Sweden: People living with HIV will no longer have a duty to disclose their status to partners

People living with HIV may soon no longer have to disclose their status.

This is according to a new legislative proposal set to enter into force on 1 July 2027

“This is truly a long-awaited announcement,” says Felix König, Secretary General of RFSL.

The Government has put forward several proposals to strengthen infection control in Sweden.

Together with Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed, investigator Jan Albert presented new perspectives on the duty to disclose HIV status at a press conference on Thursday morning (2nd April 2026).

“The risk lies with those who do not know they have HIV, not with those who are aware of their diagnosis. The duty to disclose is unique to Sweden and was controversial even when it was introduced 40 years ago.”

“Risks perpetuating stigma”

He believes that the duty to disclose HIV status during sex is not effective and should be abolished, whilst patients continue to be encouraged to be open. The focus should instead be on voluntary disclosure and personalised responsibility through advice and support, according to the proposal.

The proposal means that the duty to inform would be removed in its current form and could only be given as a general guideline – in practice, not in the context of sex.

– There is no longer any reason to retain a system that risks perpetuating stigma and may even hinder diagnosis. The aim of commissioning this inquiry was that the duty to inform should, if possible, be removed, and we now have the evidence to support this. HIV is today a treatable infection and should be managed like any other such condition, says the Minister for Social Affairs.

According to the inquiry, neighbouring countries do not have a duty to inform regarding HIV, yet still have an equally good situation when it comes to domestic transmission.

RFSL: Sweden has faced criticism

Felix König, Secretary General of RFSL, describes the announcement as long-awaited.

– RFSL has been working for over 40 years to reduce the vulnerability of people living with HIV in Sweden.

According to him, current regulations have contributed to discrimination and increased stigma for people living with HIV in Sweden.

– This is also something for which Sweden has faced criticism from UNAIDS and other organisations because we have retained this legislation. What we know is that this legislation contributes to stigma and does not reduce the spread of infection.

He goes on to say that research has progressed to the point where the risk of those being treated for HIV passing the disease on is very small.

– I also believe that we have become a more open society over time, where we can view issues with a little more nuance. Everyone wants us to be able to reduce the spread of HIV, but perhaps we could have discussed a little more how we achieve that. And we believe we do so through support, dialogue and openness – not criminalisation or punishment.

The recording of the press conference is available here

Clarification during Q&A

“The direction of this work is very, very clear… that there are no grounds for maintaining the duty to inform… That is absolutely the ambition.”“Removing the duty to inform does not risk increased transmission… it is not an effective tool to limit transmission.”

Summary

Sweden plans a major reform of its infectious disease law, shifting toward:
voluntary compliance
proportional measures
stronger legal safeguards

HIV-specific change (core point):The legal duty to disclose HIV status before sex will be removedIt may only be used exceptionally as an individual order (“förhållningsregel”)

In practice, it will no longer apply to sexual activity

Rationale: Effective treatment → no transmission risk (U=U)Transmission mainly occurs from undiagnosed individualsThe law is outdated and not evidence-based

It creates stigma and unnecessary intrusion into private life
Sweden is an outlier; neighbouring countries do not have such a law
Policy shift:Move from coercive legal duties → advice, support, and individual responsibility
Align law with modern HIV science and human rights principles

Mexico: Proposal to repeal HIV criminalisation article in the State of Yucatan

Translated with Google translation. Scroll down for original article in Spanish.

Morena’s deputy, Clara Rosales Montiel, presented a reform initiative on public health and human rights, with the aim of eliminating discriminatory provisions and ensuring the comprehensive protection of people living with HIV.

The legislative proposal contemplates the repeal of article 189 of the Criminal Code of the State, so that the crime of “danger of contagion” is no longer considered. It also considers reforms and additions to the Law to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination, in order to eradicate the criminalization of people living with the virus and strengthen an approach based on dignity, equality and human rights.

During her speech in the Tribune of the Plenary of the State Congress, Congresswoman Clara Rosales stressed that the criminalization of HIV in the Criminal Code responds to an obsolete punitive logic that, far from preventing its transmission, deepens the stigma, discourages the appropriate diagnosis and puts people’s lives at risk.

In that sense, he recalled that Yucatan remains among the entities with the highest incidence of HIV in the country, occupying the third place national, hence the importance of comprehensive care.

The initiative also proposes changes to the Law to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination, modifying language to ensure respect for privacy, sexual orientation and gender identity of people living with HIV, as well as ensuring dignified treatment in all areas, including work and education.

During the session, the deputy was accompanied by representatives of civil society, activists, specialized organizations and people living with HIV, who supported this proposal from its wording to its presentation in the legislative campus.

Among them, the participation of the S3D A.C. Collective, the Digna Ochoa Research Center of the Human Rights Commission of the State of Yucatan (Codhey), members of the State HIV Committee and Dr. Dulce María Cruz, head of the HIV, AIDS, HCV and other STI Program in the entity.

Finally, Clara Rosales reiterated her commitment to promote reforms that guarantee substantive equality and non-discrimination, pointing out that the objective is to move towards a society where dignity is a daily practice and not an exception.

His initiative was joined by Deputy Julián Bustillos, from Morena; Deputy Itzel Falla, of the National Action Party; Deputy Larissa Acostó, of Citizen Movement; and partyless deputy Rossana Couoh Chan, reflecting plural support in favor of fairer and more inclusive legislation.

La diputada de Morena, Clara Rosales Montiel, presentó una iniciativa de reforma en materia de salud pública y derechos humanos, con el objetivo de eliminar disposiciones discriminatorias y garantizar la protección integral de las personas que viven con VIH.

La propuesta legislativa contempla la derogación del artículo 189 del Código Penal del Estado, para que se deje de considerar el delito de “peligro de contagio”. También considera reformas y adiciones a la Ley para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación, con el fin de erradicar la criminalización de las personas que viven con el virus y fortalecer un enfoque basado en la dignidad, la igualdad y los derechos humanos.

Durante su intervención en la Tribuna del Pleno del Congreso del Estado, la diputada Clara Rosales subrayó que la criminalización del VIH en el Código Penal responde a una lógica punitiva obsoleta que, lejos de prevenir su transmisión, profundiza el estigma, desalienta el diagnóstico oportuno y pone en riesgo la vida de las personas.

