Shattering the Chains of HIV Stigma: U=U and the Fight Against Criminalization
Last week, Y+ Global, a leading organization advocating for the rights and well-being of young people living with HIV, hosted a webinar on the intersection of Undetectable equals Untransmittable(U=U) with HIV criminalization and disclosure laws. This is a rundown of how TEP participated!
The event, titled “U=U and HIV Criminalization: Understanding the Intersection,” was hosted in partnership with the International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW), the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), and the HIV Justice Network.
The webinar kicked off with Sulix Lalinah introducing the session and explained the meaning of the intersection of U=U. He explained how the movement had given agency to people living with HIV thereby reducing the stigma associated with it and promoting public health through encouraging testing, treatment and adherence to the ARV therapy.
The program was moderated by YPlus Global’s Program Manager in the person of Dr Wilson, and Co moderated by Enoch Simeon Kra and featured keynote speakers Elliot Hatt a UK based Legal researcher, Sibongile Kubheka the Regional medical director for V healthcare and head of affairs in the African region, Emmanuel Onwe, our Advocacy Lead at TEP, a prominent advocate for HIV decriminalization and a U.S.-based biomedical scientist and public health researcher.and Patricia Ochieng the Director of ring of women fighting AIDS group and also chair-person of the international community of women living with HIV in Kenya. They shared their personal experiences and insights on the devastating impact of HIV criminalization laws.
During the webinar, Elliot Hatt gave his legal framework on how criminal laws are used to prosecute alleged HIV exposure, non-disclosure and transmission and explained how they have been able to to help curb these challenges to a certain degree. Sibongile Kubheka gave her keynote on the science behind Undetectable = Untransmittable and explained how people often react to the possibilities to move from unsuppressed to undetectable and elaborated on how poor clinical studies have been the cause of this widespread ignorance.
Patricia Ochieng gave her keynote speech by insisting that the use of the community instruments such as the treatment literacy tool materials be used to spread the U=U information to more countries. Emmanuel Onwe emphasized that U=U has revolutionized our understanding of HIV, rendering it impossible to transmit the virus when viral loads are undetectable. He stressed that these laws perpetuate stigma, discrimination, and fear, and called for their immediate repeal.
Keynotes from his speech included:
– The need to educate and raise awareness about U=U to combat stigma and misinformation
– The importance of advocating for the repeal of HIV criminalization laws
– The need to support and empower individuals living with HIV to share their stories and demand change
The webinar culminated in a collective resolution to:
– Educate and raise awareness about U=U and its implications for HIV criminalization
– Advocate for the repeal of HIV criminalization laws and support policy reform
– Support and empower individuals living with HIV to share their stories and demand change
YPlus Global, the host organization, is a youth-led network dedicated to empowering young people living with HIV. Through advocacy, education, and community building, YPlus Global works to create a world where young people can thrive without fear of stigma or discrimination.
The event was a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of amplifying the voices of those affected by HIV. As we move forward, it’s essential that we continue to shatter the chains of stigma and challenge discriminatory laws. Together, we can create a world where HIV is met with compassion, not criminalization; where U=U is celebrated as a triumph of science and humanity.
