmithcamejo@pwn-usa.org, 347.553.5174

Sacramento, Calif.— Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law landmark legislation to reform outdated laws that unfairly criminalized and stigmatized people living with HIV. Senate Bill (SB) 239 was authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Asm. Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and cosponsored by Equality California, the ACLU of California, APLA Health, Black AIDS Institute, Lambda Legal and Positive Women’s Network – USA. These organizations are part of Californians for HIV Criminalization Reform (CHCR), a broad coalition of people living with HIV, HIV and health service providers, civil rights organizations and public health professionals dedicated to ending the criminalization of people living with HIV in California.

“Today California took a major step toward treating HIV as a public health issue, instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals,” said Senator Wiener. “HIV should be treated like all other serious infectious diseases, and that’s what SB 239 does. We are going to end new HIV infections, and we will do so not by threatening people with state prison time, but rather by getting people to test and providing them access to care. I want to thank Governor Brown for his support in helping to put California at the forefront of a national movement to reform these discriminatory laws.”

“State law will no longer discourage Californians from getting tested for HIV,” said Asm. Gloria. “With the Governor’s signature today, we are helping to reduce the stigma that keeps some from learning their HIV status and getting into treatment to improve their health, extend their lives, and prevent additional infections. I want to thank Governor Brown for signing SB 239. This action keeps California at the forefront in the fight to stop the spread of HIV.”

SB 239 updates California criminal law to approach transmission of HIV in the same way as transmission of other serious communicable diseases. It also brings California statutes up to date with the current understanding of HIV prevention, treatment and transmission. The bill fulfills a key goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and is consistent with guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice and with California’s “Getting to Zero” HIV transmission reduction strategy.

“The passage of SB239 marks tremendous progress for Californians living with HIV. Laws that criminalize HIV positive status are not based on science–they are based solely on hysteria and fear–and essentially create an underclass of people diagnosed with a disease, placing us at risk for discrimination and even violence,” said Naina Khanna, executive director of Positive Women’s Network, a national membership body of women living with HIV and a proud co-sponsor of SB 239. “Today, California has proved once again that is a national leader on protecting safety, dignity and human rights for all its residents.”

Beginning in the late 1980s and at the height of the HIV epidemic, lawmakers passed several laws criminalizing otherwise legal behaviors of people living with HIV and added HIV-related penalties to existing crimes. These laws were based on fear and the limited medical understanding of the time. When most of these laws were passed, there were no effective treatments for HIV and discrimination against people living with HIV was rampant. Research now demonstrates that people living with HIV on effective treatment cannot transmit the virus to their partners. HIV-negative individuals can now take medication, known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV by up to 99 percent. SB 239 ensures that these advances inform our laws and the manner in which we address our public health response to HIV.

“With his signature, Governor Brown has moved California’s archaic HIV laws out of the 1980s and into the 21st century,” said Rick Zbur, executive director of Equality California. “SB 239 will do much to reduce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV – it is not only fair, but it’s good public health. When people are no longer penalized for knowing their status, it encourages them to come forward, get tested and get treatment. That’s good for all Californians.”

In addition to the organizations sponsoring the bill, SB 239 was supported by CHCR members including the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Los Angeles HIV Law and Policy Project, the Transgender Law Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the Free Speech Coalition and the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP).

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Californians for HIV Criminalization Reform (CHCR) is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to ending the criminalization of HIV in California. Our mission is to mobilize a broad coalition, including individuals and communities who are disproportionately impacted by HIV, to replace fear-based, stigmatizing laws that criminalize HIV-status with evidence-based, nondiscriminatory laws that protect public health.

Azerbaijan: Civil society organisations calling for international action to condemn LGBTI crackdown using HIV as thinly veiled 'excuse'

Alarming stories of physical violence, verbal abuse, forced medical examinations and detentions of LGBTI people have been emerging from Azerbaijan over the past two weeks.

The signatories of this statement are appalled by the situation being described by LGBTI activists and lawyers based in the country:

  • Members of the LGBTI community have reported being assaulted, forcibly medically examined, fined or forced to reveal contact details from their mobile phones.
  • Media reports published over the weekend (1 October) also included references to detainees being electrocuted.
  • The Azerbaijan authorities confirmed that the detentions took place and defended them by claiming that the raids were motivated by public health concerns (implying that it is a coincidence that LGBTI people are being detained).