En ese sentido, recordó que Yucatán se mantiene entre las entidades con mayor incidencia de VIH en el país, ocupando el tercer lugar nacional, de ahí la importancia de una atención integral.

La iniciativa también propone cambios a la Ley para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación, modificando el lenguaje para garantizar el respeto a la privacidad, la orientación sexual y la identidad de género de las personas que viven con VIH, así como asegurar un trato digno en todos los ámbitos, incluidos el laboral y el educativo.

Durante la sesión, la diputada estuvo acompañada por representantes de la sociedad civil, activistas, organizaciones especializadas y personas que viven con VIH, quienes respaldaron esta propuesta desde su redacción hasta la presentación de la misma en el recinto legislativo.

Entre ellos, destacó la participación del Colectivo S3D A.C., el Centro de Investigación Digna Ochoa de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos del Estado de Yucatán (Codhey), integrantes del Comité Estatal de VIH y la Dra. Dulce María Cruz, responsable del Programa de VIH, Sida, VHC y otras ITS en la entidad.

Finalmente, Clara Rosales reiteró su compromiso de impulsar reformas que garanticen la igualdad sustantiva y la no discriminación, señalando que el objetivo es avanzar hacia una sociedad donde la dignidad sea una práctica cotidiana y no una excepción.

A su iniciativa se adhirieron el diputado Julián Bustillos, de Morena; la diputada Itzel Falla, del Partido Acción Nacional; la diputada Larissa Acostó, de Movimiento Ciudadano; y la diputada sin partido Rossana Couoh Chan, reflejando un respaldo plural en favor de una legislación más justa e incluyente.

Senegal: Anti-LGBT crackdown threatens hard-won gains against HIV

Article translated from French with Deepl.com

The West African country, which has been swept up in a wave of homophobia following two criminal cases in early February, has just adopted draconian anti-LGBT laws. An oppressive atmosphere that threatens the fight against HIV.

“We can’t eat or sleep; we’re stressed, we’re exhausted. I stay at home, I shut myself away. I switch off the television, my phone, everything,” explains Momo*, a young man whose life has become a living hell in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. On Wednesday 11 March, parliament passed a law tightening penalties against homosexuals and any organisations supporting them. The measure raises fears of a setback in the fight against HIV in this country of 34 million people, where the disease spreads mainly within this community.

The law was passed unanimously – only three MPs abstained – and was accompanied by inflammatory speeches from elected representatives. “I am speaking to the international community. Homosexuals will no longer be able to breathe in this country. Homosexuals will no longer have freedom of expression in this country,” insisted MP Diaraye Bâ.

The maximum prison sentence for “unnatural acts” has been increased from five to ten years, and the fine can now reach 10 million CFA francs (the equivalent of 13,800 Swiss francs). The bill goes further and creates two new offences: advocating for, and funding, entities and activities aimed at promoting or glorifying homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexuality. The UN has strongly condemned the new law, and Amnesty International believes the existing penalties were sufficient, says the director of the local branch, Seydi Gassama: “Five years in Senegalese prisons is an extremely harsh sentence.”

A climate of persecution and denunciation

While the law is cause for concern, the wave of homophobia had already begun in early February when two criminal cases shocked public opinion in this country, 80% of whose population is Muslim. Twelve homosexuals were arrested for unnatural acts and criminal conspiracy, including several celebrities and, notably, the television presenter Pape Cheikh Diallo. From messages to photos, investigators are tracking down gay men in the ‘network’. For weeks, arrests have been mounting – now numbering around forty – and making the headlines, sometimes with the suspects’ names and HIV status. The police have claimed that several allegedly knowingly transmitted HIV. “The police don’t know what they’re doing. The person accused of deliberate transmission might have an undetectable viral load, so they can’t transmit HIV,” protests Momo, who points out that medical confidentiality and the secrecy of the investigation have been flouted here.

The Pierre Robert case, which broke at the same time, has further fuelled public hatred. The Frenchman is alleged to have recruited Senegalese gay men to initiate vulnerable young boys into sex, film them and force them into prostitution, with a stated intention of transmitting HIV. Fourteen people have been arrested between Dakar and Kaolack. And for Seydi Gassama, the conflation is inevitable: “In the eyes of public opinion, you cannot separate these situations: unnatural acts, paedophilia, and the deliberate transmission of HIV/AIDS.”

Consequently, gay men are going into hiding or fleeing to Gambia and Mauritania to escape what some describe as the worst homophobic crisis the country has ever experienced. Papi* is not gay, but he works regularly with them through the HIV testing and support association he set up in a provincial town in central Senegal, and for this he has received threats. He has moved away because he fears for his life.

Avoiding any association with homosexuality

“For all the HIV-positive people who were taking medication, lives are now being lost; they no longer even agree to come and collect it,” he confides. Some patients even return their boxes, for fear of being identified as homosexual. The threat to the fight against HIV is real, even though Senegal is seen as a model on the continent, with prevalence reduced to 0.3% of the population. The number of deaths has been falling steadily over the last twenty years, but new infections rose during the Covid pandemic, reaching 2,979 people in 2024.

Footfall at HIV-dedicated centres has fallen, but testing has increased as many internet users post their serological results online. In this climate of stigmatisation, lists of suspected homosexuals and presidents of HIV-related associations have been shared, notably by the Islamic NGO Jamra, which provided 600 names to the gendarmerie. Online influencers, such as Idy Missionnaire, go so far as to publish people’s phone numbers, addresses and photos. “A friend of mine who is president of an association in Saint-Louis saw the gendarmerie turn up at his home to arrest him, but he fled to Mauritania,” says Papi. “I’m not going to wait for the police to come and get me. They’re hunting us down one by one.” Many organisations have shut down their websites and telephone lines, with patients becoming threatening in their demands to be removed from the registers.

The public outcry is even worrying the government, and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has warned against the publication of serological status in the press. Seydi Gassama, who has also been targeted by an online smear campaign, nevertheless welcomes a clause in the law introducing the offence of slanderous denunciation, now punishable by two to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 500,000 CFA francs (690 francs).

«Ils sont en train de nous traquer un à un»: au Sénégal, vivre caché après le durcissement de la loi anti-homosexuels

Le pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest, entré dans une vague homophobe après deux affaires criminelles début février, vient d’adopter des lois anti-LGBT draconiennes. Une atmosphère oppressive qui menace la lutte contre le VIH.

