Science : Scientific tests
News and features

Bringing Science to Justice: End HIV Criminalisation Now
News Release Networks of people living with HIV and human rights and legal organisations worldwide welcome the Expert Consensus Statement on the Science of HIV in the Context of Criminal Law Amsterdam, July 25, 2018 — Today, 20 of the … More

Switzerland: Two (alleged) HIV transmission convictions this month despite many positive changes in law
On January 1st 2016, Switzerland’s Epidemics Act 2013 finally came into effect, which repeals and replaces the old Epidemics Act and in doing so, changes Article 231 of the Swiss Penal Code, which in the past has been used to … More

UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights updates statement on HIV testing to include the “key trend” of “prolific unjust criminal laws and prosecutions”
The UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights has updated its statement on HIV testing — which continues to emphasise that human rights, including the right to informed consent and confidentiality, not be sacrifced in the pursuit of 90-90-90 … More

UNAIDS publishes updated, detailed guidance on HIV criminalisation
Today, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) publishes its long-awaited updated guidance to limit the overly broad use of criminal laws to regulate and punish people living with HIV who are accused of HIV non-disclosure, exposure and/or transmission. … More
Austria: Man accused of criminal HIV transmission fights “unconstitutional” forced blood test
A man in Austria is taking a case to the Constitutional Court that challenges the forcible testing of blood for HIV (as well as for use in phylogenetic analysis) that was legalised on 1 January 2012 through an amendment of … More
New report explores implications of tests to estimate timing of HIV infection for criminal prosecutions
From UNAIDS front page today. Feature Story: New report explores implications of tests to estimate timing of HIV infection for criminal prosecutions The UK charity National AIDS Trust (NAT) launched a report on 4 August 2011, entitled Estimating the … More
New Zealand: Charges dropped in criminal HIV transmission case
All charges against a Wellington man accused of not disclosing his HIV-positive status prior to unprotected sex with his female partner who subsequently tested HIV-positive have been dropped because police are unable to trace the complainant. Not only did Justice … More
Evidence: Claims that phylogenetic analysis can prove direction of transmission are unfounded, say experts
I’m reproducing this news article I wrote for aidsmap.com in case anyone hasn’t seen it, because it is a really important issue. Claiming that phylogenetic analysis is so reliable as to be able to ‘prove’ who infected who in a … More
UK: HIV transmission case dropped against gay Doncaster man
A case against a gay man in Doncaster, in the north of England, who was accused of ‘recklessly’ transmitting HIV to two male complainants, has been dropped due to lack of evidence – apparently there had been no investigation of … More
US: Padieu case gets the 20/20 treatment; phylogenetic analysis totally misrepresented
The case of Philippe Padieu, the French-born Texan found guilty in May 2009 on six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 45 years for five counts and 25 years for the remaining count – all … More