Gender & Hiv/Aids

Male Circumcision for prevention of HIV transmission

2007-08-08T08:46:00.000+01:00

What the new data mean for HIV prevention in the United States

By: Sullivan PS, Kilmarx PH, Peterman TA et al.
Published in: PLoS Med 4(7): e233, 2007
Via: Docuticker

Circumcision may have a role for the prevention of HIV transmission in the US. However, because of the many differences between the underlying HIV epidemics in Africa and the US, differences in the prevalence of male circumcision in Africa and the US, and the considerable gaps in knowledge that exist regarding the potential impact of circumcision on HIV transmission by male–male sex, the extent of this role on a population basis is unknown. Further, the already high prevalence of circumcision among US men suggests some limitations in the potential impact of circumcision at a population level.

(http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%2
Fjournal.pmed.0040223&ct=1)

New data on male circumcision and HIV prevention: policy and programme implications

2007-07-24T09:06:00.000+01:00

Male circumcision: a new strategy for HIV prevention?

Published by: World Health Organization, 2007
Via: Eldis

This technical consultation paper from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS reports that male circumcision has been proven to effectively reduce the transmission of HIV from women to men. However, male circumcision does not provide complete protection against HIV, and it has not been proven to reduce the transmission of the virus from men to women. Circumcision for HIV positive men is not recommended. The paper emphasises that it is important to deliver accurate information about the implications of male circumcision in relation to HIV and that programmes promoting circumcision as a HIV prevention measure should be culturally aware, respectful of human rights and aware of gender issues.

The paper recommends that programmes promoting male circumcision should now be included in the range of HIV prevention strategies but that such programmes should not be seen as a replacement for these existing strategies. These programmes should deliver clear information, aimed at both men and women, emphasising that male circumcision only offers partial protection against HIV. It also recommends that such programmes be targeted to maximise their public health benefit, and in particular programmes should be directed at regions with very high HIV prevalence and low levels of male circumcision.
(http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/MCrecommendations_en.pdf)

Gender and Trade: impacts and implications for financial resources for gender equality

2007-07-24T07:25:00.000+01:00

Financing gender equality

By: Williams, M
Published by: International Gender and Trade Network, 2007
Via: Eldis

To what extend can the multilateral trading system help to support the financing of gender equality and women’s economic and social empowerment in Commonwealth developing countries? This paper provides an overall framework for understanding how the multilateral trade system, working in tandem with the International Financial Institutions can contribute to the financing of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. The authors look at how trade liberalisation and trade reform impact on the resources available for financing gender equality, and seek to identity the likely direct and indirect gendered impacts of trade on resource availability.

The paper offers a tentative overview of how trade impacts on the three domains of gender equality and explores the financial impacts of the World Trade Organisation and other trade arrangements on financing and gender equality. Its main focus is on the area of trade reform, in addition to looking at aid for trade and trade related capacity building and technical assistance. Specific recommendations made in the paper are:

each count should develop a framework for engendering its trade related capacity building and Aid for trade programmes
it is important to ensure that trade diagnostic studies focusing on promoting trade readiness and market entry include gender analysis and pay specific attention to the needs of women-owned small and medium enterprises as well as to the sectors in the economy most likely to be adversely affected by changing trade policies
trade negotiations mandates should proactively include a gender sensitive framework for each of the sectoral areas under negotiations
gender sensitive measures are needed to deal with the negative outcomes of trade reform underlying the implementation of trade agreements.

(http://www.igtn.org/pdfs//Gender%20and%20Trade%20and%20financing%20gender%
20equality%20-%202007.pdf)

Male circumcision and HIV prevention

2007-07-19T15:07:00.000+01:00

Ethical, medical and public health tradeoffs in low-income countries

By: Rennie S, Muula AS and Westreich D
Published in: Journal of Medical Ethics. 33:357-361, 2007
Via: Docuticker

If male circumcision is to be promoted in regions of high HIV prevalence, the following basic ethical conditions must be put in place: sufficient material and human resources to perform circumcisions safely; careful monitoring of the quality of follow-up care; international and national committments to low-cost circumcisions to facilitate equitable access; flexible policies informed by concerns of local communities regarding if, when, where and how circumcisions should be performed; careful attention to the consent process and sustained condom promotion to minimise the risk of behavioural disinhibition; monitoring of circumcision promotion messages to ensure that prospective clients are aware of potential benefits and limits; education of women and girls about male circumcision initiatives to combat potentially tragic misconceptions; and conformity of circumcision policies with international norms (such as the Siracusa principles) limiting the extent to which individual rights can be infringed to promote the public good.

