XIX IAC 2012, Symposia Session – The Global Commission on HIV and the Law: A Movement for HIV Law Reform

Published on Tuesday, 24 July 2012 02:23

24 July 2012 – Thirty years since the discovery of HIV, we know more than ever about the approaches, tools and systems needed to deliver effective HIV responses. At the same time, there have been a range of legal responses in the context of HIV – some have hindered effective responses and some improved the effectiveness and efficiency of HIV responses.

Speakers included Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Commissioner), Shereen El Feki (Commissioner), Stephen Lewis (Commissioner), JVR Prasada Rao (Commissioner), and Mandeep Dhaliwal (UNDP). 

This session highlighted the research and policy dialogue undertaken by the Global Commission on HIV and the Law on issues of criminalization, discrimination and violence as experienced by women and HIV-related treatment access. The work of the Commission has thus shown how evidence and rights-based legal responses can transform the next generation of the AIDS response but also how punitive laws and practices have hindered effective responses to HIV. The session also addressed the political dimensions of the Commission’s recommendations as an essential ingredient for successfully using the law to scale-up effective HIV responses.   Watch video of the session below:
  Download presentations from the session here.   Find the programme below:

14:30	Introduction
14:35	Findings and recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law: criminalization of HIV B. Lee, United States
14:45	Findings and recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law: violence and discrimination as experienced by women S. El Feki, Canada
14:55	Findings and recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law: access to HIV-related treatment S. Lewis, Canada
15:05	Findings and recommendations of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law: criminalization on the basis of drug use, sex work and sexual orientation J. Rao, India
15:15	Progress and challenges in creating a movement for HIV law reform M. Dhaliwal, United States
15:25	Questions and answers
15:55	Conclusion