OTTAWA — On World AIDS Day, activists are urging the Canadian government to fulfill a promise made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reform laws regarding HIV disclosure. The HIV Legal Network emphasizes that Canada’s progress in preventing new HIV infections has stalled, particularly among Indigenous populations in the Prairies. This stagnation is reportedly leading to increased government spending, amounting to millions of dollars.

The group is specifically calling on Justice Minister Sean Fraser to revive the government’s plan to amend laws that currently prosecute individuals with HIV who do not disclose their status to sexual partners, even in cases where transmission is not possible.

Members of Parliament and senators from the Global Equality Caucus are also advocating for increased funding for treatment and prevention efforts. They believe that enhanced financial support is essential for Canada to meet international targets in combating HIV.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, there was a slight decrease in new HIV cases last year. However, government statistics indicate that Canada is lagging behind most G7 nations in its efforts to eliminate the spread of the virus.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has reported that funding cuts from countries like Canada and the United States have contributed to a significant reduction in global funding for AIDS initiatives in developing nations, which has declined by about one-third. This reduction in funding is seen as a major setback in the global fight against the epidemic.