HIV criminalisation cases

The latest cases curated for the HIV Justice Network from global news reports.

Showing 53 of 53 cases

[Update] Australia: Transgender sex worker from New Zealand jailed for alleged HIV transmission fights deportation

Latest update 18 April 2023

Western Australia Australia Alleged sexual exposure Alleged sexual transmission Migrants Sex workers Trans* people

Tajikistan: 46-year-old woman sex worker charged with allegedly transmitting HIV to several clients

Latest update 10 April 2023

Tajikistan Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

Uzbekistan: Female sex worker sentenced to three years for alleged HIV transmission

Latest update 4 November 2022

Uzbekistan Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

Niger: Charges against woman sex worker arrested for HIV exposure are dropped following advocates intervention

Latest update 10 August 2022

Niger Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

[Update]Canada: Trial of 31-year-old trans* sex worker charged with alleged HIV transmission and non-disclosure collapses

Latest update 13 November 2021

Alberta Canada Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Trans* people

India: Mumbai judge rules that sex worker living with HIV cannot be released as she would “pose a danger to society”

Latest update 17 October 2021

India Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

[Update]US: Woman sex worker, previously sentenced to jail, faces new felony charges in Ohio for soliciting

Latest update 9 March 2021

Ohio USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

Uzbekistan: HIV+ transgender sex workers arrested in Tashkent and charged with HIV exposure

Latest update 13 November 2020

Uzbekistan Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Trans* people

US: Sex worker arrested in undercover operation and facing charges of HIV exposure in Georgia

Latest update 5 December 2019

Georgia USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

US: Charges of alleged HIV non-disclosure dismissed for the second time in Michigan against ‘undetectable’ transgender woman

Latest update 3 October 2019

Michigan USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Trans* people

[Update]US: Male sex worker charged for alleged HIV non-disclosure in Michigan

Latest update 23 September 2019

Michigan USA Alleged sexual exposure Gay men Sex workers

Tajikistan: 28-year-old woman sex worker arrested for alleged HIV transmission

Latest update 30 May 2019

Tajikistan Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

Tajikistan: Sex worker sentenced to one year and 4 months in jail for alleged HIV exposure

Latest update 15 March 2019

Tajikistan Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

US: Man living with HIV arrested in Pennsylvania for engaging in sex work while knowing his status

Latest update 31 January 2019

Pennsylvania USA Alleged sexual exposure Gay men Sex workers

Tajikistan: 29-year-old sex worker arrested in Sogd region for continuing to engage in sex work despite HIV status

Latest update 15 October 2018

Tajikistan Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

Tajikistan: Second woman in a year to be charged for providing sexual services despite a positive HIV test

Latest update 21 September 2018

Tajikistan Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

[Update]Tajikistan: Sex worker sentenced to one year in prison for alleged HIV transmission

Latest update 8 August 2018

Tajikistan Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

Armenia: Sex worker in Lori region charged with alleged HIV transmission

Latest update 1 January 2018

Armenia Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers

Norway: Trans sex worker with HIV deported from Norway after police considered opening criminal proceedings for HIV exposure

Latest update 13 December 2017

Norway Alleged sexual exposure Migrants Sex workers Trans* people

US: Woman living with HIV arrested in Oklahoma for sex work and "intending to transfer HIV"

Latest update 22 November 2017

Oklahoma USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

Korea: 26 year-old sex worker arrested for allegedly exposing her customers to HIV

Latest update 31 October 2017

South Korea Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

US: Man charged with felony in Kentucky for engaging in sex work and living with HIV

Latest update 4 August 2017

Kentucky USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

Belgium: Brussels male sex worker gets 18 months for ‘attempted poisoning’ after disclosing his HIV status to a client who then obtained PEP following a single episode of condomless sex

Latest update 29 March 2017

Belgium Alleged sexual exposure Gay men Sex workers

Senegal: 2 years suspended sentence for woman sex worker despite undetectable viral load

Latest update 27 March 2017

Senegal Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

Nigeria: Sex worker in Zamfara State hunted by police following rumours about alleged HIV transmission

Latest update 22 January 2017

Nigeria Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

Turkey: Azerbaijani female sex worker arrested in Van province, accused of exposing 200 male clients to HIV

Latest update 6 January 2017

Turkey Alleged sexual exposure Alleged sexual transmission Migrants Sex workers Women

[update]Greece: Athens court exonerate 11 HIV positive women who had been arrested and exposed publicly in 2012 in a notorious HIV-criminalisation case