Future initiatives to promote male circumcision as part of comprehensive HIV prevention policies are likely to lose public trust and effectiveness if they are not grounded in respect for persons, social justice, human rights and community values. Without an open-minded dialogue on these ethical challenges between the Western medical establishments and international organisations promoting male circumcision, and the people and governments for whom the intervention may be most appropriate, a potentially vital contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS could be squandered.
(http://jme.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/33/6/357)

Change, choice and power: young women, livelihoods and HIV prevention

2007-04-16T14:12:00.000+01:00

Important interventions supporting the livelihoods of young women and adolescents

By: Urdang, S
Published by: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 2007
Via: Eldis

The urgency of addressing the vulnerability of young women and adolescent girls of all backgrounds, but particularly the poor, cannot be over stated. Innovative, far-reaching and rapid responses are needed to impact whole generations so that the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty can be within reach. This paper sets out to explore the relationship between economic independence, vulnerability to HIV infection, the level of sexual and reproductive health among women and adolescent girls, and gender-based violence. It focuses in particular on southern and eastern Africa and looks at the role of microfinance, as this is often the only potential source of income for poor young women and adolescent girls. Vocational training is also reviewed. The authors make recommendations in five main areas that are important for interventions supporting livelihoods directed at young women and adolescents:

a situational analysis and base line survey that includes a full assessment of the gendered social, cultural, economic and political contexts for the intervention is essential in order to identify as fully as possible the challenges and opportunities for young women and link these directly to their vulnerability to HIV infection; programmes need to go beyond satisfying the practical, short term survival needs to addressing the strategic (empowerment) interests of the young women and adolescent girls
a participatory monitoring and evaluation tool needs to be introduced from early stages of the intervention
thorough documentation of the process will provide important lessons for replication and upscaling
microfinance interventions for young women and adolescent girls need to take into account the differences between providing such services for older women, and for young women/adolescent girls
macro level: policy at the state level needs to be reviewed and revised, with the provision of resources, a re-examination of attitudes towards young women as small scale (and bigger scale) entrepreneurs

(http://www.unfpa.org/upload/lib_pub_file/674_filename_change.pdf)

Parliaments, politics and HIV/AIDS: a comparative study of five African countries

2007-04-16T14:05:00.000+01:00

Can parliament play a role in the HIV and AIDS pandemic?

By: Caesar-Katsenga M & Myburg M
Published by: Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), 2006
Via: Eldis

This paper provides an assessment on the national parliaments of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa use of their oversight function to inform and monitor national HIV and AIDS responses. More specifically, the primary goal is to improve the overall effectiveness of the HIV and AIDS responses in the participating countries. Research findings from all the country-specific reports indicate that the pandemic has had some impact on parliaments in all of the countries. Placing any limitation on the role of parliaments in determining HIV and AIDS priorities undermines an effective response to the pandemic and the power of democratic governance. The paper confirms that oversight of HIV/AIDS is largely confined to specific parliamentary committees, in particular those with a broad social welfare mandate. A number of recommendations are made. These include:

it is imperative that all parliaments ensure effective and consistent engagement with citizens
there needs to be more parliamentary committees that integrate HIV and AIDS into their work
there needs to be a more systematic framework for HIV and AIDS oversight
there is a need for a more generalised, mainstreamed approach to HIV/AIDS within parliament, which requires more committees to be involved in HIV and AIDS oversight
it is important that parliaments consider not only the policy and legislative implications of the effect of HIV and AIDS but also the institutional implications.

(http://www.idasa.org.za/gbOutputFiles.asp?WriteContent=Y&RID=1711)

Off the map

2007-04-10T08:46:00.000+01:00

How HIV/AIDS programming is failing Same-Sex practicing people in Africa

By: Cary Alan Johnson
Published by: International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, 2007
Via: Docuticker

This report exposes and analyses the unacceptable climate of silence that confronts men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women in the epidemic. By focusing on the effects of discrimination, the report demonstrates that access to prevention, care and treatment must be equal for all. The ravages of AIDS fall hardest on those most marginalized in our societies: women, the poor, LGBTs. We must insist that access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care do not follow discrimination’s path.
(http://www.iglhrc.org/files/iglhrc/otm/Off%20The%20Map.pdf)

Action on gender based violence and HIV/AIDS: bringing together research, policy, programming and advocacy

2007-02-16T07:51:00.000+01:00

What are the link between gender-based violence and HIV?