We welcome the news from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (followed a statement on 2 October) that all detainees have been released. However, this update does not signal the end of the crisis. Intergovernmental bodies and international institutions have an undeniable responsibility to speak out now and support the victims.

The undersigned human rights organisations are calling on international institutions to put their human rights mandates into practice. We urge them to use all possible mechanisms available to strongly condemn the situation in Azerbaijan, such as public statements and bilateral diplomacy.

Given the seriousness of the human rights abuses reported from multiple sources, the reaction from international institutions needs to be stronger, more visible, and more sustained. So far, the public response from international institutions has been slow.

The civil society organisations who have signed this joint statement urge the international community to:

  • Be more vocal in their condemnation of the treatment of LGBTI people in Azerbaijan
  • Push for a thorough, independent investigation into the police raids
  • Keep the victims of these raids at the forefront of their minds and actions

Resources needed to support victims and their communities

The LGBTI community in Azerbaijan (and their allies) now require specific assistance for multiple needs: ranging from immediate financial resources to cover fines and court fees, legal assistance and medical care to more long-term requirements such as relocation, resettlement and psychosocial support. Some victims are reportedly being released into homelessness/precarious housing, in some cases without the support of their family. Local activists and NGOs do not have the capacity or immediate resources to deal with this crisis alone.

This is where the LGBTI movement in Europe can mobilise to support our community members in Azerbaijan. ILGA-Europe have launched an urgent appeal for donations to help organisations to support the victims; these funds will be re-granted to activists working directly with people who have been detained.

Human rights violations are always shocking. While these developments could not have been predicted, we can control how we choose to respond.

Signed:

ILGA-Europe – the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association

Civil Rights Defenders

COC Netherlands

Stonewall

International Partnership for Human Rights

The Equality Network

European AIDS Treatment Group

Human Rights First

TGEU – Transgender Europe

Kaleidoscope Trust

Human Dignity Trust

African Rainbow Family

UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG)

All Out

Sidaction

HIV Justice Network

Apoyo Positivo

The Colorado Story

(15 min, HJN, USA, 2017)

How a group of dedicated advocates in Colorado ‘modernised’ their HIV-related laws to improve the legal environment for people living with HIV. Featuring Barb Cardell and Kari Hartel of the Colorado Mod Squad and Colorado State Senator, Pat Steadman.

Interviews by Mark S King

Written and introduced by Edwin J Bernard • Directed and produced by Nicholas Feustel for the HIV Justice Network

Brazil: Activists celebrate as ‘deliberate HIV transmission’ law amendment is withdrawn

Yesterday, news broke that populist Congressman, Pompeo de Mattos, has withdrawn an amendment originally proposed in 2015 to make ‘deliberate’ HIV transmission a ‘heinous crime’.

The amendment, Bill No. 198, 2015, would have added to the list of heinous crimes – which currently includes murder, extortion, rape, child exploitation and spreading an epidemic that results in death – those who “transmit and infect consciously and deliberately others with the AIDS virus. (sic)”.

According to Brazil’s AIDS News Agency

In Brazil, intentional transmission, that is, with intent, is already considered a crime. Articles 130 and 131 of the Penal Code already provide for imprisonment for those who infect others. Anyone who exposes someone to a venereal disease through sexual intercourse can be jailed for three months to a year or receive a fine. If the person intentionally wants to transmit the disease, the penalty is imprisonment, from one to four years, and fine.

“The initiative to criminalize HIV-positive people does not contribute to the fight against prejudice and discrimination, and it also throws the responsibility of prevention on the infected person,” says a statement released on Thursday by Foaesp Of the State of São Paulo).

In this same document, the Forum thanked Mr Pompeo for his request to withdraw from the PL. “We are now waiting for the House Board to abide by the request and file the bill, and we will also be careful that no other parliamentarian has a similar initiative.”

Activists from all over Brazil have celebrated the Bill’s withdrawal. Any new proposal cannot be considered by the current parliament and now must wait until after elections, scheduled for October 2018.

Since 2015, PLHIV networks, civil society organisations, the Department of STDs, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis of the Ministry of Health, and a number UN agencies – includng UNAIDS and UNFPA – had all pressured Congress to withdraw the bill.

