Human Rights, Gender and HIV

posted: 05/05/2009

Human Rights, Gender and HIV  is the latest Newsletter from African HIV Policy Network. It gives a rounded view of the effects of gender imbalance on the rights of people living with HIV.

This edition looks at the impacts of gender imbalance on young people, men and women, and it talks about how to reduce gender imbalance and uphold human rights, for all.

What's it all about?

• Gender based violence and sexual health - when culture violates health and rights
• GIPA, gender, women and HIV: Between principle and practice
• Faith, HIV and Gender - a perspective
• HIV, Gender and Sexuality
• Which way to my identity?
• Living with HIV as a young person
• Do it Right - a human right
• Engaging men as partners in HIV prevention
• Microbicides: a hope for negotiating safer sex
• Sexual and reproductive health rights of women living with HIV
• Resources

Human Rights, Gender and HIV issue of the African HIV Policy Network newsletter.

Don't Prosecute HIV Young People

posted: 09/03/2009

Young people living with HIV should not face the threat of prosecution for passing on HIV, leading HIV charities are urging.

A conference at the end of February looked at the impact of prosecutions for HIV transmission on young people. At least one person under 18 has been investigated and the recent report, Policing Transmission, included a review of one case.

Now HIV charities are lobbying the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to clarify guidelines for charging young people with the offence.

The move follows the London conference at the National Children's Bureau, attended by George House Trust and Barnardo's, which discussed the prosecution prospects and the harm caused to young people living with HIV.

Prosecutions opposed

George House Trust is opposed to HIV transmission prosecutions in principle because they cause far more harm than good to public health. They worsen stigma, shaming and blaming around HIV and make it less likely people will be tested early and start treatment on time, which are the most effective ways of stopping the spread of HIV.

Young people with HIV have all been infected through mother to baby transmission (which is now rare). This is the first generation of teenagers with HIV and as pioneers the young people have had a particularly tough time. Some are vulnerable and have been looked after by the state. Some have learning difficulties as a result of HIV.

Any teenager has a tough time growing into the world of sex and relationships amid raging hormones, and having HIV makes this far more complicated. In the view of the charities at the conference, prosecutions of teenagers for HIV transmission would not be in the public interest.

The charities at the conference called on the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines on prosecution for sexual transmission of disease to ban prosecutions of all teenagers and other young people.