GEC HIV Prevention Handbook: Best Practices for Legislators

 

Ending the HIV epidemic requires political leadership driven by an evidence-based and human-centred approach.. Legislators play a critical role in shaping laws and public narratives that can either accelerate progress or deepen inequalities. To support lawmakers in this responsibility, Global Equality Caucus developed the HIV Prevention Handbook, a regionally-tailored resource designed to equip legislators with practical tools to advance effective and inclusive HIV prevention policies.

The HIV Prevention Handbook is part of a wider GEC programme aimed at bringing the disproportionate impact of the HIV epidemic on LGBT+ populations to the attention of lawmakers at every level of government.

A Global Resource with Regional Focus

HIV is more than just a virus, and responses to the epidemic are shaped by distinct legal, social, and political environments. As different interventions are required to address different community needs and regional variations the GEC HIV Prevention Handbook has been adapted in multiple editions:

Spanish, Portuguese and French translations for some editions are also available, further expanding access to the handbook.

The Handbook as a Practical Tool For Legislators

Some of the key information and interventions outlined in the handbook include: 

  • An overview of the HIV epidemic and its disproportionate impact on LGBT+ communities

  • Evidence-based HIV prevention strategies, including biomedical, behavioral, and structural approaches

  • Comprehensive guidance on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and its role in national prevention strategies

  • Clear explanations of Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U) and its implications for policy, stigma reduction, and public health messaging

  • The importance of harm reduction approaches, including for people who use drugs and other criminalized populations

  • Expanding and strengthening HIV testing policies and access

  • Regional case studies highlighting successful legislative and policy interventions

  • Practical tips for legislators, including how to raise HIV prevention in parliamentary debates, committee work, and budget negotiations

From Evidence to Action

GEC’s HIV Prevention Handbook supports legislators in making the case for rights-based HIV policies, countering misinformation, and challenging stigma and criminalization that continue to drive new infections. By grounding advocacy in regional data and real-world examples, the handbook helps lawmakers translate global commitments into national impact.

As countries work toward ending HIV as a public health threat, the role of informed and committed legislators is more critical than ever. The HIV Prevention Handbook series demonstrates how parliamentary leadership, when backed by data and guided by the values of equality, can help turn the promise of HIV prevention into reality for LGBT+ communities worldwide.

The HIV Prevention Handbook has been supported by grants from ViiV Healthcare. Additional support for the West & Central Africa Handbook was provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

 
Vianey Estrada