HIV/AIDS and the legislature: an international comparison.

This paper examines the legislative response to the AIDS epidemic. It goes beyond a mere overview and tries to give an insight into the chronology of the legislative reaction as well as its contents. For this, the legal instruments of 217 jurisdictions were analyzed. A global chronological pattern of legislative reaction could be observed. Concerning the contents of legislation, legislatures seem to combine the public health interests with the interests, rights and responsibilities of individuals. This insight into the legislative reaction to AIDS can help us to predict and understand legislative responses to future epidemics.