‘Women, HIV and Intimate Partner Transmission.’
Launch discussion on intimate partner transmission of HIV and its linkages with violence on the Joint Community of Practice on HIV, Human Rights and Gender in Asia and the Pacific (HIVAPCOP). The guest moderator of the inaugural discussion is Dr. Nafis Sadik, UN Special Envoy on HIV and AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
The 2008 Report of the Commission on AIDS in Asia illustrates the inextricable linkages between HIV, human rights and gender. Human rights violations and gender inequality are fuelling the epidemic and creating major obstacles in reaching our Universal Access goals and the MDG targets for HIV and AIDS.
Gender-related HIV challenges are deeply embedded in the fabric of society. Gender norms prevent girls from seeking information and services on sexual health and HIV, and deny women their say in sexual decisions. At the same time, gender norms encourage boys and men to engage in multiple sexual encounters and risky behaviour. Intimate partner violence is silencing women's voice, and preventing them from seeking help and taking measures to protect themselves from HIV nfection. This is compounded by the shame and persistent stigma associated with HIV which creates powerful barriers to accessing basic HIV prevention and treatment services.
It is estimated that 50 million women in Asia are at risk of HIV infection from their intimate partners and urgent attention is needed for developing effective prevention strategies to reach them.
In the light of this, I am delighted to launch the inaugural virtual discussion on intimate partner transmission of HIV and its linkages with violence on the newly established HIVAPCOP. HIV and Intimate Partner Transmission raises questions related to intimate partner violence, giving agency to vulnerable women, engaging men in the response, and improving women's rights to inheritance and property as a way of addressing violence and providing coping mechanisms.
Please find a few key questions below to help kick start the discussion. The results of this e-discussion will feed into the multi partner (UNDP, UNAIDS, UNIFEM, UNFPA, WAPN+ and ICW) joint symposia on HIV and Intimate Partner Transmission at the 9th ICAAP in Bali, Indonesia.
HIV, Intimate Partner Transmission and Domestic Violence
- In some parts of Asia, it can be said that marriage is a robust indicator of HIV vulnerability for women. To what extent does this hold to be true in your experiences?
- Violence within marriage appears to be the norm rather than the exception in many of our communities. There is also substantial evidence that violence increases women and men's vulnerability to contracting HIV. What violence prevention efforts have been effective in empowering women and affecting HIV transmission rates?
- Spousal violence involves at least two people, usually a male perpetrator and a female victim. What approaches have been used to work with men and boys to prevent violence within marriage and reduce HIV transmission?
- For survivors of spousal violence who are also infected or affected by HIV/AIDS what kinds of support structures/mechanisms have been seen to be effective in helping them survive? To what extent do women’s empowerment schemes provide enough support?
I look forward to your contribution and to a lively exchange of views.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nafis Sadik,
UN Special Envoy on HIV and AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
HIV-APCOP Guest Moderator
