HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act (2008)
47. Offences relating to spreading HIV
Any person who willfully and intentionally transmits HIV to another person commits an offence, and upon conviction shall be liable to life imprisonment.
48. Offences relating to breach of safe practices HIV
Any person who willfully breaches any provision relating to safe procedures and practices, commits an offence, and on conviction shall be liable to
(a) in case of an individual, to a fine of not less than two hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term of not less than three months or both.
(b) in the case of a health care facility, to a fine of not less than three million shillings.
From the information gathered, no one has yet been convicted for transmitting HIV. The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill (2007) which made provision for the existence of the crime, was this year enacted into the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act.
The punishment of ‘life imprisonment’ which alarmed activists at the Mexico conference (see media reports) has been maintained in the enacted provisions.
Actual transmission, rather than exposure to the virus is punishable.
From the scarcity of media reports, it appears that the enactment did not receive much media coverage.
To provide specific guidance to Members of Parliament, Ministers, of SADC countries on the complex process of HIV legislation, the SADC Parliamentary Forum, a consultative and advisory intergovernmental organization of national Parliaments in SADC countries, with the technical assistance of the AIDS and Human Rights Research Unit and the involvement of various stakeholders and regional civil society groups, has developed a model law on HIV to serve that purpose.
The Model Law integrates the protection of human rights as a key element of an effective response to HIV. The Model Law has no provisions allowing criminalisation. As a member of the SADC region, it remains to be seen what impact the ‘Model Law’ will have on the current Tanzanian legislative provisions.
Tanzania Media industry is significantly responsive to HIV and AIDS prevention and control. So far 18 media houses have developed and are impelementing HIV and AIDS policies. There are many articles on HIV & AIDS but not specific to criminalisation issues.
AIDS Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (Legislation) - arasa@africaonline.com.na
EANNASO eannaso@eannaso.org
Tanzania National Network of People with HIV/AIDS (TANEPHA)
P. O. Box 79937 Tanzania
+255 22 2460 478
tanephatza@gmail.com
Southern African Human Rights Non Governmental Organizations Network (SAHRINGON)
P.O. Box 11393
Dar Es Salaam
Tel: +255 22 2182982
info@sahringon-tz.org
Womens Legal Aid Center – Tanzania (WLAC)
P.O Box 79122,
Dar es Salaam
Tel: + 255-22-218-3769
wlac@intafrica.com
Zanzibar Legal Services Center (ZLSC)
PO BOX 3360
Zanzibar
Telephone: +255 24 2233784
zisc@hudumazasheria.or.tz
AIDS Portal Tanzania
An article in The Citizen (30/12/2008) discusses the HIV/AIDS act in Tanzania.
There are no specific entry or residence regulations for people with HIV/AIDS. Neither a medical certificate nor an HIV test result is required when entering the country. Foreigners with a known HIV infection are not subject to specific residence regulations. There are no regulations regarding the control, deportation or expulsion of those concerned.
For updated information, please go to: http://www.hivrestrictions.org
Male to Male relationships: Not Legal
Punishments for male to male relationships: Imprisonment of 10 years or more
Female to Female Relationships: Not Legal
Marriage and Substitutes for Marriage: No law
For updated information, please go to: http://ilga.org
Yes