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Criminal Code reform of HIV non disclosure is urgently needed: Social science perspectives on the harms of HIV criminalization in Canada

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  • Colin Hastings
  • Martin French
  • Alexander McClelland
  • Eric Mykhalovskiy
  • Barry Adam
  • Laura Bisaillon
  • Katarina Bogosavljevic
  • Marilou Gagnon
  • Saara Greene
  • Adrian Guta
  • Suzanne Hindmarch
  • Angela Kaida
  • Jennifer Kilty
  • Notisha Massaquoi
  • Viviane Namaste
  • Patrick O’Byrne
  • Michael Orsini
  • Chris Sanders
  • Alison Symington
  • Ciann Wilson
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>29/02/2024
<mark>Journal</mark>Canadian Journal of Public Health
Issue number1
Volume115
Number of pages7
Pages (from-to)8-14
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date12/12/23
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The criminalization of HIV non-disclosure represents a significant issue of concern among people living with HIV, those working across the HIV sector, public health practitioners, and health and human rights advocates around the world. Recently, the government of Canada began a review of the criminal law regarding HIV non-disclosure and invited feedback from the public about potential reforms to the Criminal Code. In light of this public consultation, this commentary examines social science research from Canadian scholars that documents the intersecting damaging effects of HIV criminalization. Canadian social scientists and other researchers have shown that HIV criminalization is applied in uneven and discriminatory ways, impedes HIV prevention efforts, perpetuates HIV stigma, and has a damaging impact on the daily lives of people living with HIV. We argue that there is an urgent need for reforms that will significantly restrict how the criminal law is applied to HIV non-disclosure.