Update (September 4th).  A press release by the Department of STDs, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis of the Ministry of Health notes:

The director of the Department of STDs, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (DIAHV), Adele Benzaken, called the federal MPs Érica Kokay (PT-DF), member of the Family Social Security Commission (CCSF) and Coordinator of the Joint Parliamentary Front to Combat STDs, HIV , and AIDS – and Laura Carneiro (PMDB-RJ) and Deputy Pompeo de Mattos to thank them for their support against the procedure of PL 198/15. ““The effort of these parliamentarians was essential to educate their colleagues in the House to reassess that Brazil is a reference in the treatment of HIV / AIDS and that this will not help the Brazilian response at all.“ The director of DIAHV also highlighted the mobilisation made by civil society and the support of the Brazilian Office of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS) that she said were key to the outcome achieved with the filing request.

On July 3rd, the United Nations Expanded Thematic Group on HIV / AIDS (WG / UNAIDS) chaired by UNFPA, met to articulate opposition to the Bill.

For the UNFPA representative in Brazil, Jaime Nadal, the bill goes against the ideals and proposals of the United Nations regarding the HIV / AIDS epidemic. Criminalizing HIV transmission, in addition to reinforcing the stigmatization of people living with the virus, may discourage people from undergoing testing and treatment, since they would be under threat of becoming criminals, he said.The bill ignores the scientific advances in HIV / AIDS, which prove that antiretroviral treatments reduce the chances of transmitting the virus in sexual intercourse by up to 96%. “Many countries around the world are reforming their laws criminalising HIV transmission,” said Nadal, adding that the bill goes against the global trend.

UNAIDS Director in Brazil, Georgiana Braga-Orillard, reinforced the speech of the UNFPA representative. According to her, the bill further vulnerabilises populations with a positive serological status, since “it considers the more than 800 thousand people living with HIV in Brazil as potential criminals.”

In a technical note, UNAIDS outlined six counter-arguments to the bill: it penalizes the most vulnerable; it promotes fear and discrimination; it favours the selective application of the law; it disregards the scientific evidence on HIV; it compromises privacy and confidentiality, and it will make Brazil lose its leading role in the response to HIV / AIDS.

A public meeting with the Congressman, scheduled for July 4th, was cancelled at the last minute.  However, the letter of withdrawal, although only publicly released yesterday, was dated May 11th.

I request you, pursuant to art. 104 of the Internal Rules of the Chamber of Deputies, the withdrawal of the Bill of Law No. 198 of 2015, which "makes a heinous crime the deliberate transmission of the AIDS virus."
Translation: I request you, pursuant to art. 104 of the Internal Rules of the Chamber of Deputies, the withdrawal of the Bill of Law No. 198 of 2015, which “makes a heinous crime the deliberate transmission of the AIDS virus.”

Nevertheless, prosecutions under general laws continue.

In July, a newspaper reported that a 43 year-old heterosexual man was charged with serious bodily injury in a Rio de Janeiro court for ‘attempting to infect two women with HIV’ by having sex without a condom. 

In an interview with the Rio newspaper Extra , the man admitted that he was HIV-positive and [allegedly] transmitted HIV to the women, but denied that he had had sex without a condom with the intention of infecting his partners.

The case continues.

Mexico: Organisations call for the withdrawal of initiative aiming to criminalise HIV-transmission in Quintana Roo

Call ATTENTION TO A MEMBER of the legislative body Congresswoman BERISTAIN: STOP CRIMINALIZATION OF HIV INITIATIVE

NOTICARIBE

POSTED ON JUNE 08, 2017, 11:44 PM 6 MINS POST Views: 1,135

By Leslie Gordillo

CANCUN, MX,- Members of associations called for the commissions of Justice, Human Rights, Development and Family groups in situations of vulnerability and of the Great Commission, in particular Mrs Laura Esther Beristain Navarrete, to reconsider the criminalization of HIV and to lower this initiative, which aims to put people with HIV under a status of potential criminals.

“We cannot allow actions that criminalise and punish and much less from a party that supposedly embraces the causes and unveiled an agenda where you will work with at-risk groups, then it is not being consistent, much less the party and its members in this case, the member of the Commission on Health,” said Roberto Guzman, Network Posithiva of Quintana Roo AC, which joined ICW Mexico and UNAYAC.