«On ne parvient pas à manger ou à dormir, on est stressés, on est fatigués. Moi, je reste à la maison, je m’enferme. J’éteins la télévision, mon téléphone, tout», détaille Momo*, un jeune homme dont la vie est devenue un calvaire à Dakar, la capitale du Sénégal. Le parlement vient de voter, mercredi 11 mars, une loi renforçant les sanctions contre les homosexuels mais aussi, contre toute organisation les soutenant. La mesure fait craindre un recul dans la lutte contre le VIH dans le pays de 34 millions d’habitants où la maladie se propage principalement dans cette communauté.

La loi est passée à l’unanimité – seuls trois parlementaires ne se sont pas prononcés – et s’est accompagnée de discours excessifs des élus. «Je parle à l’opinion internationale. Les homosexuels ne respireront plus dans ce pays. Les homosexuels n’auront plus la liberté d’expression dans ce pays», a martelé la députée Diaraye Bâ.

De 5 ans, la peine d’emprisonnement maximale pour «actes contre nature» est passée à 10 ans et l’amende peut maintenant atteindre 10 millions de francs CFA (l’équivalent de 13 800 francs suisses). Le texte va plus loin et crée deux nouveaux délits, celui d’apologie et celui de financement des entités et activités visant à promouvoir ou magnifier l’homosexualité, la bisexualité et la transsexualité. L’ONU a fortement dénoncé la nouvelle loi, et pour Amnesty International, les sanctions déjà en place étaient suffisantes, affirme le directeur de la section locale, Seydi Gassama: «Cinq ans dans les prisons sénégalaises, c’est une peine extrêmement sévère.»

Climat de traque et de délation

Si la loi inquiète, la vague d’homophobie avait déjà commencé début février lorsque deux affaires criminelles ont choqué l’opinion publique dans ce pays à 80% musulman. Douze personnes homosexuelles ont été interpellées pour actes contre nature et association de malfaiteurs, dont plusieurs célébrités et, notamment, l’animateur de télévision Pape Cheikh Diallo. De messages en photos, les enquêteurs traquent les homosexuels du «réseau». Depuis des semaines, les arrestations se multiplient, aujourd’hui une quarantaine, et font la une des journaux, parfois avec le nom et le statut sérologique des suspects. La police a affirmé que plusieurs auraient sciemment transmis le VIH. «La police ne maîtrise pas ce qu’ils sont en train de faire. La personne accusée de transmission volontaire, peut-être qu’elle a une charge virale indétectable donc elle ne peut pas transmettre le VIH», se révolte Momo qui souligne que le secret médical et le secret de l’enquête ont ici été bafoués.

L’affaire Pierre Robert, déclenchée au même moment, est venue attiser la haine populaire. Le Français aurait recruté des homosexuels sénégalais pour initier au sexe, filmer et prostituer de jeunes garçons vulnérables, avec une volonté affichée de transmettre le VIH. Quatorze personnes ont été arrêtées entre Dakar et Kaolack. Et pour Seydi Gassama, l’amalgame est inévitable: «Vous ne pouvez pas, aux yeux de l’opinion publique, dissocier les situations, les rapports contre nature, la pédophilie, la transmission volontaire du VIH/sida.»

Alors, les homosexuels se cachent ou s’exilent vers la Gambie et la Mauritanie pour échapper à la pire crise homophobe qu’a vécue le pays d’après certains. Papi* n’est pas homosexuel mais il travaille régulièrement auprès d’eux avec l’association de dépistage et de soutien aux malades du VIH qu’il a montée dans une ville secondaire du centre du Sénégal et pour ça, il a reçu des menaces. Il a déménagé car il craint pour sa vie.

Eviter tout lien avec l’homosexualité

«Pour toutes les personnes séropositives qui prenaient les médicaments, actuellement ce sont des pertes de vies, ils n’acceptent même plus de venir les récupérer», confie-t-il. Certains patients ramènent même leurs boîtes, par peur d’être identifiés comme homosexuels. La menace sur la lutte contre le VIH est réelle alors que le Sénégal fait figure de modèle sur le continent, la prévalence y est réduite à 0,3% de la population. Le nombre de décès est en baisse constante ces vingt dernières années mais les nouvelles infections sont remontées pendant le covid et atteignaient 2979 personnes en 2024.

L’affluence dans les centres dédiés au VIH a baissé mais les dépistages ont augmenté car de nombreux internautes affichent leurs résultats sérologiques. Dans ce climat de stigmatisation, des listes d’homosexuels présumés et de présidents d’association contre le VIH ont été partagées, notamment par l’ONG islamique Jamra qui a fourni 600 noms à la gendarmerie. Des influenceurs en ligne, comme Idy Missionnaire, vont jusqu’à donner les numéros, adresses et photos des personnes. «Un ami président d’une association à Saint-Louis a vu la gendarmerie débarquer chez lui pour l’arrêter mais il a fui en Mauritanie, raconte Papi. Je ne vais pas attendre que la police vienne me chercher. Ils sont en train de nous traquer un à un.» De nombreuses organisations ont fermé leurs sites web et leurs lignes téléphoniques, les patients se font menaçants pour être effacés des registres.

L’emballement populaire inquiète même le gouvernement, et le premier ministre Ousmane Sonko a mis en garde contre la publication des statuts sérologiques dans la presse. Seydi Gassama, lui aussi ciblé par une campagne de diffamation en ligne, salue néanmoins une clause de la loi qui introduit le délit de dénonciation calomnieuse, maintenant passible de 2 à 3 ans de prison et d’une amende jusqu’à 500 000 francs CFA (690 francs).

Senegal: Same-sex relations, now punishable by five to ten years in prison

Senegal passes law imposing harsher penalties for homosexuality in the name of combating Western influence

Translated with Deep. Scroll down for article in French.

Homophobia has reached such heights in Senegal that it has become a government priority. According to a bill passed on Wednesday, ‘unnatural acts’ will be punishable by prison terms ranging from five to ten years.

‘This is the first bill I have personally sponsored.’ On 24 February, to the applause of MPs, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko took pride in personally initiating a bill to toughen penalties for homosexual relations in the country.

This bill was passed on Wednesday 11 March by the Senegalese National Assembly. The most symbolic measure in the new law is that it provides for ‘unnatural acts’ to be punished with five to ten years in prison, compared to one to five years currently. The maximum sentence will be imposed if the act was committed with a minor, according to the text. The law also provides for criminal penalties for the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in Senegal.

