December 15, 2017: PWN-USA is excited to announce the launch of two new resources for 2018 as part of our continued efforts to reform HIV criminalization laws nationwide and to support people living with HIV targeted by those laws.
The first resource is a Know Your Rights Guide for HIV Criminalization. This guide is a collection of important legal information created to be a tool to help people living with HIV protect themselves from prosecution and/or being criminalized under discriminatory HIV-specific laws. It includes specific sections that have information relevant to communities that are most heavily impacted by these laws as well as general information about navigating encounters with law enforcement.
An overview of the guide will be included as part of our second resource, the HIV Criminalization First Responder webinar series. This four-part series will prepare individuals to provide on the ground support for people criminalized because of their HIV status, focusing on expanding capacity to provide legal, social, and media support. Sessions details and registration links are below–be sure to save the date!
January 10: Law, Facts, and Policy (3 PM EST/12 PM PST)
The first webinar in the First Responder series will include an overview of people first language, facts about HIV criminalization, and the rights of people living with HIV when they face criminalization. This session will also cover how to research state law and policy that impacts people living with HIV.
January 22: Activating Support Networks (3 PM EST/12 PM PST)
The second webinar in the First Responder series will focus on activating support networks for people experiencing HIV criminalization. This webinar will cover how to work with local coalitions and organizations, how to create fundraising campaigns, and how to create social support systems that keep people living with HIV who are incarcerated connected to their communities and community resources.
February 5: Combating Stigmatized Reporting (3 PM EST/12 PM PST)
The third webinar in the First Responder series will focus on media advocacy, including responding to negative and stigmatizing reporting by the press, op-ed writing, creating publicity materials, and talking to media about HIV criminalization.
February 26: Navigating the Criminal Legal System (3 PM EST/12 PM PST)
The last webinar in the First Responder series will include an in-depth look at the criminal legal system. This training will introduce participants to the main “players” that people experiencing HIV criminalization will encounter, including prosecutors, public defenders, and judges. The training will also discuss advocacy techniques for ensuring the privacy and human rights of PLHIV are upheld while engaging these players and navigating the criminal legal system.
