AFAO, Updated 2016
In Australia, each state/territory has different criminal laws under which someone can be charged with reckless, negligent or deliberate transmission of HIV to another person (generally for sexual transmission), or for exposing another person to HIV. Criminal cases in Australia involving HIV transmission or exposure are rare.
The quality of Australian media reports of criminal cases involving HIV transmission or exposure varies: on some occasions it has been accurate but on others media reports have been inaccurate or overtly sensational.
The effect of sensationalised reporting that misrepresent the facts is that it can feed misconceptions regarding transmission and risk, dehumanise the people involved in the cases and demonise all people with HIV.
The Media Tool Kit as a whole contains the following topics:
- Reporting on HIV prevention
- Reporting on PrEP
- Reporting HIV data
- HIV cure research
- HIV criminal cases
- HIV exposure risk in the community
- Reporting HIV: best practice tips +
- Ethics and principles for HIV reporting
- Background briefings
- Media releases
- HIV timeline
Read more here