Marginalized women (trans inclusive) living with and affected by HIV are disproportionately criminalized. This research will establish an empirical evidence base that documents the lived-experiences of criminalization and incarceration among sex workers and women living with HIV. The ultimate goal is to inform evidence-based law reform and interventions to redress over criminalization and negative effects of incarceration.
The objectives of this research program are to:
- Document how evolving laws and policy frameworks governing sexuality (criminalization of sex work; criminalization of HIV non-disclosure) impact HIV care trajectories, sexual health and social inequities among sex workers and women living with HIV.
- Describe and monitor the impacts of incarceration on HIV care trajectories and social outcomes among women living with HIV.
- Identify and pilot novel structural and community-based interventions to mitigate the impact of incarceration on HIV care trajectories and social outcomes among women living with HIV.
- Develop a research and training platform for innovative community-based participatory research approaches to inform program and policy interventions.