Dear Members of End-Violence, Last week we began discussing the important link between HIV/AIDS and violence against women, and the array of factors that increase women's and girls' vulnerability. This week we would like to continue that discussion, but shift our attention somewhat to focus on girls and young women. A sample of the statistics is chilling:
- girls are 5-6 times more likely to become infected with HIV than are boys - in sub-Saharan Africa, girls account for 2/3 of the eight million young people living with HIV/AIDS - in Trinidad and Tobago, HIV rates are five times higher in girls than boys aged 15-19 - in Cambodia, more than 40% of sex workers under the age of 19 are HIV positive These statistics reflect conditions in which men control girls and young women, often through violence and coercion. Addressing the pandemic will require initiatives that enable girls and young women to protect themselves from becoming infected. Action is needed on many fronts: * Cultural Values and Beliefs Cultural mores make girls and young women particularly vulnerable to both violence and AIDS. Men often seek to marry, or have sexual relations with, young women and girls. Girls and young women lack the skills and self-confidence to protect themselves within relationships. Other cultural practices, such as female genital mutilation, also make girls and young women more vulnerable to HIV infection. Changing these conditions demands that all youth, female and male, recognise women's right to equal power in relationships. Young women and girls must have the self-confidence to assert their rights; boys must learn to respect these rights. * Education Most schools do not provide sex education, leaving girls -- and boys -- ignorant of the risks of HIV infection and means to protect themselves. According to a UN study, 30% of young African women believe if a man looks healthy, he cannot have AIDS. Making matters even worse, girls are often pulled out of school because their families need their labor. As a result, girls are more likely to be illiterate, making it more difficult to obtain health information, jobs, and information on their rights. Change requires that schools, and other organisations serving youth, educate girls (and boys) about HIV infection and ways to protect themselves. * Policy and Legislation Few countries have legislation to protect girls and young women from sexual encounters that are coercive -- even violent -- and make them vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Within marriage or other consensual relationships, young women do not dare insist on safe sexual practices or refuse sex, for fear of violence. Change requires actively enforced legislation that helps young women and girls, who are especially vulnerable, to obtain legal protection. Marriage laws need to protect young women from traditional practices, such as early marriage and from genital mutilation, which increase their vulnerability. * Economics Lack of economic opportunities often puts girls and young women at particular risk. Dependent on men's financial support, they cannot leave abusive relationships that expose them to HIV infection. Girls may be forced into relationships with older "sugar daddies" who can provide for them economically. Those trapped in poverty may become victims of trafficking, sexual slavery and forced prostitution. Change requires steps by public and private sectors to provide girls and young women with the job-related skills, opportunities to support themselves, and protection from violence in relationships with men who resent their ability to make money. * Healthcare Many health services are uneasy about treating girls and young women who have been victims of violence and are at risk of HIV infection. They are unwilling to provide health information, condoms and medication to girls and young women. Their hostility often discourages girls and young women from seeking their help. Change requires training for healthcare providers in the special needs of girls and young women, and in ways to detect instances of violence and sexual coercion. * War and emergency situations Girls and young women are often particularly vulnerable to rape, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and humiliation, trafficking, and other forms of abuse that are prevalent during war and emergency situations. Change requires international enforcement of women's human rights and special efforts to protect girls and young women. KEY QUESTIONS 1. Are there efforts in your country to change CULTURAL VALUES that make girls and young women vulnerable to violence and HIV/AIDS infection? Are there programmes aiming to change views of boys and men toward young women and girls in order to reduce violence against women and girls and their risk of HIV infection? Are they having success? 2. Are there programmes aiming to change girls' and young women's values and beliefs, to help them protect themselves from violence and HIV infection, and avoid risky situations? Are the programmes having success? 3. What EDUCATION programmes/activities are helping girls and young women protect themselves from the risk of HIV/AIDS infection? Is there sex education in the schools? Are there programmes run by students themselves? What impact have they had? 4. What POLICIES AND LEGISLATION protect girls and young women from violence that increases risk of HIV infection? For example, are there laws regarding early marriage? Genital mutilation? Trafficking? Have they had an impact? 5. What programmes/activities give girls and young women more ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES so they can avoid risky situations -- such as relationships with "sugar daddies," prostitution, and drug use -- and can leave abusive relationships? 6. What HEALTHCARE programmes/activities are "youth-friendly" and serve girls and young women who are victims of violence and are HIV positive? Do shelters, hospitals, police stations and other services understand the needs of girls and young women who face the double trauma of rape and HIV/AIDS? 7. What programmes/activities are helping to protect girls and young women in ARMED CONFICT AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS from risk of violence and HIV infection? 8. Efforts to protect girls and women must actively involve young people of both sexes. Do you know of initiatives to involve young people in efforts to end violence against women and prevent HIV infection? How successful have they been? What do they need to ensure success? 9. What should the UN and other donors do to support these programmes and activities? ***End-violence is sponsored by UNIFEM and receives generous support from ICAP*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe end-violence OR type: unsubscribe end-violence Archives of previous End-violence messages can be found at: http://www.edc.org/GLG/end-violence/hypermail/