Published by: Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL); Program on International Health and Human Rights (PIHHR), 2007
Via: Eldis

At the 2006 International Aids Conference a meeting was convened to explore the linkages between gender based violence (GBV) and HIV. Its objective was to understand common challenges and to inform research, advocacy, policy and practice. This report summarises discussions, outcomes, and recommendations from the consultation. Issues requiring further attention were identified, in particular those necessary to improve future advocacy and research on the topic. Participants recognised the need:

for an evidence base proving the causal linkages between GBV and HIV
to carry out this work within the framework of gender-based equality and non-discrimination
to help government and other partners better understand and address the realities of women’s lives with the objective to inform gender sensitive programming policy
to challenge elite understandings of what is commonly considered “valuable knowledge” by policy makers

Suggestions for moving the work on linking HIV and GBV forward include:

developing an overarching strategy
tracking funding of work at the intersection of HIV and GBV
developing criteria and minimum standards for donors’ work on the subject

(http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/globalcenter/policy/HIVAIDS/toronto.pdf)

Understanding positive women's realities

2007-02-01T07:24:00.000+01:00

Making the sexual rights of women living with HIV count

By: Bell E & Orza L
Published in:Exchange on HIV/AIDS, Sexuality and Gender, Autum 2006
Via: Eldis

This issue of Exchange, produced in association with the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW), focuses on the experience of women living with HIV. The issue focuses particularly on sexual and reproductive rights. It shows how the ABC (Abstain; Be Faithful; Use Condoms) approach, currently favoured by funding bodies such as USAID, ignores the complexity of human needs and desires. There is also a report from India on women who have lost their land due to their HIV status, and a report from Uganda on the ’memory work’ project in which mothers living with HIV and their children have been involved. Despite a growing recognition of the rights of women living with HIV to healthy and fulfilling sexual lives and reproductive choices, there remain many obstacles to women exercising those rights. Women living with HIV have to balance their fears of rejection, abandonment and violence from partners with their need for intimacy and their desire to have children. They also frequently face harsh judgements from health workers about their rights to have sex and children. This includes examples of access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for women being tied into the use of certain types of contraception. The authors recommend that testing, and other HIV services, be carried out in a sexual rights framework that provides women with the support to deal with these complex issues. They also urge that the voices of women living with HIV be meaningfully included in all HIV policy and programme development.

Is free treatment enough? Ensuring women have equal access to HIV treatment

2007-01-17T08:26:00.000+01:00

Analysis of the gender dimension in the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy and the extent to which free treatment at point of delivery ensures equitable access for women

Published by: Gender and Health Group, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine / Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This report from the Gender and Health Group at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine examines how gender inequality affects access to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) by women in poor countries. The report explains how access to freely available ART benefits women and outlines a number of policy measures necessary to ensure gender equality when access to free ART is being scaled up. Up to three times as many women than men are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. However, gender subordination, discrimination, stigma and poverty mean that women are less likely to access treatment. The report highlights how making ART freely available improves women?s access to it. But, as there are a number of factors other than cost that also prevent women benefiting from treatment, it is necessary to devise a package of free access that will help ensure gender equity in access to the services. The report makes a series of recommendations on how to introduce gender equity into the World Health Organisation (WHO) minimum requirements for ART provision. The report also makes recommendations to ensure gender equity in a further series of areas. These include removing the geographical barriers to access, health promotion and behavioural change interventions, community involvement in developing interventions and the provision of nutritional supplements or economic supports with ART.

Holliday Season!

2006-12-15T08:07:00.000+01:00

Dear Readers

Yet another year has flown by. And it was a busy year indeed! I am going to take a well-deserved break, and will start posting again at breakneck speed in the New Year.

I hope that Gender Focus and its sister blogs have been of some help to you, and will continue to do so in the future. So look forward to a bumper crop of posts early in January 2007, as I will endeavor to bring you all up to speed with what has been happening over the holiday season.

Have a great time, and a Happy New Year!

Adult male circumcision significantly reduces risk of Aquiring HIV

2006-12-15T07:44:00.000+01:00

Published by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), 2006
Via: DocuTicker

“The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced an early end to two clinical trials of adult male circumcision because an interim review of trial data revealed that medically performed circumcision significantly reduces a man’s risk of acquiring HIV through heterosexual intercourse. The trial in Kisumu, Kenya, of 2,784 HIV-negative men showed a 53 percent reduction of HIV acquisition in circumcised men relative to uncircumcised men, while a trial of 4,996 HIV-negative men in Rakai, Uganda, showed that HIV acquisition was reduced by 48 percent in circumcised men.”

+ Questions and Answers: NIAID-Sponsored Adult Male Circumcision Trials in Kenya and Uganda
+ Statement on Kenyan and Ugandan trial findings regarding male circumcision and HIV (World Health Organization)
+ Randomized, Controlled Intervention Trial of Male Circumcision for Reduction of HIV Infection Risk: The ANRS 1265 Trial (PLoS Medicine)

Fulfilling fatherhood: experiences from HIV positive fathers

2006-12-11T14:20:00.000+01:00

Men living with HIV speak about being fathers

Published by: International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF); The Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) / International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This document from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) highlights some of the issues facing men who are living with HIV and who are fathers. It contains thirteen personal accounts by men living with HIV in various countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America.