In a country known for its tolerance in many respects, the repression of homosexuality has become a hot topic. The political calculations of the Sonko camp, which came to power in 2024 on a sovereignist platform, are in line with the concerns of a heated public opinion.

‘The Prime Minister is reacting to current events, which is normal,’ notes Thierno Alassane Sall, an opposition MP who did not vote in favour of the law – not out of concern for the rights of homosexuals, he explains, but because he considers the move to be demagogic. The elected representative refers to two group arrests carried out by the authorities in early February, which have been making headlines ever since. Fourteen people suspected of belonging to a paedophile ring with links to France and targeting young boys were arrested on 8 February. Some of the defendants are accused of knowingly transmitting HIV.

‘It’s a race to the bottom.’

A few days earlier, between 4 and 6 February, twelve other Senegalese nationals, including well-known figures such as a singer and a journalist, were arrested and accused of having homosexual relations. The HIV-positive status of some of the defendants was made public. Between the two cases, which are completely unrelated, confusion continues to reign on social media and in certain media outlets.

‘Confusion between paedophilia, homosexuality and the deliberate or accidental transmission of HIV has arisen and caused a great deal of fear and misunderstanding,’ regrets Dr Khoudia Sow, an anthropologist and specialist in the fight against AIDS. Since these two cases, arrests and attacks on people suspected of having homosexual relationships have been occurring at a steady pace. ‘These cases have led to a resurgence of mobilisation against homosexuality,’ acknowledges Thierno Alassane Sall.

Baba Dieng, a columnist in the Senegalese press, is one of the few public figures to be critical of the crackdown on homosexuality. ‘We can no longer discuss the subject calmly. It’s a race to the bottom,’ he laments. According to him, the prime minister is also acting under pressure from conservative lobbies, Jamra and And Samm Jikko Yi, which have been gaining influence since 2010 by making the fight against homosexuality their battle cry.

‘In recent weeks, even these organisations seem to have been overtaken. Online, voices are becoming even more radical. Everyone is putting forward their own proposals for homosexuals: life imprisonment, death, denial of burial…’, Baba Dieng points out.

‘These movements helped Ousmane Sonko and his party, the African Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity [Pastef], win the presidential election in 2024. It makes sense that he would make a gesture towards them,’ says Thierno Alassane Sall.

Playing the sovereignist rhetoric

Ousmane Sonko, who found allies among both progressive and conservative movements when he was in opposition, took advantage of the harsh criticism levelled by Jamra and And Samm Jikko Yi against the former regime of Macky Sall, accused of being lax towards homosexuality.

‘The law criminalising homosexuality will be one of the first I will push through,’ he promised in 2022.

The adoption of new legislation also comes at a complicated time for the government. Senegal is facing a worrying economic situation, with a budget deficit of nearly 14% of gross domestic product (GDP) and public sector debt estimated at 132% of GDP.

Many of the major promises in Pastef’s programme seem distant, such as the abandonment of the CFA franc. Tightening legislation on homosexuality allows the party to appear proactive at little cost, while continuing to play on sovereignist rhetoric.

Many Senegalese people perceive homosexuality as a Western phenomenon. Homophobic movements accuse foreign embassies and international NGOs of wanting to impose laws favourable to homosexuals.

In 2024, Ousmane Sonko himself seemed to make homosexuality a relatively important issue, emphasising that it is ‘not accepted, but tolerated’, but firmly pointing the finger at Western attempts to change Senegalese ways of ‘dealing with this reality’.

Punishing denunciations without proof

In the eyes of many Senegalese, by toughening the law on homosexuality, the Prime Minister, elected on the basis of a patriotic discourse fuelled by anti-colonialism, is standing up to the West and taking on the role of defender of values presented as Senegalese.

‘Ultimately, while homophobia activists in Senegal claim to be motivated by [Muslim] religiosity, the homophobic dynamic is highly political,’ says Baba Dieng.

On 24 February, the Prime Minister nevertheless denounced the public disclosure of people’s HIV status, which has become increasingly common on social media and in certain media outlets. While Jamra leader Mame Mactar Gueye has been threatening for several years to reveal a list of homosexuals he claims to have in his possession, the Prime Minister’s bill also plans to introduce penalties for unsubstantiated denunciations, which are rife on social media.

Ousmane Sonko also took care to emphasise the importance of continuing to allow health organisations to pursue their work against AIDS. ‘The Prime Minister wants to regain control of the issue. The hype is such that, here and there, even Pastef is accused of being close to the gay community,’ says one MP on condition of anonymity. As a result, some find the Prime Minister too timid and regret that his bill does not formally criminalise homosexuality, but merely emphasises its repression.

More than half of African countries prohibit and repress homosexuality. The death penalty is imposed in Uganda, Mauritania and Somalia. A dozen countries and territories impose penalties ranging from ten years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment, including Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania and Sierra Leone.

Le Sénégal adopte une loi réprimant plus sévèrement l’homosexualité au nom de la lutte contre l’influence occidentale

L’homophobie a atteint des sommets au Sénégal, au point de devenir une priorité gouvernementale. Selon un texte adopté mercredi, les « actes contre nature » seront punis de peines allant de cinq à dix ans de prison.

« C’est le premier projet de loi que je porte moi-même. » Le 24 février, sous les applaudissements des députés, le premier ministre sénégalais, Ousmane Sonko, s’enorgueillissait d’être personnellement à l’initiative d’un projet de loi durcissant les peines réprimant les relations homosexuelles dans le pays.

C’est ce texte qui a été adopté, mercredi 11 mars, par l’Assemblée nationale sénégalaise. Mesure la plus emblématique, la nouvelle loi prévoit de punir les « actes contre nature » de cinq à dix ans de prison, contre un à cinq ans actuellement. La peine maximale sera prononcée si l’acte a été commis avec un mineur, selon le texte. La loi prévoit également des sanctions pénales contre la « promotion » de l’homosexualité au Sénégal.

Dans un pays réputé tolérant à beaucoup d’égards, la répression de l’homosexualité s’est imposée comme un thème porteur. Les calculs politiques du camp Sonko, arrivé au pouvoir en 2024 sur un discours souverainiste, rejoignent les préoccupations d’une opinion publique chauffée à blanc.

