AG Kihara Opposes Bid Set To Dismiss Law Criminalizing The Spread Of HIV
A petition seeking to decriminalize deliberate transmission of HIV or any other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) diseases should be dismissed by the high court says Attorney General Paul Kihara.
The law says that any person who deliberately or intentionally infects another with HIV or any other life threatening STIs is guilty of an offence, whether or not he or she is married to that other person and shall be liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than 15 years but may be enhanced for life.
The petitioners argue that the law creates criminal sanctions and punishes persons living with HIV and is unconstitutional for violating their rights, such as the right to freedom from discrimination.
"In examining the purpose, effect, historical background ...