The ICJ has opened a call for written submissions on the misuse of criminal law in the areas of sexuality, reproduction, drug use and HIV.

In 2016 the UN Secretary General called for the removal of punitive laws, policies and practices that violate human rights, stating that the misuse of criminal law often negatively impacts on health and human rights, particularly in areas of sexuality, reproduction, sex work, drug use and HIV.

Recognizing a need for greater guidance to achieve such law reform, ICJ is seeking inputs for the development of principles to address the detrimental impact on health, equality and human rights of criminalization with a focus on sexuality, reproduction, drug use and HIV.

This is an important opportunity for civil society, academics, law makers, human rights experts, community groups and persons affected by the relevant criminal laws, to provide input, including on the effect of such criminal laws, when and how criminal law should be used, what reforms are needed and what role criminal law should play in the relevant areas.

A background paper providing further information is annexed to the call for written submissions.

The deadline for submissions is the 16th of February 2019.

These submissions will feed into the development of a set of principles to address the detrimental impact on health, equality and human rights of criminalization with a focus on select conduct in the areas of sexuality, reproduction, drug use and HIV.

Please send your submissions, as well as any questions or clarifications, to decrimconsultation@icj.org 

• CallforSubmission-DecriminalizationProject-ICJ-2019-eng (download the call in English)
• CallforSubmission-DecriminalizationProject-ICJ-2019-fra (download the call in French)
• CallforSubmission-DecriminalizationProject-ICJ-2019-esp (download the call in Spanish)
• CallforSubmission-DecriminalizationProject-ICJ-2019-rus (download the call in Russian)

Source: ICJ