Latest update 6 December 2016

Greece Sex workers Women

US: Ohio woman living with HIV arrested on sex-work related charges

Latest update 20 November 2016

Ohio USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

US: Georgia man pleads not guilty to charge of reckless conduct after arrest by undercover policeman

Latest update 29 October 2016

Georgia USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

US: Man living with HIV pleads not-guilty in Georgia to charges of alleged HIV non-disclosure and prostitution

Latest update 5 October 2016

Georgia USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

US: Florida woman living with HIV sentenced to a year in prison for soliciting

Latest update 30 September 2016

Florida USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

Czech Republic: Pardubice female sex worker arrested for potential ‘HIV exposure’ for offering condomless sex

Latest update 28 July 2016

Czech Republic/Czechia Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

Czech Republic: Sex worker facing 3 to 8 years in prison for alleged HIV exposure

Latest update 16 July 2016

Czech Republic/Czechia Alleged sexual exposure Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers Women

US: Tennessee sex worker charged with alleged criminal exposure to HIV

Latest update 9 May 2016

Tennessee USA Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

US: Male sex worker gets probation after pleading guilty to HIV non-disclosure prior to sex with Batesville, Indiana mayor

Latest update 15 March 2016

Idaho USA Alleged sexual exposure Gay men Sex workers

Kazakhstan: Almaty police identifies 98 sex workers as HIV-positive and tracks their clients

Latest update 2 December 2015

Kazakhstan Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers Women

Missouri woman with HIV arrested and charged for offering to perform (oral?) sex during massage to undercover cop, faces 5 – 15 years in prison

Latest update 8 June 2015

Missouri USA Sex workers Women

Belarus: In Rechitza, Gomel region, sex worker with HIV brought to court for a possible virus transmission to her clients; she can face up to three years in prison

Latest update 19 November 2014

Belarus Alleged sexual exposure Alleged sexual transmission Sex workers

US: Missouri sex worker arrested for living with HIV defended on local TV news by advocate highlighting latest science around HIV risks

Latest update 7 October 2014

Missouri USA Articles Risk Media/Public Opinion Sex workers Women

Slovakia: Sex worker sentenced to 7 years for alleged HIV exposure

Latest update 13 July 2014

Slovakia Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

Tajikistan: 505 sex workers detained and forced to HIV and STI testing by the police

Latest update 12 June 2014

Tajikistan Sex workers Women

Saudi Arabia: Syrian women beggars who had sex with two young Saudi men accused of being Assad’s agents after the men are diagnosed with HIV

Latest update 24 January 2014

Saudi Arabia Media/Public Opinion Alleged sexual transmission Migrants Sex workers Women

US: Ohio sex worker with HIV, whose case inspired an HIV-specific sex work law in 1996, arrested again

Latest update 14 December 2013

Ohio USA Sex workers Women

Bolivia: Sex worker placed under house arrest for allegedly exposing her clients to HIV

Latest update 4 October 2013

Bolivia Alleged sexual exposure Sex workers

US: Florida sex worker charged with ‘criminal transmission of HIV’ for not disclosing her HIV status to undercover cops

Latest update 30 June 2013

Florida USA Sex workers Women

US: Tennessee woman with HIV charged with ‘aggravated prostitution’ for offering sex to undercover cops

Latest update 24 June 2013

Tennessee USA Sex workers Women

US: Male porn actor and LA production company sued by female performer for alleged HIV non-disclosure

Latest update 19 June 2013

California USA Alleged sexual exposure Heterosexual men Sex workers Civil cases (non criminal)

US: Gay man with HIV previously charged with soliciting for oral sex will not be deported to Mexico

Latest update 6 June 2013

USA Gay men Migrants Sex workers

Canada: Honduras refugee who worked as a prostitute without telling his clients he had HIV can stay in Canada: judge

Latest update 20 March 2013

Ontario Canada Gay men Migrants Sex workers

Australia: HIV-positive sex worker gets 2 1/2 months jail for being an HIV-positive sex worker

Latest update 15 September 2008

Australian Capital Territory Australia Gay men Sex workers

[Update] Australia: Transgender sex worker from New Zealand jailed for alleged HIV transmission fights deportation

Tajikistan: 46-year-old woman sex worker charged with allegedly transmitting HIV to several clients

Uzbekistan: Female sex worker sentenced to three years for alleged HIV transmission

Niger: Charges against woman sex worker arrested for HIV exposure are dropped following advocates intervention

[Update]Canada: Trial of 31-year-old trans* sex worker charged with alleged HIV transmission and non-disclosure collapses

India: Mumbai judge rules that sex worker living with HIV cannot be released as she would “pose a danger to society”

