Health Action AIDS

Health Rights = Healthy Women

A Commitment to Halt the Feminization of AIDS

The most vexing and intolerable dimension of the pandemic is what is happening to women. Gender inequality is driving the pandemic, and we will never subdue the gruesome force of AIDS until the rights of women become paramount in the struggle."

-Stephen Lewis, Keynote Speech at International AIDS Conference, Toronto

Women and young girls presently comprise more than 60% of those who are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa - and the numbers are continuing to grow.  Any solution to the epidemic must acknowledge the devastating gender dynamics of AIDS and place women's empowerment at the center of programming and planning.

Presently, the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is failing women, in particular, the current ABC approach to prevention.  Physicians for Human Rights' Health Action AIDS Campaign is committed to mobilizing health professionals in support of a response that goes "Beyond ABC."  To ensure protection of women's rights, programs and initiatives must address root causes of HIV/AIDS transmission such as widespread gender-based violence, stigma and discrimination, as well as inequalities and violations of economic, social, legal, health and educational rights.

Using the powerful voices of health professionals, the Health Action AIDS Campaign focuses its advocacy on three specific interventions to protect rights for women, prevent HIV transmission and improve women's overall health: building rights-based health systems, ensuring comprehensive prevention programs and educating health workers about implementing those programs.

Rights-based Health Systems

Addressing the health crisis in the poorest countries requires building public health systems that are capable of providing basic and comprehensive health services, especially for women and children.

• Women and girls too often face issues of stigma and disempowerment when trying to access health care services. HIV prevention and care services should be "women and girl-friendly", ensure confidentiality, provide protection, and be safe from discrimination.
• Women often receive fragmented services and episodic care. The right to health demands that health systems be available, accessible, comprehensive and of good quality. HIV prevention services, counseling and education must be integrated into all areas of the health care delivery system, including services that address TB, reproductive health, family planning, maternal health, sexuality transmitted infections (STIs), and trauma care.
• Health systems in developing countries often operate in isolation, not providing a bridge between medical care and social services. The right to health demands that government address both the underlying social determinants of poor health and the health system itself. The development of a comprehensive referral system must be integral to all HIV prevention and care efforts so as to provide strong linkages between the health care sector and community-based services that address social, economic, educational, and legal protection and empowerment strategies for women. 

Comprehensive Prevention Programs

Focusing on abstinence, being faithful and using condoms (ABC) does not take into consideration the unequal power dynamics present in marriages and societies around the world.  Prevention programs must take into account the structural inequalities which leave women vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

• The current ABC model does not address the dire human rights issues at the core of the epidemic, nor does it recognize women's unique vulnerability to the disease. Indeed, with its narrow scope, ABC can in fact exacerbate gender inequality. HIV prevention programs must be comprehensive and scientifically based and must actively promote and protect women's human rights
• Comprehensive programs must go beyond abstinence, being faithful and using condoms to also "D" Defend women's rights and end Discrimination; "E" Educate and Economically Empower women; "F" provide Freedom of movement and Food sufficiency.

Educated and Empowered Health Workers

Health workers drive the public health system, yet many do not get the training or support they need to promote women's rights and health.  Programs must include both training and implementation of these rights--based interventions:

• comprehensive HIV prevention messaging and counseling that invites open discussions of sexual health, sexual practices and risk behaviors.
• awareness that women have sexual and reproductive rights including the right to protect themselves from harm and the right to full and accurate HIV prevention information.
• identification of patients who are victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse and how to effectively respond to such situations, including respecting the rights and confidentiality of these patients and making the appropriate social service and legal referrals
• understanding of the importance of a strong, well integrated health care system that links HIV prevention into all areas of care and services.
• access to information regarding community resources that provide essential linkages to services that provide social and economic protection for women as well as continuity of essential care and follow-up.
• anti-stigma awareness and sensitivity training in order to provide effective and comprehensive HIV prevention and care services.