The Canadian Consensus Statement on HIV and its Transmission in the Context of Criminal Law represents the consensus expert opinion of dozens of leading Canadian HIV physicians and medical researchers, regarding the possibility of HIV transmission in various circumstances and the health consequences of HIV infection. The statement was developed out of a sense of “professional and ethical responsibility to assist those in the criminal justice system to understand and interpret current medical and scientific evidence regarding HIV”, and “a concern that the criminal law is being used in an overly broad fashion against people living with HIV in Canada because of, in part, a poor appreciation of the scientific understanding of HIV and its transmission.” As of the date of its publication in 2014, the consensus statement was endorsed by 72 medical doctors and the Canadian Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease.
CHLP fights stigma and discrimination at the intersection of HIV, race, health status, disability, class, sexuality and gender identity and expression, with a focus on criminal and public health systems. As part of this work, we support movement building that amplifies the power of individuals and communities to mobilize for change rooted in racial, gender and economic justice. We do this through legal advocacy, high-impact policy initiatives, and creation of cross-issue partnerships, networks, and resources.
