INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE, Mexico City—Women’s participation in decision-making is crucial to a more effective response to HIV and AIDS. Women living with HIV in particular, must be involved in establishing prevention policies, said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, at a the Fifth Meeting of the Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders in Latin America on Women and AIDS.
“Women who have been affected by the epidemic are the real experts in the response to HIV,” said Ms. Obaid. “Their experience allows them to give concrete, practical, down-to-earth advice. But their participation must continue beyond an advisory role. Women should also have more say in budgetary decisions.”
So far, national responses to HIV and AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean have not sufficiently integrated gender issues in their national AIDS plans, even though women represent 50 per cent of the total population living with HIV or AIDS.
Although governments are aware of the need to tackle gender inequality as an integral part of preventing HIV, this awareness has not yet been translated into funding for such policies. More than 80 per cent of national governments report a focus on women as part of their multisectorial strategy for HIV, however only about half of them have set aside funds for programmes addressing women’s issues. The Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders urges decision makers to fill this gap.
“As First Ladies and women leaders, you can influence leadership at all levels within governments, communities, religious institutions, and civil society and convince them that more women should be seated at the tables where decisions are taken,” Ms. Obaid told participants at the meeting.
About 75 per cent of HIV infections are sexually transmitted. The spread of HIV is propelled by gender inequalities and other social causes.
“The Coalition should therefore advocate for the participation of men and boys as partners in the response to HIV, and as allies for social change,” said Ms. Obaid.
Often, men decide the timing and frequency of sexual activity, use of condoms and other contraceptive methods, sometimes through coercion or violence. In those cases, women may not have the power to protect themselves.
Ms. Obaid reminded participants that the epidemic is not a disease like others; it is a disease influenced by social norms, attitudes and behaviours. Therefore, to be effective, our response must go beyond the clinical, to address the social factors that underpin the epidemic, she said.
Contact information:
Trygve Olfarnes
Tel.: +52 55 5250-7977
Cell Phone: + 52 1 55 1353-8451
Email: olfarnes@unfpa.org