HIV Criminalization – An Epidemic Of Ignorance? Press Conference at AIDS 2012 (Press Release)

For Immediate Release

****MEDIA ADVISORY****

Press Conference: 10am, Wednesday 25th July, Press Conference Room 2

HIV Criminalization – An Epidemic Of Ignorance?

Laws and prosecutions that single out people with living with HIV are ineffective, counterproductive and unjust.

As delegates from around the world meet this week in Washington DC at AIDS 2012 to discuss how to "end AIDS" through the application of the latest scientific advances, laws and policies based on stigma and ignorance are not only creating major barriers to prevention, testing, care and treatment, but also seriously violating the human rights of people living with HIV.

This is especially true in the United States, where 36 states and 2 territories have HIV-specific criminal statutes that single out people living with HIV as potential criminals. However, this growing epidemic of bad laws and prosecutions is a global problem that requires an internationally co-ordinated and concerted effort to overcome.

Come meet people living with HIV who have been involved in both sides of a prosecution as well as some of the experts and advocates who are part of a growing global movement, supported by UNAIDS and the UNDP-led Global Commission on HIV and the Law, working to ensure that the application of criminal laws, if any, to people living with HIV is fair, consistent, restrained, proportionate and appropriate, and serves justice without jeopardising public health objectives and fundamental human rights.

As well as two very personal stories that embody just how HIV criminalization is fundamentally wrong-headed and unjust, presentations will include:

·          New data on the Top 15 global HIV criminalization hot-spots

·          Preliminary results of SERO criminalization survey highlighting the devastating impact of HIV criminalization in the United States

·          The Positive Justice Project's consensus statement and the latest information on Congresswoman Barbara Lee's REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act

Hosted by (in alphabetical order): 

·          The Center for HIV Law & Policy / Positive Justice Project, United States

·          Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), Netherlands

·          HIV Justice Network, United Kingdom/Germany

·          INA (Maori, Indigenous & South Pacific) HIV/AIDS Foundation, New Zealand

·          The SERO Project, United States

·          Terrence Higgins Trust, United Kingdom

·          UNAIDS, Switzerland

Chaired by Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS, Switzerland, speakers will include:

·          Nick Rhoades, HIV criminalization survivor, United States

·          Marama Pala, former complainant, New Zealand

·          Edwin J Bernard, Co-ordinator, HIV Justice Network, and Consultant, GNP+ Global Criminalisation Scan

·          Laurel Sprague, Research Director - SERO, United States

·          Lisa Fager Bediako, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation/ Positive Justice Project, United States.

A question and answer session will follow.  The press conference will end at 10.45am.

To arrange interviews with any of the speakers please contact Edwin J Bernard via email or mobile.

Media Contact

Edwin J Bernard, Co-ordinator, HIV Justice Network

Mobile: +1.347.681.8411

Email: edwin(at)hivjustice.net