Feb 28 is HIV IS NOT A CRIME AWARENESS DAY

In the last month so many things that we had taken for granted and treated with respect and dignity have been turned upside down, and in many cases have been made illegal and/or out of reach from people in need. That’s why this year acknowledging HIV IS NOT A CRIME AWARENESS DAY on Feb 28th is more important than ever.  It was first observed in 2022 by the Sero Project in collaboration with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. This awareness day is an opportunity to amplify the voices of those who have been criminalized based on their HIV status.

Sero Project ‘s PLHIV (People Living with HIV) takes a leadership role  to end HIV criminalization, mass incarceration, racial and social injustice by supporting inclusive PLHIV networks to improve policy outcomes, advance human rights and promote healing justice.  They say that HIV criminalization laws consist of wrongfully using a person’s positive HIV status in a criminal prosecution and heightening charges or punishments simply because the person charged is living with HIV. Additionally, an HIV-specific law specifically aims to target PLWH for engaging in conduct that is only deemed illegal because of their HIV status. Many of these laws can lead to PLWH being sentenced because they did not disclose their status, even if HIV is not transmitted. 

Sero is focused on ending inappropriate criminal prosecutions of PLHIV, including for non-disclosure of their HIV status, potential or perceived HIV exposure or HIV transmission and on building and supporting PLHIV networks.

For an  ides of how to celebrate the day check out https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/event-planning-guide