World AIDS Day Statement 2008
Geneva, December 1, 2008 : The World YWCA joins the global community in commemorating 20 years since the first World AIDS Day was observed. Although progress has been made in responding to HIV and AIDS, the challenges remain complex.
Some countries have managed to lower infection rates, but progress remains uneven, as these successes are off set by increases in new infections in other regions. Today, the overall number of people living with HIV has increased, more women and children are at risk of infection, and stigma and discrimination continues to create barriers to an effective response.
1. Lead by example: work towards overcoming stigma and discrimination and offer solidarity and support to women and girls, particularly those infected and affected by HIV
The World YWCA recognises the power religious leaders have to overcome stigma and discrimination. The World YWCA suggests four strategies for strengthening relationships between religious leaders and people living with HIV: speak out about HIV; accept, understand and empathise with people living with HIV; acknowledge that people of faith and religious leaders are also infected with HIV and are at risk and sometimes stigmatised; become more knowledgeable on HIV.
2. Empower women: ensure education, economic security and access to resources for women and girls including the right to own and inherit property
The UNAIDS 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic emphasises the role government and donors have to implement strategies to increase women’s economic independence. To support the importance of women’s economic security, the report refers to a recent study that found that women who lack sufficient food are less likely to perceive personal control in sexual relationships, more likely to engage in intergenerational sex and more likely to have unprotected sex than women receiving adequate nutrition. Resourcing the empowerment of women and girls is central to reversing the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
3. Deliver on security: ensure the physical, sexual and psychological safety and security of women and girls in all aspects of their lives and develop their leadership to continue to respond to AIDS
The intersectionality of HIV and violence against women is a growing concern. Socio-economic factors and legal challenges that put many HIV-positive women at risk of violence must be addressed. Many HIV-positive women are beaten up, thrown out of their homes and lose all their possessions when they share their HIV status with their families. Governments, international organisations and civil society must ensure that laws and policies that address inequality and poverty are implemented in order to protect women from violence.
