In December 1992, a group of activists came together to create the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

They were united in their recognition that any effective response to the pandemic must ensure that the human rights of people living with HIV and communities particularly affected by HIV are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Today, they are one of the world’s leading organizations tackling the legal and human rights issues related to HIV, and advocating at both the policy and community levels.

They work tirelessly to defend the rights of people affected by HIV, from women, newcomers, and gay men, to prisoners, people who use drugs, sex workers, and men who have sex with men.

They produce research and resources used to support the work of front-line AIDS service organizations, researchers and community activists from across Canada and around the world.

They engage decision-makers, from parliamentarians and judges, to United Nations delegates on the importance of human rights in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

They defend and advance human rights through strategic litigation in the courts, in Canada and internationally.

In the court of public opinion, they are often the first organization Canadian journalists call when reporting on HIV issues.

ission

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network promotes the human rights of people living with, at risk of or affected by HIV or AIDS, in Canada and internationally, through research and analysis, litigation and other advocacy, public education and community mobilization.

Vision

They envision a world in which the human rights and dignity of people living with HIV or AIDS and those affected by the disease are fully realized and in which laws and policies facilitate HIV prevention, care, treatment and support.

Values

The work of the Legal Network is rooted in a number of guiding values:

The centrality of human rights in the response to HIV and AIDS;

A focus on the rights of marginalized populations;

Ensuring the meaningful participation of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS in their work and in defining and implementing policies and programs;

Ensuring the meaningful engagement of both francophones and anglophones in their work and the accessibility of their work on domestic issues is accessible in both of Canada’s official languages;

A commitment to action and activism for human rights;

Accountability to the communities they serve and to donors, including transparent reporting and effective use of resources;

A commitment to global responsibility and engagement; and

A commitment to excellence in all areas of their work.