The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network released a report, “Overdue for a Change: Scaling up Supervised Consumption Services in Canada,” calling on the federal government to protect clients and staff of supervised consumption services from prosecution for drug offences when accessing or providing those services, and for the broader decriminalization of activities related to personal drug … Read more
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network issued the following statement: “Today, as countries continue debating the future direction of the international drug control system at the United Nations, the International Drug Policy Consortium, a global network of 177 expert non-governmental organizations, has released a comprehensive evaluation of the world’s 10-year drug strategy. That global strategy, adopted … Read more
Richard Elliott, executive director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, issued the following statement: “Today marks an important step forward in Canada’s drug policy, as the legal regulation of cannabis for non-medical purposes takes effect. The Legal Network welcomes this important development toward sensible drug policy, but more must be done to uphold the health and … Read more
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale (Regina-Wascana, Sask.) and Correctional Services Canada Interim Commissioner Anne Kelly quietly announced a prison needle exchange program to be implemented in two federal prisons. Many prisoners, public health experts and advocates, including the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, have fought for more than 20 years for prisoners to have access to these … Read more
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network released an ianalysis of how the federal government presided over the steady erosion of funding, leading to this unfortunate turning point in the history of the HIV response in Canada. “We are calling on the Trudeau government to restore the millions of dollars in funding that have been frozen, diverted or … Read more
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council issued 50,000 wallet-size cards with vital information about the 2017 Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act which will be provided to people who use drugs, service providers and volunteer organizations serving people at risk of experiencing or witnessing an overdose emergency, and stakeholders in health, social services, … Read more
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario, Canadian Positive Peoples Network, the Ontario Working Group on Criminal Law + HIV Exposure and the Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization issued a joint statement: “The federal Justice Minister released her department’s long-anticipated report, Criminal Justice System’s Response to Non-Disclosure of HIV. The … Read more
The Canadian Coalition to Reform HIV Criminalization has released a joint Community Consensus Statement that shows there is a clear consensus against the current overly broad use of the criminal law against people living with HIV and the urgent need for action from federal, provincial and territorial governments. “We can’t ignore how the misuse of the criminal law, … Read more
The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network is callong on the Government of Canada to take immediate steps to implement recommendations by the United Nations’ highest body for combatting racism calling for an end to punitive drug policies that disproportionately impact Black and Indigenous Peoples. “This is the first time a United Nations treaty body has ever … Read more
Scientists, medical professionals, policy makers, activists and people who use drugs gathered in Montréal for the 25th Harm Reduction International Conference 2017. The world is looking to Canada to show leadership and replace criminalization with drug policy that is rooted in harm reduction principles, human rights standards and scientific evidence. The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network calls on all … Read more
