Criminal Code reform of HIV non‑disclosure is urgently needed: Social science perspectives on the harms of HIV criminalization in Canada

In 2022, the government of Canada began a review of the criminal law regarding HIV non-disclosure and invited feedback from the public about potential reforms to the Criminal Code. In light of this public consultation, this commentary examines social science research from Canadian scholars that documents the intersecting damaging effects of HIV criminalization. Canadian social scientists and other researchers have shown that HIV criminalization is applied in uneven and discriminatory ways, impedes HIV prevention efforts, perpetuates HIV stigma, and has a damaging impact on the daily lives of people living with HIV. The article argues that there is an urgent need for reforms that will significantly restrict how the criminal law is applied to HIV non-disclosure