Panel Discussion on Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure

In light of the recent Supreme Court decisions, 'R. v Mabior' and 'R. v D.C.', McGill's Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, and the OutLaw McGill and RadLaw McGill student clubs are hosting a panel discussion on the criminalization of non-disclosure of HIV. The panel discussion will be conducted bilingually in the languages the panellists are most comfortable with, and questions can be asked in English or French.

Panelists

Assistant Professor ALANA KLEIN teaches and researches in health law, criminal law, and human rights at the McGill Faculty of Law. In 2009, she published “Criminal Law, Public Health, and Governance of HIV Exposure and Transmission” in the International Journal of Human Rights. Prof. Klein was previously a senior policy analyst with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, where she worked on HIV/AIDS and immigration, barriers to harm-reduction programs for people who use illegal drugs, and law reform to promote the rights of women and girls in the context of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

STÉPHANIE CLAIVAZ-LORANGER is a lawyer and coordinator of the program on “Droits de la personne et VIH” at the COCQ-SIDA (Coalition des organismes communautaires Québecois de lutte contre le SIDA). In this role, she coordinates the promotion of rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in Quebec and helps reinforce the capacities of HIV community organizations of Quebec. She intervened before the Quebec Court of Appeal in the D.C. case and participated in the drafting of the memo of the coalition of eight community organizations that intervened before the Supreme Court of Canada in the D.C. and Mabior cases. She monitors cases on criminalization of exposure to HIV in Quebec, supports defence lawyer who work in these cases, and participates in conferences to inform people living with HIV/AIDS, doctors, lawyers, and other key actors.

Dr. MARK A. WAINBERG is the head of AIDS research at the Lady Davis Institute, the Director of the McGill University AIDS Centre at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital and Professor of Medicine and Microbiology at McGill University. From 1998 to 2000, he was President of the International AIDS Society, and was responsible for organizing the 13th International Congress on AIDS in Durban, South Africa. In 1989, Dr. Wainberg and his collaborators identified 3TC as an anti-viral drug. He researches HIV subtypes and drug resistance, as well as the potential use of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) in a preventative capacity.

MICHAEL FOSTER is President of the Board of Directors of AIDS Community Care Montréal and a person living with HIV since 1990.  As an activist and advocate of people living with HIV and AIDS, Michael continues to fight stigma, serophobia and discrimination throughout North America.

Relevant decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada

R. v Cuerrier (1998): scc.lexum.org/en/1998/1998scr2-371/1998scr2-371.html
R. v Mabior (2012): scc.lexum.org/en/2012/2012scc47/2012scc47.html
R. v D.C. (2012): scc.lexum.org/en/2012/2012scc48/2012scc48.html

Light refreshments will be served

Room capacity is 100 people. Seating will be first come, first served.