Higher-risk populations for HIV, including gay men and people who inject drugs, face unprecedented criminalisation across numerous countries, marking a concerning increase in punitive legal actions. New laws in Mali, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Ghana intensify the crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. These developments occur alongside significant cuts in US funding for HIV prevention and treatment, coupled with growing humanitarian challenges. UNAids reports that most countries continue to criminalise key populations, hindering public health efforts. While new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have reached their lowest levels in over three decades, the social and legal environment remains precarious.
People at higher risk of HIV, such as gay men and people who inject drugs, are facing record levels of criminalisation worldwide, according to UNAids.
The number of countries criminalising same-sex sexual activity and gender expression has increased, marking a troubling trend in global legal frameworks.
The crackdown on gay rights coincides with abrupt US funding cuts, humanitarian challenges, and climate crisis shocks, jeopardizing the fight against HIV/Aids.
In 2025, only eight of 193 countries did not criminalise any of those groups or behaviours related to HIV.
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