"HIV Criminalization: An Epidemic of Ignorance?" Press Conference at AIDS 2012 on July 25
The press conference, supported by UNAIDS and the UNDP-led Global Commission on HIV and the Law, will include presentations by people living with HIV, their advocates, and experts in the field of HIV criminalization.
In addition to two personal stories reflecting the injustices of HIV criminalization, presentations will include:
• Information on the top 15 global HIV criminalization "hot spots"
• The Positive Justice Project Consensus Statement on HIV Criminalization in the United States, and the importance of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act
• Preliminary SERO online survey results on the impact of HIV criminalization in the United States
The event is hosted by:
• The Center for HIV Law & Policy / Positive Justice Project, United States
• Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the Netherlands
• HIV Justice Network, United Kingdom/Germany
• INA (Maori, Indigenous & South Pacific) HIV/AIDS Foundation, New Zealand
• The SERO Project, United States
• Terrence Higgins Trust, United Kingdom
• UNAIDS, Switzerland
The discussion will be chaired by Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS. Speakers will include:
• Nick Rhoades, HIV criminalization survivor (United States)
• Marama Pala, former complainant (New Zealand)
• Edwin J Bernard, Co-ordinator HIV Justice Network (United Kingdom/Germany) and Consultant, Global Criminalisation Scan, Global Network of People Living With HIV (GNP+ (Netherlands)
• Laurel Sprague, Research Director, SERO (United States)
• Lisa Fager Bediako, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation/ Positive Justice Project (United States)
A question-and-answer session will follow. The press conference will end at 10:45 am.
For more information, contact:
Catherine Hanssens, 347-622-1400
[email protected]
Lisa Bediako, [email protected]