Across the world, the rate of HIV infection among women is rising, particularly in regions (such as the Caribbean) where the incidence of HIV is high and where the main means of transmission of HIV is heterosexual intercourse. The number of new HIV infections among women in the Caribbean now outnumbers those among men, and young women aged 15 – 24 are more than twice as likely as young men to be infected.

Several analyses and studies† have examined the ways in which gender inequality and gender-based violence increase women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.

Forced sex (including forced sex involving intimate partners) increases the likelihood of HIV transmission, particularly in adolescent girls. Domestic violence and the fear of violence make it difficult for women to negotiate the terms for sexual encounters and the use of condoms. Studies suggest that women who are victims of domestic violence are more likely to become infected than women in non-violent households, and that HIV+ women are more likely to have been victims of domestic violence than women who are not infected. In conflict zones, sexual violence against women is used as a weapon, resulting in the sometimes deliberate exposure of women to HIV‡. The very real threat of violence and abandonment may prevent girls and women from seeking information about HIV/AIDS prevention, from getting tested, and from seeking treatment and care. Girls and women orphaned by AIDS may be coerced into sex-work or other situations where they are subject to gender-based violence and abuse.

December 1 is World Aids Day, with this year’s theme being “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise”. Governments have made very specific promises about HIV/AIDS, its impacts on girls and women, and its relationship to gender-violence.

In 2001, the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS made a Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (PDF), which spoke specifically to issues of gender and gender violence. Countries pledged to

By 2005, bearing in mind the context and character of the epidemic and that, globally, women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, develop and accelerate the implementation of national strategies that promote the advancement of women and women’s full enjoyment of all human rights; promote shared responsibility of men and women to ensure safe sex; and empower women to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection;

By 2005, implement measures to increase capacities of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the provision of health care and health services, including for sexual and reproductive health, and through prevention education that promotes gender equality within a culturally and gender-sensitive framework;

By 2005, ensure development and accelerated implementation of national strategies for women’s empowerment, the promotion and protection of women’s full enjoyment of all human rights and reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through the elimination of all forms of discrimination, as well as all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful traditional and customary practices, abuse, rape and other forms of sexual violence, battering and trafficking in women and girls

In 2006, the General Assembly adopted a political declaration re-affirming commitments to

eliminate gender inequalities, gender-based abuse and violence; increase the capacity of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, including by ensuring that women can exercise their right to have control over, and decide freely and responsibly on, matters related to their sexuality in order to increase their ability to protect themselves from HIV infection, including their sexual and reproductive health

On World AIDS Day 2006, I add my voice to those of the many women (and men) who will be in action to encourage their governments to be accountable for keeping these promises.

1336 days ago