Breastfeeding is not a crime

A banner showing the word "Breastfeeding" in a regular font spanning from left to right of the page, underneath the words "IS NOT A CRIME" in capital letters and i9n a handwritten, aggressive looking font, followed by a big exclamation mark and a bold underline. Underneath it says: "An initiative by" followed by the logos of ICW – International Community of Women Living With HIV and the HIV Justice Network.

At least thirteen women living with HIV have been criminally prosecuted for breastfeeding or comfort nursing, and many more have experienced coercive or punitive responses including criminal investigations, child protection interventions, denial of services, surveillance, and non-consensual medical interventions.

These responses are unjust, harmful, and unsupported by science.

Advances in HIV treatment and prevention have dramatically reduced vertical transmission. Today, an estimated 1.3 million women and other birthing parents living with HIV become pregnant each year.

Infant feeding is fundamental to child health, parental wellbeing, family relationships, and reproductive autonomy. Yet people living with HIV often face fear stigma, conflicting medical advice, limited access to alternatives, and threats of punishment that undermine their ability to make free and informed decisions about how to feed their children.

Punitive laws, policies, and practices relating to infant feeding violate bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, undermine trust in healthcare systems, and conflict with public health efforts to eliminate new paediatric HIV infections. 

Building a global consensus

The HIV Justice Network and ICW Global, together with partners around the world, is supporting the development of an international scientific, legal, and human rights consensus that affirms a simple principle: Breastfeeding is not a crime.

We are working to:

  • Promote bodily autonomy and reproductive justice for people living with HIV.
  • Support the best possible health outcomes for infants born to people living with HIV.
  • Ensure access to accurate, accessible information that enables informed decision-making.
  • End criminalisation and other coercive or punitive responses to infant feeding choices.

Join the process!

Sign up below to:

  • Receive updates on the HIV and infant feeding consensus initiative;
  • Learn about opportunities to endorse future statements and declarations;
  • Share expertise, lived experience, or organisational support;
  • Help build a strong, global voice for justice, science, and informed choice.

Learn more

ICW. Confronting Coercion: A global scan of coercion, mistreatment and abuse experienced by women living with HIV (2024)

Alison Symington et al. When law and science part ways: the criminalization of breastfeeding by women living with HIV (Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Diseases, September 2022)

ARASA, HJN, ICW, SALC statement. Punitive responses to people living with HIV who breast/chestfeed or comfort nurse are unjust and harmful (2022) 

Mwayi’s Story (HJN, 2022) – short film and accompanying discussion guide

Action Toolkit: Breastfeeding defence (HIV Justice Academy)