Close the Leadership Gap Empower African Women and Girls Prof Sheila Tlou, UNAIDS Director, RST-ESA 18 th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa Harare, Zimbabwe

380,000 new HIV infections among adolescent girls & young women/ year or 1055/day. 15% of women living with HIV are between years, and 80% of them live in SSA In SSA, women acquire HIV 5-7 years earlier than men Infection rates 2X among girls & young women as among boys & young men Burden of AIDS for Women and girls in Africa

Gender Inequality and Harmful Norms are fuelling the epidemic Stigma, Discrimination & Violence Poor access to educational opportunities ; limited financial autonomy Lack of autonomy over own health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights. Less likely to negotiate safer sex or refuse unsafe sex Limited knowledge and claim of rights…..( some cultural norms as violence).

Access to Knowledge, Education and Skills Girls attending school marry later, and risk of teenage pregnancy decreases. Only 26% of adolescent girls possess comprehensive knowledge about HIV, compared with 36% of adolescent boys.

Access to treatment and family planning for women, esp. women living with HIV Over 50% of 21 Global Plan Countries are not meeting needs of family planning among at least 25% of all married women. AIDS-related deaths among women years have decreased, BUT there are still gaps in access to services.

Violence Against Women in Africa: cause and consequence of HIV

HIV and Key Population/Vulnerable Women Source: UNAIDS, GAP Report, 2014.

Closing the Gap

Knowledge is Power, so need to collaborate with other stakeholders to produce evidence for advocacy on social and other issues. Women as Champions and leaders themselves, esp. at community level Participate in planning, implementation, monitoring Work with boys and men to advance gender equality women

What HIV Programs work for adolescent Girls? Providing information and services Comprehensive Sexuality Education Access to services, but rooted in effective community participation Enabling environment Keeping girls in school….and mentored Promoting gender equality; eliminating GBV Strengthening protective legal norms Social support Caring relationships with adults Support for orphans

Innovative financing and shared responsibility Efficiency in use of funds Strategic investments in women and girls Resource allocation to be inclusive of women key populations No more pilots – programs should be at scale Partnerships: OAFLA, HLTF, PAPWC, AQWCLN, Private Sector, Champions, etc resources

Gender equality requires a social transformation, starts with political leadership and dedicated action. State commitments must be translated into concrete, resourced, country-level action. Leveraging the power and influence of religious and cultural leaders to advance SRHR and the AIDS response. Political office for good governance and legislative reform politics

Close the Leadership Gap for Women in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Integrated, Indivisible, Universal and Ambitious