Keep your promise to women and girls Violence against Women and Girls in National AIDS plans

DoC: Goal 61 “By 2005, ensure development and accelerated implementation of national strategies for women’s empowerment, the promotion and protection of women’s full enjoyment of all human rights and reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through the elimination of all forms of discrimination, as well as all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful traditional customary practices, abuse, rape and other forms of sexual violence, battering and trafficking of women and girls.” “By 2005, ensure development and accelerated implementation of national strategies for women’s empowerment, the promotion and protection of women’s full enjoyment of all human rights and reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS through the elimination of all forms of discrimination, as well as all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful traditional customary practices, abuse, rape and other forms of sexual violence, battering and trafficking of women and girls.”

What was the promise? By 2005 By 2005 –Develop and implement strategies – WE and WHRs –Reduce women’s vulnerability to HIV through elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence In 2001 governments knew that violence against women and HIV are intersecting human rights crises In 2001 governments knew that violence against women and HIV are intersecting human rights crises –Violence against women increases women’s and girls’ risk to HIV –HIV positive women can become easy targets for violence

Seven Years on Monitoring research in 16 countries points to Monitoring research in 16 countries points to –Failure to strengthen gender-sensitive national AIDS responses, –Failure to accelerate national strategies for women’s empowerment and the promotion and protection of women’s full enjoyment of all human rights –Success in passing legislation to respond to violence against women –Failure in implementing appropriate, coordinated multi-sectoral, resourced response to violence against women and support to survivors of violence

Key Findings What should be done: Collect data Collect data Ensure women’s participation Ensure women’s participation Design appropriate interventions Design appropriate interventions Ensure a coordinated multisectoral response Ensure a coordinated multisectoral response What exists: Absence of systematic data collection on prevalence and impact of violence against all women and girls Absence of systematic data collection on prevalence and impact of violence against all women and girls Women’s participation is not mandated in planning processes nor are programmes gendered Women’s participation is not mandated in planning processes nor are programmes gendered Lack of reliable data on violence against women means appropriate actions (that suit the needs of diverse women) to prevent violence, and mitigate its impact are not designed Lack of reliable data on violence against women means appropriate actions (that suit the needs of diverse women) to prevent violence, and mitigate its impact are not designed Lack of coordinated response from the health, law and security, women’s affairs machineries Lack of coordinated response from the health, law and security, women’s affairs machineries

Key Findings What should be done: Specialized services Specialized services Integrated services Integrated services Sustained rights education campaigns Sustained rights education campaigns What exists: medico-legal services, safe houses and shelters, etc, where available are restricted to urban centers medico-legal services, safe houses and shelters, etc, where available are restricted to urban centers even where there are legal provisions to provide PEPs, emergency contraception, HIV testing and counseling to violence survivors, such services either do not exist, or are limited to urban centers even where there are legal provisions to provide PEPs, emergency contraception, HIV testing and counseling to violence survivors, such services either do not exist, or are limited to urban centers even where there are comprehensive legal frameworks to address violence against women, women do not know about the provisions even where there are comprehensive legal frameworks to address violence against women, women do not know about the provisions

Key Findings Multiple discrimination – sex workers, HIV positive women, lesbian women are more likely to be targeted for violence for their occupation, their health status and their sexual orientation; Multiple discrimination – sex workers, HIV positive women, lesbian women are more likely to be targeted for violence for their occupation, their health status and their sexual orientation; –Diversity of women is not explicitly acknowledged –Multiple discrimination and differential risk to violence and HIV and their impacts are not addressed –HIV positive women, sex workers, lesbians, transgender, indigenous women are not actively included in planning processes Rights violations in health systems – almost all countries report that HIV positive women’s rights are violated when they interface with the health systems: Rights violations in health systems – almost all countries report that HIV positive women’s rights are violated when they interface with the health systems: –HIV testing not based on informed consent nor accompanied with counseling –Confidentiality of results not maintained –Forced abortions and sterilizations –Information and products to ensure safe sex denied

