HIVAIDS

Gender and HIV/AIDS: 

Gender and HIV/AIDS UN ESCAP, Bangkok 2004

Gender and HIV: what it is?: 

Gender and HIV: what it is? “ …When young women have to remain virgins until they marry, that’s gender… When they are not married but they still have sex and disgrace their family, that’s gender… Whether she’s a virgin on her wedding night or not, whether she gets married or not, when a young women lets her partner decide when, how and where to have sex, that’s gender. When a young woman is abused verbally for offering or asking for a condom, she must be trying to hide something, and that’s gender. When she even has to ask, not tell her partner, to wear a condom, she’s getting too cheeky and demanding, and that’s gender. When she’s infected after she reads all the posters and loves faithfully and sticks to one partner, she has to be sleeping around, and that’s gender. And that’s why when it comes to HIV/AIDS, gender is what we call the “fatal” inequality, because it takes the chance for life itself out of the hands of a woman simply because she’s not a man.”   Lisa Williams, “Changing the course with media force: pacific media, gender and HIV/AIDS”, Pacific Regional Youth Congress on HIV/AIDS, 1-6 September 2002, Fiji.

HIV/AIDS Situation in Pacific Islands: 

HIV/AIDS Situation in Pacific Islands Over 8,000 were known with HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, end 2003) // 4 million people Heterosexual High STIs/ High teenage pregnancy/ High risk Data are missing and weak Condoms are hardly available Testing is low, to nil Access to treatment is starting very slowly Policies almost inexistant, and implementation is difficult (PNG) But PIF endorsed Regional Plan, august 2004 Women have prioritise HIV/AIDS in their latest Pacific Platform of Actions – august 2004

HIV/AIDS in Asia: 

HIV/AIDS in Asia UNAIDS: end of 2003 – 7.4 million people ; 2.85 million are women ½ million death; 195,000 were women 1 million new infection; over 400,000 are women 40-90% of women with HIV have been infected by their husband or regular partner Data still insufficient

WOMEN “INVISIBLE SPREAD”? : 

WOMEN “INVISIBLE SPREAD”? UN-ESCAP: Women equals to almost ½ of the 40 million people living with HIV !! – end 2003 Infected by husband and regular partner Ratio is narrowing between women and men In fact: In Palau, Vanuatu, Solomon Is: known HIV cases are women In PNG: 1% of pregnant women are with HIV; in 15-29 y.o, women outnumber men; In Kiribati, HIV women are seafearers’ wives

Women are at risk of HIV/AIDS, when:: 

Women are at risk of HIV/AIDS, when: -         they cant say no to their husband or partner… -         they cant negotiate the use of condom… -         their partner – who brings cash home- threatens to leave her if she says “no”… -         they cant talk about the problems they are having in the intimate parts… -         she cant have access to free and voluntary testing … -         she cant have access to medical care and treatment … -         she’s not able to enter or complete education because she has to take care of the husband, children, family… -         she’s pressure to suffer the sexual intercourse and bleed, just to give more satisfaction to her husband … -         she’s taken too young… -         she’s having to live polygamy… - she’s facing unfaithfulness … - there’s conflicts, tensions … -         they are being (gang) raped … -         she’s exposed to prostitution and trafficking … -         she’s not being paid the same rate as a men for the same job… -         she’s not hired because she’s a woman…

Women with HIV/AIDS also suffer gender inequalities, when: 

Women with HIV/AIDS also suffer gender inequalities, when - she’s blamed to be the source of the infections by her in-laws … -         she’s associated with promiscuity and sex working… -         she’s gang raped, but media focus on the risk she gave the “boys” … -         she’s abandoned by her partner who prefer another life or to die … -         she’s carries the responsibility of raising her children on her own, … -         she’s exposed to rejection because of not breastfeeding,… -         she’s fired, … -         she’s beaten up, … -        she’s not accessing anti-retroviral drugs … -         she’s forced to abort … -         she’s forced to have a early delivery via caesarian … -         she’s made to believe that she should not engage sexually anymore in her life …

How HIV/AIDS has been addressed in BPA?: 

How HIV/AIDS has been addressed in BPA? By Associating HIV/AIDSd with other STD Limiting it to a Health, RH issue Yet, requesting some gender-sensitive initiatives

How much has been achieved?: 

How much has been achieved? ????????????????? How many supportive policies, programs & structures ? How many discriminatory policies still exist?

What was missed out?: 

What was missed out? HIV/AIDS as a priority issue … HIV/AIDS as a cross-cutting issue … Targetted interventions … education, condoms, health care, treatment, policies, income … A focus on Positive Women … A step-step practical process towards supportive environments … IMPLEMENTATION of gender actions…

Where to from now?: 

Where to from now? Understand and Acknowledge the vulnerabilityof women … Make best decisions and act NOW ? Keep up to promises!

Finally …: 

Finally … The review of the BPA is an opportunity for us all and particularly for you leaders of our region, to show that you are sensitised now of the issue! To acknowledge the work that has been done at regional, national and community level since Beijing ’95. To send a signal out that we care about our women and want a more harmonious future for all ! Remembering that the hardship of a woman is the hardship of all women and a danger to the future of Humanity! Because ….

Women with HIV have taken the lead!: 

Women with HIV have taken the lead! Irene and Zara are the only two known cases living with HIV/AIDS – Vanuatu. After two years of nightmare, Irene has come out public and is raise awareness of her people.

Raising Hope …: 

Raising Hope … Here, villagers line up to say “forgive us our attitude” and “thank you for your work”.

Very young …: 

Very young … Helen is a young woman living with HIV in Papua New Guinea – strong advocate for youth education and treasurer of the Positive Nerwork of Positive People “I Gat Hope”.

Bearing the burden of polygamy ...: 

Bearing the burden of polygamy ... Margaret is a young woman living with HIV in PNG. Her partner did not wanted to tell her what was happening. But one day she found out. He left her with the son to raise and later died. She’s now raising awareness in various Papuan communities and particularly amongst women. This kind of breakfast never happens in her real life.

But always looking ahead …: 

But always looking ahead … Helen… common name in PNG lived in polygamous relationship. Her husband was amongst the first PLWHA to speak out. In return, government did little to keep him alive. Helen has taken over ever since and is the President of I Gat Hope. She has three children.

Thank you !: 

Thank you !