Introduction: Men, boys and the epidemic Tim Shand MenEngage Africa Network & Sonke Gender Justice International AIDS Conference, 22 July 2012

Strengthening work with men and boys for gender equality, human rights & HIV/GBV prevention across Africa. Part of global MenEngage Network. Key areas: capacity building; partnerships; policy and advocacy; research; leadership development 15 country networks within the region Africa chair: Sonke Core principle: allies with women’s rights movements /

What we know on men  Men 51% of adults LHIV: often forgotten group  Low levels of HIV testing and late ART uptake  Burden of HIV care on women  Lack of knowledge & structures to support PMTCT  Multiple concurrent partnerships  MSM key vulnerable group  Strong link between SGBV & HIV  Men often represented negatively – need ‘fixing’  Policy context doesn’t speak to these challenges  Potential/opportunities: MMC roll out

HIV

HIV and Gender Attempts to challenge or transform gender norms Engaging men for prevention of GBV Men’s support of PMTCT Male circumcision Condoms Men’s use of VCT Marginalized men & boys Treatment Home Based Care Burundi Cote D’Ivoire Ethiopia 2009 – 2010/11, Kenya 2009/10 – 2012/13 Mozambique Namibia 2011 – 2016 Rwanda Sierra Leone South Africa 2007 – 2011 Tanzania 2008 – 2012 Uganda 2007/8 – 20011/12 Zambia 2011 – 2015 Zimbabwe KeyAdequate Room for improvement Inadequate

Masculinities & HIV Vulnerabilities  Influence of societal norms and roles  1 in every 4 men engages in HIV risky behaviours: unsafe sex, substance abuse, alcohol  Men less likely to access health services in many countries  Exposure to cycle of violence & interpersonal violence South Africa: Frequency of taking four/five drinks on one occasion, by sex

What we don’t know enough on  Men’s behaviours & vulnerabilities to HIV  Men’s specific HIV needs - VCT & ART  Making health system more ‘male friendly’  Shifting the global gender & HIV discourse – little focus in new UNAIDS report on engaging men  Scaling-up evidenced-based programming and policies on engaging men in HIV It’s not men vs women. Must talk about gender related vulnerabilities for both. And benefits to both men, women, families and communities

Thank you Regional support: Swedish Sida, UNFPA, Oak Foundation MenEngage Africa partners Sonke colleagues