A criminalização da transmissão do HIV no Brasil: Avanços, retrocessos e lacunas

Abstract

This study aims to examine the legal procedures related to infection with the Aids virus during sexual practices in the Brazilian context and its implications for updating the stigma of HIV/Aids. The reflection focused on the analysis of processes related to HIV transmission recorded in JusBrasil Portal and review of the academic literature and media reports on the subject. Data reveal the convergence of views of lawyers, government agencies and representatives of civil society about the negative implications of criminalization of HIV transmission; and advances expressed by the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court about the spread of the virus as a serious disease transmission (Article 131) and not as attempted murder and the definition of Aids as a chronic injury and not as "death sentence". However, there are setbacks as attempting to implement laws that criminalize the transmission of the virus with severe penalties and disregard the current technologies for the prevention and treatment of Aids and the stigma of fears. Given the scarcity of national studies on the subject, fostering debate and academic literature on the effects of criminalization of HIV transmission light of the current situation of Aids in Brazil and worldwide is recommended.