Citation

Barrett C. AIDS Anal. Afr. 1996; 6(5): 11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Aids Policy Research Group and Pro Bono Medica Medica Publishers Ltd)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12347427

Abstract

In May 1996, Zimbabwe's Minister of Justice proposed legislation to make it a criminal offence for anyone who knows that he or she is infected with HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease to have a sexual relationship. Liability would be greater for convicted HIV-seropositive rapists. The South African AIDS Legal Network is opposed to legislation which specifically criminalizes the transmission of HIV. Such legislation will not help curb the spread of HIV, but simply discourage people from seeking education, counseling, and treatment, violate human rights, and fuel the stigmatization of people with HIV/AIDS. The Network encourages all who are opposed to Zimbabwe's proposal to voice their opinion before other such legislation is proposed and adopted elsewhere in Africa. A Cameroonian barrister at a recent meeting of the Cameroon Medical Women's Association noted that the country's penal code allows for the imprisonment of anyone who facilitates the spread of any dangerous infectious disease, including sexually transmitted diseases.

Language: en