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…
Content Type
FOUND 651
This Report is based on the findings from case studies conducted by AIDSTAR-One in three countries where gender-based violence (GBV) services were available: Swaziland, Vietnam, and Ecuador. These case studies were developed to help program managers design, plan, and implement strategies to integrate GBV within existing HIV, family planning, and reproductive health services and programs. The Report shares promising programmatic approaches and…
This Overview Report analyses why and how HIV/AIDS is now disproportionately affecting women. It explores new gender-sensitive approaches to fighting HIV/AIDS and suggests that in order to be effective, it is necessary to deal with the inequalities that both drive and are entrenched by the epidemic. It specifically addresses stigma and the need to transform gender relations.
This paper argues that sexual, and male violent, practices are rooted in and flow from cultural ideals of gender identities. The latter enables us to understand why men and women behave as they do, and the emotional and material context within which sexual behaviours are enacted. In South Africa, while gender identities show diversity, the dominant ideal of black African manhood emphasizes toughness, strength and expression of prodigious…
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.
The International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), created and coordinated by Promundo and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), is one of the most comprehensive studies ever on men's practices and attitudes as they relate to gender norms, attitudes toward gender equality policies, household dynamics including caregiving and men's involvement as fathers, intimate partner violence, health and economic stress. The data…
This paper examines how the GBV initiative is being introduced in Tanzania, one of the GBV focus countries, based on interviews in Tanzania in April 2012 with U.S. government officials, nongovernmental organizations, and implementing partners, as well as interviews in Washington, D.C. It describes the importance of this initiative for the work of PEPFAR and the Global Health Initiative (GHI), impediments to progress, why this program has the…
The rapid assessment elicited basic gender and cultural perceptions and beliefs related to HIV, to people living with HIV in general and to women, in particular that posed barriers to the uptake of and adherence to HIV services. The findings revealed, across all sites, substantive gaps in comprehensive HIV knowledge, with cultural perceptions and beliefs about HIV and gender roles often acting as effective deterrents to service access. Women…
This article is based on a systematic review of gender-transformative HIV and violence prevention programs with heterosexually-active men in order to assess the efficacy of this programming. The authors find that gender-transformative interventions can increase protective sexual behaviors, prevent partner violence, modify inequitable attitudes, and reduce STI/HIV, though further trials are warranted, particularly in establishing STI/HIV…
Female sex workers (FSWs) bear a disproportionately large burden of HIV infection worldwide. This article reviews available published data for HIV prevalence and incidence, condom use, and structural determinants among this group. To explore the potential effect of structural determinants on the course of epidemics, the authors use a deterministic transmission model to simulate potential HIV infections averted through structural changes in…
This booklet presents new thinking and emerging research alongside a series of case studies and examples of new and time-tested programmes on the issues of gender equality, HIV and education and the interrelation between them. It includes discussion papers, which explore issues and emerging evidence in greater depth, as well as case study examples of programmes and interventions from a range of countries. The aim of the booklet is to highlight…
This thematic paper criticizes the continuing tendency of development partners and governments to address the MDGs – particularly MDGs 3, 5 and 6 – as separate entities requiring distinct interventions. The paper cites evidence showing that integrating sexual and reproductive health with human rights is the most effective way to address and fulfill the needs and rights of all populations. They conclude that efforts to address MDGs 3, 5 and 6…
The ICPD High-Level Task Force makes the case that the empowerment of women and girls and gender equality, the human rights and empowerment of adolescents and youth, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights, should be reflected in the post-2015 agenda as core elements of development objectives. The ICPD argues that enabling the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights is not only an ethical and human rights imperative…
The final report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law presents a coherent and compelling evidence base on human rights and legal issues relating to HIV. The report is based on the testimony of more than 700 people most affected by HIV-related legal environments from 140 countries, in addition to expert submissions and a large body of scholarship on HIV, health and the law. To end the epidemic of bad laws and to promote good laws that…
This Report provides new evidence and offers recommendations for actions on the links between security, conflict, peacebuilding and HIV. Particular attention is paid to, inter alia, the link between violence against women, forced sex and the increased risk of HIV and the role that laws and law enforcement practices play in criminalizing the acts and activities of those groups who are habitually more vulnerable to the exposure of HIV.…
This paper outlines the impacts of the global economic crisis on women, girls and gender equality in order to advocate for sustained investment in this area. To capture the full impact of the crisis on women and girls, the paper provides a summary of evidence from high-, middle- and low-income countries across the globe, with a focus on countries with a high burden of HIV.
These case studies from seven countries (Belize, Ecuador, Moldova, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tajikistan and Thailand) highlight strategies for addressing gender-based violence as a cause and consequence of HIV, and engaging men and boys as agents of positive change to halt gender-based violence and promote gender equality and human rights. They highlight some of the strategies that emerged from two global consultations on "Integrating Strategies to…
The paper provides practical guidance to policymakers and program managers on how to engage men and address harmful male norms in seven key areas of intervention in relation to HIV/AIDS: (1) Social and Behaviour Change in Men; (2) Violence against women; (3) Men, Sex Work and Transactional Sex; (4) Men, Substance abuse and HIV/AIDS; (5) Male Circumcision; (6) Men, VCT and Treatment; and (7) Male Norms and the Caregiving for People Living with…
This paper provides a summary of the evidence at a global level on who is missing out on programming to achieve an "AIDS-free generation." In addition, the article provides evidence-based interventions which may be implemented to improve both HIV and equity outcomes. The paper raises and explains three key issues and goals: eliminating new HIV infections in children and keeping families healthy; preventing HIV infections among adolescents and…
This paper focuses on women, girls, and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and the formal and informal discrimination they face under property and inheritance laws. It provides an overview of the importance of considering property and inheritance laws in the context of the HIV epidemic, and then examines existing evidence to assess the particular impact of these laws on women and OVC. The author argues for the need to revise property and…