Delivering Goal 61

Delivering Goal 61: Immediate Next Steps Rapidly and massively scale up education and access to PEP and emergency contraception to survivors of sexual violence, including in conflict, post-conflict and other emergency. Rapidly and massively scale up education and access to PEP and emergency contraception to survivors of sexual violence, including in conflict, post-conflict and other emergency. Rapidly expand training of health care workers (in particular in rural areas) to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of gender-based violence as a routine part of HIV&AIDS testing, treatment, care and support. Rapidly expand training of health care workers (in particular in rural areas) to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of gender-based violence as a routine part of HIV&AIDS testing, treatment, care and support. Achieve universal access to PMTCT+ services by 2010 by fully supporting and funding national PMTCT+ plans. PMTCT-Plus offers a more holistic set of services for HIV positive pregnant women, providing preventative therapy, treatment, and care for women in their own right, as well as encouraging male participation in all stages of pregnancy, delivery, and care. Achieve universal access to PMTCT+ services by 2010 by fully supporting and funding national PMTCT+ plans. PMTCT-Plus offers a more holistic set of services for HIV positive pregnant women, providing preventative therapy, treatment, and care for women in their own right, as well as encouraging male participation in all stages of pregnancy, delivery, and care. Rapidly expand the distribution of and public education about female controlled prevention methods, including the distribution of the female condom to women, men and transgender people, and with specific attention to providing condoms in a manner that also helps overcome the barriers to use, including information, education, accessibility and affordability. Rapidly expand the distribution of and public education about female controlled prevention methods, including the distribution of the female condom to women, men and transgender people, and with specific attention to providing condoms in a manner that also helps overcome the barriers to use, including information, education, accessibility and affordability.

Delivering Goal 61: Immediate Next Steps Repeal laws that discriminate against people living with HIV&AIDS as well as laws that criminalize groups considered to be at risk. Repeal laws that discriminate against people living with HIV&AIDS as well as laws that criminalize groups considered to be at risk. An essential package of health care services (sexual and reproductive health services, including both PEP and emergency contraception) available on demand, with particular attention to making this available in complex emergencies and refugee settings. An essential package of health care services (sexual and reproductive health services, including both PEP and emergency contraception) available on demand, with particular attention to making this available in complex emergencies and refugee settings. Anti-violence education programs operating in all communities and schools, specially those where violence against women and girls occurs. Anti-violence education programs operating in all communities and schools, specially those where violence against women and girls occurs. Integrated services for violence survivors and women living with HIV&AIDS should be developed, as an essential element of national and local AIDS response, addressing the full spectrum of their needs and rights. Integrated services for violence survivors and women living with HIV&AIDS should be developed, as an essential element of national and local AIDS response, addressing the full spectrum of their needs and rights.

Delivering Goal 61: Immediate Next Steps Eliminate compulsory testing and ensure new testing guidelines that explicitly and actively protect HIV positive women’s rights and combat discrimination and violence against all women and girls. Eliminate compulsory testing and ensure new testing guidelines that explicitly and actively protect HIV positive women’s rights and combat discrimination and violence against all women and girls. PMTCT providers trained to provide confidential, accessible and acceptable resources and referrals to violence survivors, especially because risk of violence increases with pregnancy. PMTCT providers trained to provide confidential, accessible and acceptable resources and referrals to violence survivors, especially because risk of violence increases with pregnancy. Gender equality and anti-violence planning and programming fully integrated into national AIDS plans. This includes building the capacity of national AIDS staff to collect and analyze data that captures the intersection of violence against women and girls and HIV&AIDS. Gender equality and anti-violence planning and programming fully integrated into national AIDS plans. This includes building the capacity of national AIDS staff to collect and analyze data that captures the intersection of violence against women and girls and HIV&AIDS.