« Le premier ministre réagit à l’actualité, ce qui est normal », remarque Thierno Alassane Sall, député de l’opposition, qui n’a lui-même pas voté en faveur de la loi – pas par souci de défense des droits des homosexuels, explique-t-il, mais parce qu’il considère que la démarche est démagogique. L’élu fait référence à deux arrestations groupées réalisées par les autorités au début du mois de février, qui défraient depuis la chronique. Quatorze personnes, suspectées d’appartenir à un réseau pédocriminel remontant jusqu’à la France et visant de jeunes garçons, ont été interpellés le 8 février. Certains prévenus sont accusés d’avoir transmis le VIH en connaissance de cause.

« C’est la course à la radicalité »

Quelques jours plus tôt, entre le 4 et le 6 février, douze autres Sénégalais, parmi lesquelles des personnalités, notamment un chanteur et un journaliste, avaient été arrêtées, accusées de leur côté d’avoir eu des relations homosexuelles. La séropositivité de certains des prévenus a été rendue publique. Entre les deux affaires, parfaitement indépendantes l’une de l’autre, l’amalgame est entretenu sur les réseaux sociaux et dans certains médias.

« Une confusion entre pédophilie, homosexualité et transmission volontaire ou involontaire du VIH est apparue et a suscité beaucoup de peur, d’incompréhensions », regrette la docteure et anthropologue Khoudia Sow, spécialiste de la lutte contre le sida. Depuis ces deux affaires, les arrestations, mais aussi les agressions de personnes soupçonnées d’entretenir des relations homosexuelles, s’enchaînent à un rythme soutenu. « Ces affaires ont entraîné un regain de la mobilisation contre l’homosexualité », reconnaît Thierno Alassane Sall.

Baba Dieng, chroniqueur dans la presse sénégalaise, est l’une des rares personnalités à se montrer critiques de la répression de l’homosexualité. « On ne peut plus discuter du sujet de manière apaisée. C’est la course à la radicalité », regrette-t-il. Selon lui, le premier ministre agit aussi sous la pression de lobbys conservateurs, Jamra et And Samm Jikko Yi, qui n’ont cessé de gagner en influence depuis 2010 en faisant de la lutte contre l’homosexualité leur cheval de bataille.

« Depuis quelques semaines, même ces organisations semblent dépassées. En ligne, des voix se font encore plus radicales. Chacun y va de sa proposition pour les homosexuels : enfermer à vie, tuer, priver de sépulture… », souligne Baba Dieng.

« Ces mouvements ont aidé Ousmane Sonko et son parti, les Patriotes africains du Sénégal pour le travail, l’éthique et la fraternité [Pastef], à remporter l’élection présidentielle en 2024. Il est logique qu’il fasse un geste envers eux », souligne Thierno Alassane Sall.

Jouer de la rhétorique souverainiste

Ousmane Sonko, qui a trouvé des alliés tant du côté de mouvements progressistes que conservateurs lorsqu’il était dans l’opposition, a profité des critiques très dures portées par Jamra et And Samm Jikko Yi contre l’ancien régime de Macky Sall, accusé d’être laxiste vis-à-vis de l’homosexualité. « La loi criminalisant l’homosexualité sera l’une des premières que je ferai voter », promettait-il ainsi en 2022.

L’adoption d’une nouvelle législation intervient aussi dans une période compliquée pour le pouvoir. Le Sénégal est confronté à une situation économique préoccupante, avec un déficit budgétaire de près de 14 % du produit intérieur brut (PIB) et une dette du secteur public estimée à 132 % du PIB.

Beaucoup des grandes promesses du programme du Pastef semblent lointaines, à l’instar de l’abandon du franc CFA. Le durcissement de la législation sur l’homosexualité permet au parti de se montrer volontariste à peu de frais, tout en continuant à jouer de la rhétorique souverainiste.

Beaucoup de Sénégalais perçoivent de fait l’homosexualité comme un phénomène occidental. Les mouvements homophobes accusent les ambassades étrangères et les ONG internationales de vouloir imposer des lois favorables aux personnes homosexuelles.

En 2024, Ousmane Sonko lui-même semblait faire de l’homosexualité un sujet d’importance relative, soulignant qu’elle n’est « pas acceptée, mais tolérée », mais pointait fermement du doigt les volontés occidentales de changer les manières sénégalaises de « gérer cette réalité ».

Punir les dénonciations sans preuve

Aux yeux de nombreux Sénégalais, en durcissant la loi sur l’homosexualité, le premier ministre, élu sur la base d’un discours patriotique nourri d’anticolonialisme, tient ainsi tête à l’Occident et endosse un rôle de défenseur de valeurs présentées comme sénégalaises. « Au final, si les militants de l’homophobie au Sénégal se prévalent de religiosité [musulmane], la dynamique homophobe est très politique », analyse Baba Dieng.

Le premier ministre a tout de même dénoncé, le 24 février, les divulgations publiques des statuts sérologiques de personnes, qui se sont multipliées sur les réseaux sociaux et dans certains médias. Alors que le leader de Jamra, Mame Mactar Gueye, menace depuis plusieurs années de dévoiler une liste d’homosexuels qu’il aurait en sa possession, le projet de loi du premier ministre prévoit aussi d’introduire des punitions pour les dénonciations sans preuve, qui vont bon train sur les réseaux sociaux.

Ousmane Sonko a aussi pris soin de souligner l’importance de continuer à permettre aux organisations de santé de poursuivre leur action contre le sida. « Le premier ministre veut reprendre la main sur le sujet. L’emballement est tel que, çà et là, même le Pastef est accusé de proximité avec la communauté gay », glisse un député sous couvert d’anonymat. Résultat : certains trouvent le premier ministre trop timoré et regrettent que son projet de loi ne criminalise pas l’homosexualité formellement, s’en tenant à accentuer sa répression.

Plus de la moitié des pays africains interdisent et répriment l’homosexualité. La peine de mort est encourue en Ouganda, en Mauritanie ou en Somalie. Une dizaine de pays et territoires prévoient des peines allant de dix ans de prison à la perpétuité, parmi lesquels le Soudan, le Kenya, la Tanzanie et la Sierra Leone.

Senegal: Rising homophobia drives patients away from HIV care and prevention services

Senegal’s LGBTQ+ community lives in fear as fight against AIDS faces setback

The country has regularly seen homophobic protest fueling assaults and public denunciations. Within this climate, organizations working to fight HIV worry that individuals will turn away from vital care and prevention services.

