Thanks to You, CDC Commits to Combatting Criminalization

by Julie Davids
Wed, 05/19/2010 - 12:49pm

Thanks so much to all of you who endorsed the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance / Project UNSHACKLE letter to CDC.

You joined a forceful call to insist that CDC commits to its plan to confront the criminalization of HIV. Thanks to you, CDC has pledged to:

• Update and expand the "Rumors, Myths, and Hoaxes" section of the CDC website.

• Update and expand CDC's factsheet and question and answer sets (Q&As) regarding HIV transmission to better address myths and misconceptions about HIV transmission.

• Develop internal talking points to ensure CDC staff is equipped to deliver consistent,
scientifically accurate information when they receive inquiries around issues of
criminalization and/or myths and misconceptions about HIV transmission.

• Survey health departments to determine whether they have collaborative relationships with criminal justice personnel and, if so, how these relationships affect HIV prevention efforts in communities.

• Use information obtained from the swveys to develop a communications package to
provide to state and local health departments with the tools and messages they need to facilitate interactions with their criminal justice counterparts. 

The letter concludes:

"While these activities represent a concrete beginning, we realize there is much to be done to address the need for a public health, rather than punitive perspective to drive how people living with HIV/AIDS are approached in the United States. We all must continue to be forward thinking in this endeavor, and collectively we will make a broader impact. We at CDC appreciate  the work orgarrizations such as yours do in the communities affected by this disease."

(Click here to get the full letter as a download.)

We couldn't agree more. And we invite you to share your thoughts below as a comment -- or you can contact us via email at jdavids@champnetwork.org, or call Julie Davids at 212-937-7955 x70.

We'll be sure to pass on the information to CDC.

We look forward to continuing to work together to fight against the criminalization and for HIV prevention justice.


 


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cdc letter

Submitted by Kat (not verified) on Wed, 05/19/2010 - 10:59pm.
It is about time that the people at the top look at these outdated laws and how they are being abused...it is a common misconception that people purposely infect others because of criminalization laws and the fact that the only stories in the media are regarding the enforcement of these laws. It is a time of change, and way past due to appropriately deal with this issue.

Congratulations - but still a long way to go

Submitted by Edwin J Bernard (not verified) on Thu, 05/20/2010 - 4:30am.
I'd like to congratulate all those involved in persuading the CDC to take its first tiny steps towards making a stand against the draconian treatment of people living with HIV in the United States. Their response is focused on the most egregious criminal prosecutions, and there is, indeed, "much to be done to address the need for a public health, rather than punitive perspective to drive how people living with HIV/AIDS are approached in the United States." For example, the CDC could also publically state that non-disclosure laws do more harm than good for public health, and also support the idea (which they already are exploring on a population level) that on an individual level people on successful antiretroviral treatment are as as unlikely to expose their sexual partners to HIV as those who wear condoms. I've highlighted your campaign and its success on my blog. http://criminalhivtransmission.blogspot.com/2010/05/us-cdc-finally-admits-criminalisation.html Keep up the good work. In solidarity, Edwin

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About the HIV PJA

The HIV Prevention Justice Alliance (HIV PJA) is a network of organizations advocating for effective and just HIV prevention policies for the United States. We grew out of the successful 2007 Prevention Justice Mobilization, which united hundreds of groups across the country at the intersection of HIV/AIDS, human rights, and struggles for social, racial, gender, and economic justice.

The HIV PJA is coordinated by Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) in collaboration with AIDS Foundation of Chicago, and SisterLove.

 

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