FOUND 637
This publication highlights the importance of identifying gender-based violence as a youth reproductive health issue. It highlights gender-based violence related health consequences and identifies key areas for policy action. Furthermore, it provides a list of resources intended for the support of policy development.
This publication analyzes the latest data reported by 192 countries against the core indicators used for monitoring an effective national response for women, as laid out in the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. The first-ever scorecard analyzing country responses to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women in the context of the AIDS epidemic, this independent assessment and rating was developed through a comprehensive…
This publication represents an initial effort to draw attention to the knowledge, institutional capacity, and resources needed to comprehensively address the intersection between HIV and AIDS and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). It profiles ten organizations that are working on innovative strategies to address the intersection between violence against women and HIV/AIDS, and highlights key elements to consider in the implementation of…
This report outlines a methodology for integrating gender into the Policy Implementation Barriers Analysis (PIBA) activity which was designed to pilot a methodology and set of tools to identify key barriers to implementing programs under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The project integrated gender into the PIBA activity to help underscore the various needs of women and men within the context of barriers to…
This publication focuses on the critical need to scale up policies and programming for women, girls, gender equality and HIV. The Action Framework focuses on the following three areas in which UNAIDS Cosponsors, Secretariat, and UNIFEM can bring specific and unique contributions: 1) strengthening strategic guidance and support to national partners to “know their epidemic and response” in order to effectively meet the needs of women and girls, 2…
Religious leaders are key stakeholders in responding to health and social issues and can play an influential role in validating and promoting best practices for preventing and reducing gender-based violence (GBV) and related vulnerability to HIV in their community. This report summarizes the USAID Health Policy Initiative project titled The Role of Religious Communities in Addressing Gender-based Violence and HIV. The project, which was designed…
This publication provides a literature review of linkages between sexual and reproductive health and HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in order to gain a clearer understanding of the effectiveness, optimal circumstances, and best practices for strengthening these links. Finding highlight the benefits of linking policies, systems and services related to sexual and reproductive health and HIV.
The Action Framework (2009) was developed in response to the pressing need to address the persistent gender inequality and human rights violations that put women and girls at greater risk and vulnerability to HIV, and threaten the gains that have been made in preventing HIV transmission and increasing access to anti-retroviral treatment.  
This compilation of articles aspires to advance the inter-sectoral dialogue on the integration of policies, programs and projects on HIV and Violence against Women (VAW) at the local, national, and regional levels. Section I presents three articles, addressing different aspects of the conceptual framework of the intersections between HIV and VAW. Section II touches on the conditions and needs of specific population groups. Lastly, …
This report provides general recommendations to health workers and activists on how to create a fostering environment of women and girls living with HIV; how to strengthen the health system by making more comprehensive sexuality programs available; how to ensure meaningful participation of women and girls living with HIV in policy; and how to strengthen multi-sectoral activities that support women and girls’ autonomy.
Data from a cluster randomized trial was used to assess the effects of an intervention using group-based micro-financing along with gender and HIV training to reduce HIV risk behavior and Intimate Partner Violence. The evaluation, based in rural South Africa, comments on the ability of women to engage in more empowered HIV risk reducing practices after participating in the program.   
This brief highlights why it is important for girls to stay in school, and how poor educational status is highly correlated with HIV infection. A range of interventions to address this issue are given, as well as key questions to consider when advocating for girls’ rights to education. This article can be accessed on-line here.
This pamphlet outlines a series of steps and processes for country-level stakeholders to accelerate and expand action on gender equality in order to strengthen national responses to AIDS. The Essential Actions pamphlet is drawn from the document Gender Guidance for National AIDS Responses, presented to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board in April 2008.
This paper provides an overview of research conducted in 2007-08 into the interactions between gender relations, HIV and AIDS and food security in war-affected communities in Northern Uganda. It first reviews the policy and legal context associated with these issues; and then outlines key findings and lists policy recommendations.
This paper explores how programmes such as microfinance, livelihood training and efforts to safeguard women's food security and access to property have begun to incorporate an HIV prevention focus. Despite numerous calls to 'mainstream AIDS’ in economic development, cross-sectoral responses have not been widely taken up by government or other stakeholders. The authors suggest potential reasons for limited progress to date and conclude by…
This briefing paper discusses the many challenges of food insecurity in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and gender equality. The report covers various topics that pertain particularly to women living with HIV or affected by HIV; these include: barriers to women's farming, women's land rights, economic and social empowerment, violence against women, inheritance rights and property grabbing, politics, ideologies and vested interests.
The report draws on data from an innovative six-country research study conducted by UNDP together with Oxford University researchers and local social research institutes and organisations of people living with HIV that looked at exclusion in the health, education and employment sectors from the point of view of people living with HIV. The report also consults the views of people representing institutions in three key sectors that, where not…
This report highlights the critical importance of ensuring that gender equality and women’s empowerment are central to the aid effectiveness agenda and attempts to identify the extent to which HIV funding is contributing to an environment that supports gender equality and promotes women’s rights. It includes an assessment of the effectiveness of current aid flows in combating inequality and violations of women’s rights that have contributed the…
This paper provides an analysis of the gender policies and an update on the current state of gender programming and funding at the three financing institutions. By examining the way that gender concerns are being addressed, the paper highlights policy and programmatic trends related to gender that should be taken into account by the UNAIDS Secretariat’s gender strategy. The paper concludes with recommendations for UNAIDS and partners to more…
This fact sheet reviews women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, focusing particularly on young women. Many women and young people do not have access to the information and services they need to protect themselves from HIV infection. Women's vulnerability is increased by marriage, sex work, injecting drug use, being the partner of an injecting drug user, a student, and violent or coercive sex.