On February 20, Ousmane gathered a few belongings and fled his home. “Since then,” the Senegalese man said, speaking under a pseudonym, “I’ve been living in hiding, in a city I can’t name. I’m petrified. People in my neighborhood found out things about my life. They know I’m gay.” If word spreads, the man in his 30s went on, “I risk being beaten and arrested, or arrested and then beaten. I don’t see any solution other than leaving for another country as soon as I can.”

Denunciations, extortion and assaults: Over the past several weeks, people who are gay or who are suspected of being gay have faced a surge of hostility across Senegal, a country that has already been marked by regular homophobic mobilizations over the past decade.

Violence against LGBTQ+ people has escalated dramatically following the arrests in February of 14 suspected members of a pedocriminal ring targeting young boys; two days earlier, 12 men, including local media figures, were accused of homosexuality. The two cases are entirely unrelated.

Several media outlets, relying on evidence gathered by police, published the HIV status of some defendants in both cases, fueling “the conflation, already present at times in Senegal, between homosexuality and pedophilia, homosexuality and HIV positivity,” said Marane Kane, a French-Senegalese consultant and a specialist in gender issues based in France. “Since then, there has been a surge in reports of assaults, and people are living in hiding,” she stressed.

Calls for hatred

According to Free Sénégal, a support network for LGBTQ+ people, about 30 arrests have taken place since then in Dakar, Touba and Saint-Louis. “I’m afraid of everyone’s gaze. I feel like I could be denounced at any moment. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep,” explained a young man.

Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko responded to the media frenzy and, reiterating a promise made three years ago, announced on Tuesday, February 24, that he had submitted a bill to toughen sentences targeting “acts against nature” – a term that includes same-sex relations – raising the penalty to five to 10 years in prison, up from the current one to five years. The move was hailed by Mame Mactar Gueye, the influential leader of the Islamic NGO Jamra, which campaigns for the criminalization of homosexuality; his supporters, meanwhile, are demanding even harsher repression.

On TikTok and on Facebook, in videos viewed hundreds of thousands of times, influencers, including some based in Europe, have hurled condemnations at both ordinary citizens and public figures. The well-known actor Sanekh, star of the hit series Bété Bété, has been targeted. And Elimane Ndao, the Senegal correspondent for the French television channel France 24, has filed a complaint for similar reasons. To avoid being singled out, some people have even started posting proof of their HIV-negative status on social media.

Encouraged by these calls for hatred, assaults have multiplied, often taking the form of carefully planned ambushes. “He doesn’t want to talk to you, he’s too scared. I’ll tell his story for him,” said a Senegalese man living in France, describing a friend in Senegal. “He was chatting with a man on a dating app. They agreed to meet. It was a trap. He was threatened with a knife and had to hand over money to get away. Things like this happen all the time.”

The situation is alarming human rights advocates. “Gay people have become scapegoats for society. There’s the conflation with pedophilia, conspiracy theories painting them as Trojan horses for Western values, to the detriment of all local knowledge… Everything that goes wrong is blamed on them,” explained Kane. “Meanwhile, real issues like sexual violence against children are forgotten. People think they’ve done enough by cracking down on homosexuality.”

‘There’s nothing left to do but flee’

This pressure has organizations that work to fight AIDS worried that people will turn away from care and prevention services. Senegal has managed to keep HIV prevalence low (0.5% of the population in 2020). “We’re already seeing a drop in consultations. Many patients are skipping appointments, and the few who dare to come hide their identities,” said Safiatou Thiam, the executive secretary of the National Council for the Fight Against AIDS in Senegal.

After the disclosure of some citizens’ HIV status, panicked patients have asked health centers to erase their records. As for the network of community outreach workers serving at-risk populations, it has collapsed; outreach staff no longer dare ask about people’s health or try to promote prevention among a group facing such intense stigma.

In his address, Sonko insisted on the ban on sharing people’s health status. He also emphasized that the prison sentences in his bill for “promoting” so-called “acts against nature” – a provision targeting NGOs and advocacy groups that might defend the rights of gay people – should not prevent the health system from continuing its work on AIDS prevention. According to health professionals, they discreetly reached out to the government as soon as rumors emerged of a possible bill imposing harsher penalties for homosexuality.

“We can’t live in our country anymore. It’s too dangerous, there’s nothing left to do but flee,” said a young man in his 30s, his voice breaking with sobs, who spent all his savings to escape Senegal for Europe five months ago. “I can’t imagine a gay person seeking medical care in this climate.”

As for Gueye, he is showing no sign of ending his campaign. After thanking “all the TikTokers, valiant defenders of our cause,” he recently announced his intention to “tackle the scourge of lesbianism.”

Senegal: Right to defence tested in Senegal’s high-profile homosexuality and HIV criminalisation cases

The Senegalese bar facing the “file of shame”

A case involving defendants prosecuted, among other charges, for “unnatural acts” and the alleged intentional transmission of HIV has placed Senegalese lawyers in an unprecedented ethical dilemma. According to Les Échos, although the case involves nearly 40 defendants, only eight lawyers — mostly younger practitioners — have agreed to take it on.The newspaper’s investigation suggests that this reluctance, despite reportedly attractive fees, reflects a combination of social pressure, religious beliefs, and fear of stigma.Several lawyers interviewed acknowledged that public perception is a major deterrent. One of those already involved in the defence, speaking anonymously, said:

“I don’t even want people to know I’m working on this case. It’s extremely sensitive. You hesitate more than once before taking it on, and you even feel the need to consult your family first.”

In a context where lawyers are often associated with the clients they represent, some fear being labelled “the lawyer of goordjiguenes” (a derogatory term referring to homosexuals), potentially damaging both their personal reputation and that of their firm. This concern is particularly acute for those with political ambitions. As one young lawyer put it:

“There is something seen as shameful about this case that makes many lawyers reluctant to have their names linked to it.”

Religious considerations also weigh heavily for some. One lawyer who declined to join the defence explained:

“I cannot take this case. Never. When I read passages in the Qur’an describing this as among the worst of abominations, I cannot accept it.”

For him, financial incentives are irrelevant:

“I don’t want that money to benefit my family. It’s not money I could accept in good conscience.”

