United Nations Demographic Change Work Group Team Members: Mukesh Vidyasagar Patricia D’Costa Miho Komiya Masatake Yamamichi Aaron Law Gender-Based Solutions to the AIDS Epidemic in Africa

Overview of Presentation Overview of AIDS in Africa Overview of AIDS in Africa Gender-related AIDS issues in Africa Gender-related AIDS issues in Africa Uganda and Zambia issues of gender Uganda and Zambia issues of gender Comparative governmental policies Comparative governmental policies Conclusions and recommendations Conclusions and recommendations

AIDS: An African Problem Sub-Saharan Africa represents 2/3 of the global HIV-infected population while comprising a mere 1/10 of the global population Sub-Saharan Africa represents 2/3 of the global HIV-infected population while comprising a mere 1/10 of the global population Problematic Responses to AIDS: Problematic Responses to AIDS:  Fear of Admitting Problem  External Blaming  Slow Medical Acceptance

AIDS Crisis in Africa

AIDS: A Gendered Problem 10 out of 13 people who contract HIV in Africa are Sub-Saharan African women 10 out of 13 people who contract HIV in Africa are Sub-Saharan African women 60% of HIV-positive individuals in Africa are women 60% of HIV-positive individuals in Africa are women More than 75% of young people who contract HIV in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are women More than 75% of young people who contract HIV in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are women

Gender and Africa

Gender Similarities in Uganda and Zambia Patriarchal African Societies Patriarchal African Societies  Women are dependent on men for economic stability  Male-dominated leadership  Legacy of physical and sexual violence  Poverty creates female susceptibility to AIDS  Increases in “transactional sex”

Differing Policy Approaches to AIDS 1. High-level Political Support UGANDA President Museveni began fighting AIDS fight in 1986 Policies from central government to grass roots level In 1989, enacted law of one- third female parliamentary representation ZAMBIA ZAMBIA No high-level political commitment No HIV/AIDS gender analysis No effective public HIV/AIDS programs - AIDS was taboo

2. Multi-sectoral approach UGANDA Established multi-sectoral organization, Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) in 1992 Established the national AIDS Control Programme (ACP), which was intergovernmental in 1986 ZAMBIA No strategic and multi-sectoral management at the central level Technical and line ministry officials were the only vocal and active administrators with regards to HIV/AIDS Differing Policy Approaches to AIDS

3. Community-based approach UGANDA Used ACP Program as a face-to- face approach to train practitioners and the general public Developed open and personal communication networks for acquiring AIDS knowledge ZAMBIA No evidence of government-led community-based approaches NGOs were ineffective, due to lack of funding and human resources Differing Policy Approaches to AIDS

4. Education UGANDA Trained teachers and community leaders to help educate about AIDS Created multiple channels for information dissemination Developed School Health Education Program (SHEP) in primary schools Established Early Life Skills Initiative collaboration with the many NGOs ZAMBIA Lack of appropriate HIV/AIDS curriculum at school Limited human resources in the Ministry of Education (only 2 staff members focused on AIDS) Continued requirement of school entrance fees

Differing Policy Approaches to AIDS 5. Legal Aspects of Sexual Violence UGANDA In 1991, enacted laws to protect women from sexual violence; made the rape of girls under 14 a capital offence, raised the age of consent for sex from 14 to 18 ZAMBIA Systematic oppression of women Reporting omissions

Differing Results UGANDA  4.1% of the adult population infected  Change in AIDS population : -90,000  Change in female AIDS population: -40,000  Increase in the age at which individuals first have sex ZAMBIA  16.5 % of the adult population infected  Change in AIDS Population : +100,000  Change in female AIDS population: +20,000  Rampant female teenage sexual abuse

Conclusions Policies in Uganda helped decrease women’s HIV/AIDS rate more sharply than that of men, because it realized gender undergirded much of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Policies in Uganda helped decrease women’s HIV/AIDS rate more sharply than that of men, because it realized gender undergirded much of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Uganda recognized that women were physiologically and socially more susceptible to HIV than men, government policies made significant steps in several areas. Uganda recognized that women were physiologically and socially more susceptible to HIV than men, government policies made significant steps in several areas.

Recommendations High-level political support High-level political support –Provide funding to establish leadership Multi-sectoral initiatives Multi-sectoral initiatives –Encourage member states to promote intergovernmental approach Community based approach Community based approach –Engage civil society members Gender sensitive education Gender sensitive education –Fund NGO and Governmental education Legal Aspects Legal Aspects –Encourage member states to enact gender based laws

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