March 1 - Anti-Discrimination Day

March 1, 2023

On this year's Anti-Discrimination Day, with the slogan "Decriminalization saves lives", UNAIDS emphasizes that decriminalization of key population groups and people living with HIV saves lives and helps to defeat the AIDS pandemic. 

Criminal laws targeting key populations and people living with HIV violate human rights, exacerbate stigmatization and put people at risk by creating barriers to the support and services needed to protect their health.

In 2021, the world has set itself an ambitious goal to reform legislation aimed at abolishing criminal laws that hinder measures to combat HIV and leave key groups of the population without protection. Recognizing decriminalization as a critical part of the HIV response, countries have committed to a commitment to bring the number of countries with a punitive legal and political system affecting HIV response measures to less than 10% by 2025.

But despite some encouraging reforms, the world is far from achieving the goal. UNAIDS reports that currently 134 countries criminalize or otherwise persecute people for hiding information, spreading or transmitting HIV infection; 20 countries criminalize and/or persecute transgender persons; 153 countries criminalize at least one aspect of sex work; 67 countries criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity. In addition, 48 countries still impose restrictions on entry to their territories for people living with HIV, while 53 countries require mandatory HIV testing, for example, to obtain a marriage certificate or to work in a certain professional field. In 106 countries around the world, parental consent is required for adolescents to have access to HIV testing.

Criminalization leads to discrimination and structural inequality. It takes away from people the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. And this is holding back the eradication of AIDS. To save lives, we must stop criminalization.

(based on the materials of UNAIDS)

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