[Update]US: Woman sex worker, previously sentenced to jail, faces new felony charges in Ohio for soliciting

Uzbekistan: HIV+ transgender sex workers arrested in Tashkent and charged with HIV exposure

US: Sex worker arrested in undercover operation and facing charges of HIV exposure in Georgia

US: Charges of alleged HIV non-disclosure dismissed for the second time in Michigan against ‘undetectable’ transgender woman

[Update]US: Male sex worker charged for alleged HIV non-disclosure in Michigan

Tajikistan: 28-year-old woman sex worker arrested for alleged HIV transmission

Tajikistan: Sex worker sentenced to one year and 4 months in jail for alleged HIV exposure

US: Man living with HIV arrested in Pennsylvania for engaging in sex work while knowing his status

Tajikistan: 29-year-old sex worker arrested in Sogd region for continuing to engage in sex work despite HIV status

Tajikistan: Second woman in a year to be charged for providing sexual services despite a positive HIV test

[Update]Tajikistan: Sex worker sentenced to one year in prison for alleged HIV transmission

Armenia: Sex worker in Lori region charged with alleged HIV transmission

Norway: Trans sex worker with HIV deported from Norway after police considered opening criminal proceedings for HIV exposure

US: Woman living with HIV arrested in Oklahoma for sex work and "intending to transfer HIV"

Korea: 26 year-old sex worker arrested for allegedly exposing her customers to HIV

US: Man charged with felony in Kentucky for engaging in sex work and living with HIV

Belgium: Brussels male sex worker gets 18 months for ‘attempted poisoning’ after disclosing his HIV status to a client who then obtained PEP following a single episode of condomless sex

Senegal: 2 years suspended sentence for woman sex worker despite undetectable viral load

Nigeria: Sex worker in Zamfara State hunted by police following rumours about alleged HIV transmission

Turkey: Azerbaijani female sex worker arrested in Van province, accused of exposing 200 male clients to HIV

[update]Greece: Athens court exonerate 11 HIV positive women who had been arrested and exposed publicly in 2012 in a notorious HIV-criminalisation case

US: Ohio woman living with HIV arrested on sex-work related charges

US: Georgia man pleads not guilty to charge of reckless conduct after arrest by undercover policeman

US: Man living with HIV pleads not-guilty in Georgia to charges of alleged HIV non-disclosure and prostitution

US: Florida woman living with HIV sentenced to a year in prison for soliciting

Czech Republic: Pardubice female sex worker arrested for potential ‘HIV exposure’ for offering condomless sex

Czech Republic: Sex worker facing 3 to 8 years in prison for alleged HIV exposure

US: Tennessee sex worker charged with alleged criminal exposure to HIV

US: Male sex worker gets probation after pleading guilty to HIV non-disclosure prior to sex with Batesville, Indiana mayor

Kazakhstan: Almaty police identifies 98 sex workers as HIV-positive and tracks their clients

Missouri woman with HIV arrested and charged for offering to perform (oral?) sex during massage to undercover cop, faces 5 – 15 years in prison

Belarus: In Rechitza, Gomel region, sex worker with HIV brought to court for a possible virus transmission to her clients; she can face up to three years in prison

US: Missouri sex worker arrested for living with HIV defended on local TV news by advocate highlighting latest science around HIV risks

Slovakia: Sex worker sentenced to 7 years for alleged HIV exposure

Tajikistan: 505 sex workers detained and forced to HIV and STI testing by the police

Saudi Arabia: Syrian women beggars who had sex with two young Saudi men accused of being Assad’s agents after the men are diagnosed with HIV

US: Ohio sex worker with HIV, whose case inspired an HIV-specific sex work law in 1996, arrested again

Bolivia: Sex worker placed under house arrest for allegedly exposing her clients to HIV

US: Florida sex worker charged with ‘criminal transmission of HIV’ for not disclosing her HIV status to undercover cops

US: Tennessee woman with HIV charged with ‘aggravated prostitution’ for offering sex to undercover cops

US: Male porn actor and LA production company sued by female performer for alleged HIV non-disclosure

US: Gay man with HIV previously charged with soliciting for oral sex will not be deported to Mexico

Canada: Honduras refugee who worked as a prostitute without telling his clients he had HIV can stay in Canada: judge

[Update]Maldives: Sex worker with HIV arrested in Maldives

US: South Carolina female sex worker arrested for alleged HIV non-disclosure

Canada: Ontario woman pleads guilty, gets four years in prison

Australia: HIV-positive sex worker gets 2 1/2 months jail for being an HIV-positive sex worker