Others within the legal profession, however, stress that the right to a defence is a fundamental principle. A senior member of the bar, with more than thirty years’ experience, was unequivocal:

“Even the worst criminal has the right to a lawyer. I took an oath to defend those in need. If someone hires me and pays me, I defend them. That is my duty.”

Another lawyer drew a comparison with the medical profession:

“A lawyer defends a case, not a ‘goordjiguène’. It’s like a doctor treating a patient — you don’t refuse care because of who they are.”

Some lawyers have agreed to act on principle, in certain cases without charging fees. One explained:

“I stepped in because I was troubled by what happened at the police station that day. But I did not ask to be paid.”

Even so, the pressures surrounding the case remain intense. As one lawyer observed:

“In Senegal, people tend to equate the lawyer with the cause they defend.”

US: Bill to remove HIV reference from Pennsylvania criminal law moves forward

HB632 Passed out of Committee!

The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania is proud to announce that a bill addressing HIV stigma has cleared the first hurdle to becoming law. Today the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted HB632 out of committee, moving it toward a full House vote, a Senate vote on companion bill SB647, and the Governor’s signature.

Along with coalition partners including PA HIV Justice Alliance, Positive Women’s Network, Girl U Can Do It Inc., Philadelphia FIGHT, Sero Project, and the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, we are grateful to Rep. Ben Waxman for his vision to protect people living with HIV from stigma.

With thanks to Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and Rep. Emily Kinkead for comments in support.

Pennsylvania is one of nine states that still punish people charged with prostitution more harshly if living with HIV. If the buyer, seller, or promoter has HIV, the prostitution charge is a felony, not a misdemeanor.

Pennsylvania’s HIV-related felony enhancement was enacted in 1995 and has never served an effective law-enforcement purpose. In more than 30 years since its enactment, it has rarely been charged, and no credible research links harsher penalties with a reduction in HIV transmission.

It is time for that to change by removing a relic that only stigmatizes people living with HIV and does nothing to protect public health.

We also appreciate the committee’s vote in support of HR393, designating Feb. 28, 2026 as “HIV is Not a Crime Awareness Day.”

It’s long past time to remove the only remaining reference to HIV in the Pennsylvania criminal code.

Pennsylvania is one of nine states that still punish people charged with prostitution more harshly if living with HIV. Prostitution is a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania, but if the buyer, seller, or promoter has HIV, they may be charged with a felony enhancement.

Misdemeanors carry lighter penalties, like fines, probation, or short jail time. Felonies are punished by longer prison sentences, fines, and other consequences like loss of voting rights or difficulty finding employment.

Pennsylvania’s HIV-related felony enhancement was enacted in 1995 and has never served an effective law enforcement purpose. In the 30 years since its enactment, it’s rarely been charged, and no credible research links harsher penalties with a reduction in HIV transmission.

Modernizing HIV laws is a popular bipartisan issue. Recent polling reveals that 88% of Pennsylvanians believe that people living with HIV should receive the health and treatment they need, rather than face criminal charges.

HB632 would remove the last reference to HIV in the criminal code.

Click here to sign on, support HB632, end HIV stigma.

Current Pennsylvania legislation

On February 20, 2025, Representative Waxman introduced HB632, and it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. A Judiciary Committee hearing was convened on June 2, 2025. See below for more on the hearing.

On April 21, 2025, Senator Hughes introduced a companion bill SB647 and it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. No further action has yet been taken on SB647.

These bills would remove the last reference to HIV in the criminal code and reduce the stigma fueling the HIV epidemic.

Join us for a Lunch & Learn on HB632 in Harrisburg on March 24, 2026. Click here for more Information.

How You Can Help

Join us for a Lunch & Learn on HB632 in Harrisburg on March 24, 2026
Sign on, support HB632, end stigma
Call your state representatives and share these talking points:
- Prostitution is a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania and most states — yet Pennsylvania is one of nine states that still punish people living with HIV more harshly than others charged with prostitution.
- Pennsylvania’s felony enhancement was enacted in 1995 and has never served an effective law enforcement purpose. In the 30 years since its enactment, it’s rarely been charged, and no credible research links harsher penalties for prostitution with a reduction in HIV transmission.
- Over time, the Pennsylvania legislature, like that of most other states, has modernized its criminal code by removing stigmatizing references to HIV. This modernization follows guidance from the American Medical Association, the American Bar Association, and other professional organizations, based on the facts of how HIV is transmitted.
- Recent polling reveals that 88% of Pennsylvanians believe that people living with HIV should receive the health and treatment they need, rather than face criminal charges.
- Only one reference to HIV in the Pennsylvania criminal code remains, and HB632 would remove it.
- Pennsylvania has laws to punish those who harm others. Punishing people solely because they are living with HIV reinforces stigma, discourages people from getting tested and treated, and fuels the epidemic.

History

The journey to remove the final reference to HIV in the Pennsylvania Criminal Code began in community conversations and evolved to the Pennsylvania legislature when in 2024, Senator Vincent Hughes and Representatives Ben Waxman and Malcolm Kenyatta introduced Senate and House bills respectively.

The bills were referred to the respective judiciary committee, but didn’t make it to a hearing before the session ended. The legislature recessed sine die, and bills that did not pass died.

Representative Waxman reintroduced the House bill, now HB632 on February 20, 2025 and Senator Hughes reintroduced a companion bill, now SB647 that was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. A Judiciary Committee hearing was convened on June 2, 2025. Testifiers (Andrea Johnson, Dr. Jay Kostman, Sean Strub, and Ronda Goldfein) spoke before the PA House Judiciary Committee on June 2, 2025 in support of HB632. You can watch a recording of the hearing here.

Kyrgyzstan: Proposal to introduce mandatory HIV testing for people getting married

Deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh Nurzhamal Torobekova proposed to introduce a mandatory medical examination for those getting married due to the increase in cases of HIV infection in Kyrgyzstan, the publication “Azattyk” reports.

According to the Republican Center for the Control of Viral Hepatitis and HIV, more than 15 thousand people with a positive status are officially registered in the country. In five years, the number of identified cases has increased 1.5 times – from 10 thousand in 2020, notes edition.

Most of the infected – 60% – are people of working age. Experts record a change in the ways of transmission of the virus: at the moment the sexual route dominates, while in the past decades the main factor was injecting drug use.