This call was made through a letter delivered in the city of Chetumal to groups already mentioned, where the points for consideration, knowing that these commissions are responsible for determining the initiative of “Decree amending Article 113 and is added in the third section, crimes against society, the seventh title, crimes against public health”, which seeks to amend article 113 of the criminal code and the punishment of 5 to 25 years with imprisonment from spreading or becoming infected with dangerous viruses to other people.

Before this, expressed in the letter some clarifications requested were taken into account to avoid an initiative “that violates the dignity and promotes stigma toward people living with HIV”, among which are: the importance of promoting actions in favour of the recognition of the human rights of women in the international order of the various instruments in this field has signed and ratified the Mexican State; not to seek punishment for behaviour that is perceived as wilful misconduct in relation to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, because the scientific evidence indicates that HIV prevention is not achieved with punitive measures, but with public health policies that facilitate actions that promote changes at the structural level.

Also mentioned that the criminalization stigma and discrimination toward people living with HIV, including girls, children, adolescents and women, so that it is contradictory to promote actions that are contrary to the dignity of these vulnerable groups; the difficulty of determining causality, fraud, the intentionality as a number of factors in HIV transmission, such as: the possibility of the transmission, the type of exposure, the use or not of the condom, the stage of the infection, if you take your antiretroviral treatment or not, if you have a detectable load or not, if there are concomitant diseases, the status of the receiving partner and agreements established between couples.

They emphasized that the punitive measures, such as which is intended to legislate, could hinder and affect the various multisectoral action in the field of prevention, detection and care in our state. Could influence that people perceive HIV risk factors, to bypass an early detection in order not to know their status, in virtue of preventing a possible criminal proceedings.

In addition to the specific content of this initiative of “danger of contagion” could cause the legal responsibility of the HIV prevention falls only on those living with HIV, and this could be invisibilizarse the public health message that sexual partners have shared responsibility about their sexual health. And that this type of adjustments to the Criminal Code will promote higher levels of stigma and discrimination toward the various populations with HIV and their families.

Contrary to this, recounted in the Charter, should label resources to prevent, detect and respond in a timely manner HIV; to improve the quality and comprehensiveness of care services provided from the capasits and hospitals in the health sector; and reduce stigma and discrimination toward the populations affected by HIV and other STIS.

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Le Llaman la atención a Diputada Beristain: Piden asociaciones detener iniciativa de penalización del VIH

Leslie Gordillo

CANCÚN, MX,- Integrantes de asociaciones exhortaron a las comisiones de Justicia, Derechos Humanos, Desarrollo Familiar y Grupos en Situación de Vulnerabilidad y de la Gran Comisión, en particular a la diputada Laura Esther Beristaín Navarrete, a reconsiderar la penalización del VIH y a bajar esta iniciativa, que pretende colocar a las personas con VIH bajo un estatus de posibles criminales.

“No podemos permitir acciones que criminalidad y penalicen y mucho menos a partir de un partido que supuestamente abraza las causas y dieron a conocer una agenda donde va trabajar con los grupos de riesgo, entonces no está siendo congruente el partido y mucho menos sus integrantes en este caso la diputada de la comisión de salud”, expresó Roberto Guzmán, de Red + Posithiva de Quintana Roo AC, organismo que se unió a ICW México y UNAYAC.

Este llamado se hizo a través de una carta entregada en la ciudad de Chetumal a los grupos ya mencionados, en donde expresan los puntos a consideración, a sabiendas que estas comisiones son responsables de dictaminar la iniciativa de “Decreto por el que se reforma el Artículo 113 y se adiciona dentro de la sección tercera delitos contra la sociedad, el titulo séptimo, delitos contra la salud pública”, la cual pretende reformar el artículo 113 del código penal y castigar de 5 a 25 años con prisión a quien contagie o infecte con virus peligrosos a otras personas.

Ante esto, manifestaron en la carta algunas precisiones que pidieron fueran tomadas en cuenta para evitar así una iniciativa “que atenta contra la dignidad y promueve el estigma hacia las personas con VIH”, entre las que destacan:

La importancia de impulsar acciones a favor del reconocimiento de los derechos humanos de las mujeres en el orden internacional de los diversos instrumentos que en esta materia ha suscrito y ratificado el Estado mexicano; no buscar castigo para las conductas que se perciben como dolosas en relación al VIH y otras infecciones sexuales, ya que la evidencia científica  señala que la prevención del VIH no se logra con medidas punitivas, sino con políticas en salud pública que faciliten acciones que promuevan cambios a nivel estructural.

