Legislators meet to consider proposals in new GEC HIV report
On 7 September, the Global Equality Caucus launched its latest research report, Decriminalising HIV: Strategies and best practice for legislators.
The report puts forward 10 recommendations to address laws that continue to criminalise HIV transmission, exposure and non-disclosure. These laws have demonstrably held back efforts to end the HIV epidemic, and the report proposes a series of measures for legislators to move away from criminal justice solutions towards a public health and human rights framework.
To coincide with the publication, GEC held a launch event in Buenos Aires ahead of the Equal Rights Coalition. Hosted by JP Morgan Chase, the panel event convened legislators from across the world in addition to civil society advocates and HIV experts.
Led by GEC Deputy Chair Tamara Adrián (Venezuela), attendees also heard from GEC Steering Committee member Jack Patrick Lewis (US - MA) and Argentinian Congresswomen Mónica Fein and Carolina Gaillard.
Fein and Gaillard, who championed Argentina’s new comprehensive law to decriminalise and safeguard the human rights of people living with HIV, were joined on the discussion panel by Scott Boule of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The panellists led a dialogue on how legislators can influence the promotion of legislation for national responses to the HIV epidemic, and how lawmakers can work together with civil society to modernise and humanise responses. Argentina has been heralded as a leader in this regard.
The panel discussion was followed by a series of breakout conversations to consider the impact of GEC’s proposals, including those who were attending the event virtually.
Attendees in the room included Congressman Maximiliano Ferraro (Argentina); Congressman Aldo Dávila (Guatemala); Congressman Andrés Cancimance (Colombia); Congresswoman Susel Paredes (Peru); and Congressman Temístocles Villanueva (Mexico - CDMX).
They were joined by representatives from organisations including UNAIDS, HF Argentina and Red Gay Latino.
Andrew Slinn, research manager for the Global Equality Caucus and author of the report, said: “I am pleased that our report has been positively received by legislators and civil society experts, and that it has served as a catalyst for discussions on how to improve the response to the HIV epidemic. It now falls on lawmakers to push for legislative action and modernise statutes to reflect contemporary knowledge of the disease, and the Global Equality Caucus is always on hand to assist legislators in their work.”
The full report and its recommendations can be read here, and our previous report Breaking Barriers in HIV can be read here. Both were sponsored by Gilead Sciences.
