Global Commission on HIV and the Law

12/12/2022

The law can be a powerful tool for by removing discriminatory barriers, creating an enabling environment for civil society and promoting access to health tech.

Learn more about how the law can help & deliver

In November 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) announced a new partnership to drive progress on the 10-10-10 targets for and with key populations in PEPFAR-supported countries by 2025. The two-year initiat...

12/08/2022

Those most affected by are best equipped to drive progress.

United Nations Development Programme and The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)'s new partnership will work hand-in-hand with key populations to address HIV-related criminalization and build enabling legal environments that work for all.

Learn more:
https://hivlawcommission.org/decrim/

09/21/2022

In 2019, a Legal Environment Assessment conducted in Zimbabwe laid the groundwork for its decriminalization of transmission.

Using innovative tools, like LEAs, the Commission supports countries to advance enabling legal environments⬇️

The Legal Environment Assesment (LEA) for HIV, TB and Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights report is focused on identifying and examining all important legal and human rights issues affecting in particular people living with HIV, people with tuberculosis (TB) and those at higher risk of HIV expos...

08/25/2022

As Dr. Shereen El Feki reminds us "The law is not the same for everyone."

Learn why tackling discriminatory & ineffective laws is critical in the fight to 👇

https://hivlawcommission.org/past-events/

08/15/2022

Laws criminalizing people living with HIV and key populations are an urgent barrier to , but there is hope: our recommendations have helped at least 90 countries advance reforms to discriminatory policies.

Mandeep Dhaliwal writes about lessons learned from these efforts:

Countries that criminalize people with HIV have lower rates of HIV treatment and viral suppression compared to those with non-discriminatory legal frameworks.

08/08/2022

🆕 Global AIDS Update 2022 from UNAIDShighlights how overlapping crises have harmed the global response.

Read more about key actions needed to get back on track⬇️

The global HIV response is in danger. Find out why in the new Global AIDS Update 2022: indanger.unaids.org

07/08/2022

"By creating a more supportive legal environment we can accelerate progress around reducing stigma and discrimination and ensuring everyone can enjoy lives free of fear, shame and injustice,” says Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.

Read more about this important step towards :

UNAIDS applauds the ruling of the Antigua and Barbuda High Court of Justice that effectively decriminalises consensual same-sex sexual activity by holding that sections 12 and 15 of the Caribbean country’s 1995 Sexual Offences Act are unconstitutional.

06/30/2022

Access to prevention for all is critical to by 2030. By working to advance equity, we can ensure that medicines & innovations make it to those in need.

An injectable antiviral was tested in seven African countries. But it’s unclear when they’ll have access to it

06/17/2022

The Education Plus Initiative from
UNAIDS & partners highlights the importance of investments in education for young women & girls to prevent new infections & promote overall well-being👧📚

Learn more here⬇️

The following opinion piece is part of series to mark International Women’s Day, March 8.

05/17/2022

"There are people who lose their lives. Who are hanged. Who are persecuted. Who are pushed to su***de, because they love who they love," says Alice Nkom, a prominent defense lawyer in Cameroon and a campaigner for the decriminalization of same-sex relationships.

05/12/2022

Addressing the mental health of people living with HIV & key populations is a critical piece of ending the epidemic.

🆕report from UNAIDS and World Health Organization (WHO) highlights how this can be done by integrating mental health with services:
https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/integration-mental-health-hiv-interventions_en.pdf

04/29/2022

Research on mRNA vaccines to address may help accelerate research on a vaccine for . Thanks to the efforts of scientists globally, we are developing new tools to help people thrive & ensure a .

Clinical trials for mRNA vaccine against HIV begin in United States. Upcoming trials in Rwanda and South Africa will test long-term suppression of HIV. But lack of license access and production capacity may hamper pan-African rollout.