The HIV/AIDS pandemic can only be addressed effectively if we manage to end violence against women, Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, said on International Women’s Day (Friday, March 8th).
HIV
HIV
“Ending violence against women is critical to ending AIDS”
It is much harder, and often impossible for women to negotiate for safer sex if they live in an environment of violence or fear of violence
A young woman is infected with HIV every minute of the day
AIDSDr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, also urged for much stronger action to stop violence against women, which seriously hampers anti-HIV efforts
“As the former head of the National AIDS Control Agency of Nigeria, the former Minister of Health, and, now, Executive Director of UNFPA, I can say with certainty that we will not be able to stop HIV and improve women’s and girls’ health until we empower women, advance gender equality and engage men and boys in this effort.”
JAMAwomen in India who are physically and sexually abused by their husbands have a higher risk of HIV infection
A map of the world showing countries by level of women’s physical security, 2011 (United Nations)