LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED

By volunteering with World Neighbors at headquarters, or making a donation to WOW! you support the holistic, integrated work that World Neighbors does around the world to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and reduces the high incidence of the disease among women.

 

“Sasa! A Film about Women, Violence and HIV/AIDS”

Watch a free, online film by producer and director Chanda Chevannes entitled “Sasa!” The documentary is a compelling 30-minute window into the connections between violence against women and HIV/AIDS. Says Chevannes, “Sasa is a Kiswahili word that means now. Through my film I wish to convey a sense of urgency - now is the time to stop violence against women and prevent HIV/AIDS. Prior to living in Uganda and working on this film, I was oblivious to the connection between domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. I did not understand the fear that many women live with daily or the sheer inequality they face in their home and communities. When a woman fears violence from her partner, she is unable to negotiate safe sex, question him about his sexual partners or refuse to have sex if she suspects he is infected.”

 

Sign a Petition in Support of the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA)

The link between violence against women and HIV/AIDS is undeniable. On October 31, 2007, a bill that would help empower millions of women to escape violence and poverty, the International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA, S.2279) was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Help make it a reality for women worldwide! Join WOW! and World Neighbors in supporting I-VAWA and sign an online petition.

Additional Resources

Much of the information contained in this brief about World Neighbors work to prevent HIV/AIDS and to help those living with the disease was provided by Ruth Okowa, program coordinator for health for World Neighbors East Africa. If you would like to contact her for more information on World Neighbors East Africa’s HIV/AIDS work, you may do so.

 

We recommend the following resources, a number of which were utilized in the preparation of this issue brief, as good sources for further learning on the subject of HIV/AIDS and gender.

Amnesty International

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights.

 

Amnesty’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.“Women, HIV/AIDS, and Human Rights.” November 2004. Available online.

             

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO helps developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition for all. “AIDS—A Threat to Rural Africa: Fact Sheet.” Available online.

        

Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

UNAIDS brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organizations to the global AIDS response. Partners include the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Bank. “Stop Violence Against Women; Stop HIV.” Available online.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF relies on contributions from governments and private donors. Its programs emphasize developing community-level services to promote the health and well-being of children. UNICEF is currently focused on five main priorities: child survival and development, basic education and gender equality (including girls' education), child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse, HIV/AIDS and children, and policy advocacy and partnerships for children’s rights. Related areas of UNICEF action include early childhood development, adolescence development and participation, life skills based education and child rights all over the world.“Basic Education and Gender Equality.” Available online.   

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)

UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programs and strategies to foster women's empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women's human rights at the center of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on four strategic areas: (1) reducing feminized poverty, (2) ending violence against women, (3) reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls, and (4) achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war. “Facts and Figures on HIV/AIDS.” July 2004. Available online.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

UNFPA is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programs to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.State of the World’s Population 2005. “Child Marriage Fact Sheet.” Available online.

Donate Now!

World Neighbors and HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support

Women and HIV/AIDS: An Overview

A WOW! e-Brief

Work of Women program @ World Neighbors

November 2007

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