Strategies and actions for ending violence against women and reducing HIV and AIDS infection

The way in which violence against women and the fear of such violence fuels the HIV and AIDS epidemic is being increasingly recognised, and measures to address this are being taken the world over. Promising approaches and actions include the involvement of men, who are beginning to examine their own perceptions of masculinity and how this can contribute to such violence and hence HIV transmission. Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, India, Brazil and Nicaragua are experiencing growing efforts by men's organisations to work for change in this regard.

In many countries health centres have been established that treat survivors of violence, and include services such as counselling and legal referrals. Although still limited in number, they have potential as an important source of HIV education and treatment. Another response involves advocacy campaigns over the past few decades in most regions of the world which have led to legal reform. As a result, domestic violence has been criminalised, laws have recognised the rights of women who have been trafficked, and in a few countries, marital rape has been recognised as a crime. These responses contribute in turn to reducing the risk of HIV transmission.

A comprehensive response to tackle violence against women and HIV and AIDS, highlighted by the Global Coaltion of Women and AIDS (womenandaids.unaids.org), needs to include:

• Mobilising leadership at global, national and community levels with the aim of generating action to ensure that legal and policy change occurs to make violence against women unacceptable
• Expanding the evidence base highlighting the prevalence of violence against women, including its links to violence against women and HIV and AIDS, and the economic, social and health costs
• Developing the knowledge base on the relationship between violence against women and HIV and AIDS and disseminating this information to researchers and practitioners in both fields
• Promoting national and community level action that improves the education and legal standing of women, builds on successful efforts, and encourages innovations and partnerships among groups working on both issues