Particular attention is paid to migration processes. According to the department, as of mid-2025, about 31% of all new cases of infection occur in citizens returning from work from abroad. The main flow of migration from Kyrgyzstan is directed to the Russian Federation, where, according to various estimates, from 1 to 1.2 million people with HIV live. According to the Ministry of Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic, there are officially more than 341 thousand Kyrgyz in Russia. Often, the infection is detected after the creation of a family, when a labor migrant, not knowing about his status or hiding it, infects his partner.

Torobekova’s initiative is based on the practice of neighboring countries – Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, where future spouses are obliged to be tested for HIV, syphilis and liver disease. In these states, which are also major suppliers of labor to the foreign market, inspections for newlyweds are carried out free of charge.

Senegal: National Assembly to examine new bill that increases penalties for same-sex relations

“We find ourselves in prison alongside criminals”, a bill provides for doubling the penalties against homosexuality

The National Assembly of Senegal must examine on Wednesday, March 11, a bill to toughen the repression of homosexuality, with penalties of up to ten years in prison. This initiative comes in a climate of tension marked by arrests and criticism from human rights organizations.

The deputies of the National Assembly of Senegal will meet in plenary session on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 to examine a bill aimed at strengthening sanctions against same-sex relations. According to a document from the single chamber of Parliament received by AFP, the text provides for doubling the penalties incurred, which could reach up to ten years in prison.

The bill was made public last month by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. In addition to the tightening of sentences for homosexual relations, it also plans to punish anyone who “apology” homosexuality with three to seven years in prison.

A wave of arrests in recent weeks

The parliamentary debate comes in a context of increased repression against people suspected of homosexuality. In early February, 12 men, including two local celebrities, were arrested and charged with “unnatural acts”, an expression used to refer to same-sex relationships.

According to the local press, this operation was followed by a series of almost daily arrests of at least 30 people. Some would have been identified as a result of complaints or searches of their phones.

In several cases, the media published the names of the arrested persons. A practice that led the Council for the Observance of the Rules of Ethics and Deontology in the Media (CORED) to remind editorial offices of the importance of respecting “human dignity” and the “privacy of individuals”.

On the spot, the gay community lives in fear. At RTL’s microphone, El Hadj confides that he no longer dares to leave his small apartment in Dakar except to go to work. “You wake up one fine day and you hear that we have caught five people, the next day you hear that we have caught two, that’s what happens. Because of your sexual orientation you are in danger, and that should not be the case in 2026”.

A feeling he shares with his friend now living in France, who was arrested in 2021 for homosexuality. “I’ve been in prison for three months, we don’t hurt anyone. We find ourselves in prison alongside criminals,” he said on RTL’s microphone.

A sensitive subject in a very religious country

Mostly Muslim and deeply religious, Senegal widely considers homosexuality as a deviance. In some recent cases, arrested people have also been accused of deliberately transmitting HIV, which has fueled virulent anti-homosexual rhetoric.

The tightening of legislation is also an old promise of the ruling camp, politically promising in the country. For several years, very influential religious associations have been calling for more severe criminalization of homosexuality, regularly calling on the authorities to strengthen sanctions.

Mexico: New equality agenda in Tamaulipas includes major HIV law reform

Gender Identity Law and non-criminalization of HIV are promoted

CD. Victoria, Tamaulipas.- For the first time at a high-level interinstitutional table, LGBTQ+ community organizations and state authorities agreed to take concrete steps towards substantive equality in Tamaulipas, with legislative commitments that include the Gender Identity Law, the publication of the LGBTTTIQ+ People Recognition and Attention Act and the reform to eliminate HIV criminalization.

During the session, priority agreements were established to consolidate the legal framework for equality. Gender Identity Law: It was agreed to advance in its ruling and vote in plenary, considered fundamental to guarantee social inclusion and labor access to the trans population.

Law of Recognition and Attention: Its publication in the Official State Gazette was followed up, which will allow LGBTTTIQ+ people to have a legal framework for protection and comprehensive care.

Non-criminalization of HIV: The urgency of reforming the legal framework to eliminate provisions that criminalise those living with HIV was addressed, promoting a public health and human rights approach.

One of the most relevant results was the confirmation of the installation of the State COESIDA in Ciudad Victoria, under the rectorate of the Ministry of Health. This organization will coordinate a multidisciplinary team to improve the infrastructure and services of CAPASITS in Tamaulipas, strengthening the care of people with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The agenda also includes the incorporation of human rights technologies and approaches to ensure that public policies are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

“This teamwork shows that Tamaulipas is moving steadily towards substantive equality,” said Ana Karen López Quintana, president of the convening organization.

Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas.- Por primera vez en una mesa interinstitucional de alto nivel, organizaciones de la comunidad LGBTQ+ y autoridades estatales acordaron dar pasos concretos hacia la igualdad sustantiva en Tamaulipas, con compromisos legislativos que incluyen la Ley de Identidad de Género, la publicación de la Ley de Reconocimiento y Atención de las Personas LGBTTTIQ+ y la reforma para eliminar la criminalización del VIH.

Durante la sesión se establecieron acuerdos prioritarios para consolidar el marco jurídico de igualdad. Ley de Identidad de Género: Se pactó avanzar en su dictaminación y votación en pleno, considerada fundamental para garantizar inclusión social y acceso laboral a la población trans.

Ley de Reconocimiento y Atención: Se dio seguimiento a su publicación en el Periódico Oficial del Estado, lo que permitirá que las personas LGBTTTIQ+ cuenten con un marco legal de protección y atención integral.

No criminalización del VIH: Se abordó la urgencia de reformar el marco legal para eliminar disposiciones que criminalizan a quienes viven con VIH, impulsando un enfoque de salud pública y derechos humanos.

Uno de los resultados más relevantes fue la confirmación de la instalación del COESIDA Estatal en Ciudad Victoria, bajo la rectoría de la Secretaría de Salud. Este organismo coordinará un equipo multidisciplinario para mejorar la infraestructura y servicios de los CAPASITS en Tamaulipas, fortaleciendo la atención a personas con VIH y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual.

La agenda también incluye la incorporación de tecnologías y enfoques de derechos humanos para garantizar que las políticas públicas se alineen con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible.

“Este trabajo en equipo demuestra que Tamaulipas avanza con paso firme hacia la igualdad sustantiva”, afirmó Ana Karen López Quintana, presidenta de la organización convocante.