Mencionaron también que la penalización favorece el estigma y la discriminación hacia personas con VIH, incluyendo a las niñas, niños, adolescentes y mujeres, por lo que resulta contradictorio impulsar acciones que contravienen a la dignidad de estos grupos vulnerables; la dificultad de determinar la causalidad, el dolo, la intencionalidad ya que intervienen diversos factores en la trasmisión del VIH, como: la posibilidad de la trasmisión, el tipo de exposición, el uso o no del condón, la etapa de la infección, sí lleva tratamiento antirretroviral o no, si tiene carga detectable o no, si existen enfermedades concomitantes, el estado de la pareja receptora y los acuerdos establecidos entre parejas.

Enfatizaron que las medidas punitivas como las que se pretende legislar, podrían obstaculizar y afectar las diversas acciones multisectoriales en materia de prevención, detección y atención del VIH en nuestro Estado. Podría influir a que las personas que se perciban con factores de riesgo ante el VIH, omitan realizarse una detección temprana a fin de no conocer su estado serológico en virtud de prevenir un posible proceso penal. 

Además de que el contenido en específico de esta iniciativa de “Peligro de contagio” podría provocar que la responsabilidad jurídica de la prevención del VIH recaiga solamente en quienes viven con VIH, y con ello podría invisibilizarse el mensaje de salud pública de que las parejas sexuales tienen responsabilidad compartida sobre su salud sexual. Y que este tipo de adecuaciones al Código Penal promoverán mayores niveles de estigma y discriminación hacia las diversas poblaciones con VIH y sus familias.

Contrario a esto, relataron en la carta, deberían etiquetar recursos para prevenir, detectar y atender oportunamente el VIH; mejorar la calidad e integralidad de los servicios de atención otorgados desde los CAPASITS y hospitales del sector salud; y disminuir el estigma y la discriminación hacia las poblaciones afectadas por el VIH y otras ITS. 

US: Help stop criminalisation laws in Pennsylvania by signing petition to express your opposition to Bills proposing to expand the current laws criminalising people living with HIV

HIV Is a Medical Condition, Not a Crime. STOP HIV Criminalization Laws in Pennsylvania!

Target: PA Rep. Dom Costa and PA House Judiciary Committee

Dear Pennsylvania Community Members, Colleagues & Supporters:

We, the Positive Women’s Network-USA Pennsylvania Chapter, oppose all forms of criminalization against people living with HIV in our communities, including those who are currently incarcerated.

Two current PA House Bills, HB 305 & 306, if passed, will expand the current laws criminalizing people living with HIV or suspected of having HIV within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Please sign this petition to express your opposition to PA House Bills 305 & 306.

To: PA Rep. Dom Costa and PA House Judiciary Committee

From: [Your Name]

Pennsylvania House Bills PA-HB 305 and PA-HB 306, if passed, will expand the current laws criminalizing people living with HIV or suspected of having HIV within the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. HIV is a medical condition, not a crime. Laws criminalizing perceived HIV exposure are extremely damaging to efforts at prevention and treatment, are stigmatizing to people living with HIV, and violate the human rights of people living with HIV.

Our communities stand united as Pennsylvanians in our view that criminalization of people living with HIV is wrong. We, the Positive Women’s Network-USA Pennsylvania Chapter and allies, oppose all forms of criminalization against people living with HIV in our communities, including those who are currently incarcerated.

We urge you to reject HB 305 and HB 306.

US: Indiana Law on HIV non-disclosure criminalises people who have no intention of harming another person

Travis Spoor sits in the Kosciusko County Jail, accused, again, of failing to tell his sexual partner that he is HIV-positive.

The 37-year-old is facing malicious mischief charges in three counties for leaving his partners exposed to the disease without their knowledge. He faces up to two and a half years in prison on each charge.

According to court documents, at least two of his sexual partners found out about Spoor’s HIV status through a news article.

Spoor’s mother, Lisa Holderman, broke down in tears as she said her son isn’t a criminal.

“He’s lost his children. He’s lost his job. He’s lost insurance. He’s lost his home. He’s lost his car,” Holderman told the crowd attending HIV Advocacy Day last month at the Statehouse. “We’re losing everything just to try to get my son out of jail.”

Indiana has several laws that impact the lives of people infected with HIV. In addition to being required to inform sexual partners, they can face penalties for exposing people to any bodily fluid, even those that do not transmit HIV.

Carrie Foote, IUPUI professor and co-chair of HIV Modernization Movement, argues these state laws are outdated and research shows they don’t prevent the spread of the disease. Instead, they can discourage people from getting tested.

In Spoor’s case, Foote doesn’t believe he intended to harm his partners. She compared Spoor’s actions to contraceptive fraud.

“There are things that can cause life changing events in adult sexual decision making that we don’t criminalize in that way,” Foote said.

Foote, along with the HIV Modernization Movement, is working to modernize or repeal a few of the current HIV laws that she argues turns the disease into a crime.

But to describe it as criminalizing is completely inaccurate in the eyes of Terre Haute based Vigo County Prosecutor Rob Roberts.

“It doesn’t do the criminal justice system any service and it certainly doesn’t do HIV people any service to try and scare them to think that they might be prosecuted just for having HIV,” Roberts said.

During his career, Roberts has prosecuted only one HIV case to completion. He said bringing charges against an HIV-positive person for their actions is rare.

Roberts argued the state punishes other behaviors that put people at risk.

“Criminal Recklessness — where you may be reckless in your actions in driving a vehicle or in discharging a firearm and you have put other people at risk in those situations,” Roberts said. “We criminalize those actions because it’s the action that we’re talking about, not the status of someone being behind the wheel of the vehicle or possessing a firearm.”

However, Roberts thinks it’s a possibility that disclosure laws are one of the reasons why people don’t get tested in the first place.

Conquering Stigma

At the Damien Center in Indianapolis, more than 4,000 infected individuals receive care and services from Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization. For years, Jeremy Turner, director of development and communication at the center, has helped get people tested for HIV.

“Disclosure is the right thing to do, but unfortunately HIV is so heavily stigmatized because of things like duty to warn and because of legislation that might not be fair to them, but also because of the social implications of being HIV positive,” Turner said. “Disclosure is a hard thing to do.”

Stigma is one of the biggest hurdles in ending the HIV epidemic, Turner said, and that’s exactly what the current HIV laws do, according to Foote.

The HIV Modernization Movement’s main goal is to modernize the duty to warn and battery by bodily waste HIV laws. Duty to warn is the law that requires HIV-positive people to reveal their condition to sexual partners and needle-sharing partners. The battery by bodily waste law applies to a range of acts and bodily fluids, including spitting or throwing feces.

For Foote, the main problem with the duty to warn law is that it charges people who have no intention of harming another person. She wants the law revised to require proof that the person had intent to harm.

“The way these laws are worded, if I was sexually assaulted, I would have to disclose to my rapist that I was HIV positive,” Foote said. “There’s nothing in the law that tells that I don’t have to do that.”

The movement is also pushing to repeal the laws that prevent HIV positive people from donating blood or semen altogether. Foote said there’s no risk of transmission if a man with HIV was to seek fertility services. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration screens blood donations for the disease.

 Understanding the laws

Results of a recent survey of health care providers about HIV disclosure showed that the majority of respondents had little understanding of the law or the consequences. Only 58 percent of the more than 170 respondents said they read the full Indiana duty to warn code and only 43 percent knew the punishment for law breakers.

Those health care providers are the ones to make sure patients sign a form acknowledging that they have a duty to disclose their condition to partners past and present.

John Coberg II, an IUPUI research assistant who worked on the survey along with Foote, said he saw a common theme in the results — that the laws are harmful.

In the survey one anonymous provider wrote, “It often makes the client feel like a criminal, or they’re dirty or wrong when they’re in my office for help. As a care coordination person, you should never want your client to feel any of these things when they walk in your office.”

Changing the laws

When changing a law, Roberts said two questions need to be considered: How is the statute being used, and is it being used in an unfair fashion? In Roberts’ opinion, these laws haven’t been around long enough to answer these questions just yet.

Roberts said it’s the job of the legislature to look at the current laws to see if they need tweaking.

“We can take a look,” Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, said.

Taylor’s focus is the current battery by bodily waste law, since research shows HIV is not transferrable by saliva. He wants to change the law so that HIV positive people aren’t charged differently for having the disease.

“If the chairman of the health committee is willing to go along with it, we can hopefully put some modern legislation in place to protect the public but also not make a criminal out of people because they contracted HIV,” Taylor said

Published in NUVO on May 12, 2017