The men are in a variety of different family arrangements. They discuss how they disclosed their status to their children and how living with HIV has affected their relationship with their children. Some of the men also discuss how they made a decision with their partner to become a parent after being diagnosed, and the younger men discuss their feelings about the possibility of making that decision in the future. Those fathers living in poor countries express their anxieties about their children’s future should illness or death mean that they will not be able to provide for them. All of the men express their commitment to working to end the stigma around HIV and believe that fathers living with HIV can play an important role in communicating messages about HIV prevention.

Late marriage and the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa

2006-11-06T08:03:00.000+01:00

A longer interval between first sex and first marriage is correlated with a higher rate of HIV

By: Bongaarts J
Published by: Population Council, USA , 2006
Via: Eldis

One of the most puzzling features of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is the large variation in its size among countries. For example, the proportion of adults infected ranges from 33 percent in Swaziland to less than 1 percent in Mauritania, Madagascar, and Senegal.
This study investigates the possibility that late age at first marriage, and a long period of premarital sexual activity, may be risk factors for HIV infection. The relationship between marital status and the prevalence and incidence of HIV is examined with ecological data from 33 sub- Saharan African countries and with individual-level data from nationally representative Demographic and Health Surveys in Kenya and Ghana in 2003.

The ecological analysis finds a significant positive correlation between HIV prevalence and the median age at first marriage, and between HIV prevalence and the interval between first sex and first marriage. Male circumcision rates also contribute to differences in prevalence. In the individual-level analysis, the risk for HIV infection per year of exposure among sexually active women is higher before than after first marriage. These findings support the hypothesis that a high average age at marriage in a population leads to a long period of premarital sex during which partner changes are relatively common, thus facilitating the spread of HIV. However, the paper also observes that very early marriage also raises the risk of infection for young girls, because they would otherwise not be having sex during those years. For the same reason, while being married is less risky per year of exposure than being sexually active and never married, more women are infected while married than while single.

Aids, poverty, and hunger: challenges and responses

2006-10-02T08:28:00.000+01:00

HIV lens needed to see interactions between food, poverty and HIV

By: Gillespie, S. (ed)
Published by: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) , 2006
Via: Eldis

This book is based on the International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Food and Nutrition Security: From Evidence to Action that took place in Durban, South Africa in April 2005. The book provides a forum to review emerging knowledge on the interactions between AIDS and hunger and to better understand what it implies for poverty, food and nutrition-relevant policy and programmes. The book is organised around three main themes. Theme one: interactions – considers those between agriculture and other rural livelihood systems, the spread of HIV and the impacts of AIDS at different levels. Theme two: local responses – details capacities and strategies of households and communities to reduce infection risk (resistance) and respond effectively to the impacts of HIV and AIDS (resilience). Theme three: policies, programmes and interventions – reviews processes and impacts of food- and nutrition-relevant policies that have sought to prevent the spread of HIV and/or mitigate the impacts of AIDS.

The editor argues that we should not be blind to AIDS, nor should we be blinded by AIDS. Rather, an HIV lens, not a filter, needs to be employed in order to see the interactions and overlapping set of problems between HIV and AIDS, food insecurity and malnutrition. Moreover, greater emphasis needs to be placed on learning from, supporting and enabling community-driven responses and innovations.

Girl power: the impact of girls' education on HIV and sexual behaviour

2006-09-18T08:27:00.000+01:00

Addressing the feminisation of HIV epidemic in Africa through girls' education

By: Hargreaves J & Boler T
Published by: ActionAid International , 2006
Via: Eldis

This document addresses the feminisation of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. The report asserts that HIV prevention campaigns often do not address the increased vulnerability of young women because they fail to deal with limited power to determine who to have sex with, or when and how to have sex. Current research in this field has linked girls’ education and decreased vulnerability to HIV infection. This document conducts a systematic review of the evidence on the impact of schooling on sexual behaviour, and on HIV rates. The report calls for the abolishment of school fees, and also calls for governments and donors to invest more in primary and secondary education.

Chapter one explores the issues that underlie the rapid spread of HIV infection among young women. This chapter also identifies some mechanisms through which girls’ education might affect HIV risk. Chapter two details the methodology used in analysing the evidence and in reaching the conclusion. Chapter three outlines the results of the study, while the fourth chapter contains the conclusion and recommendations.

Male circumcision and risk of syphilis, chancroid, and genital herpes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2006-08-28T08:47:00.000+01:00

Published in: Sexualy Transmitted Infections, 2006
Via: Docuticker

This first systematic review of male circumcision and ulcerative STI strongly indicates that circumcised men are at lower risk of chancroid and syphilis. There is less association with HSV-2. Potential male circumcision interventions to reduce HIV in high risk populations may provide additional benefit by protecting against other STI

Sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV/AIDS

2006-08-23T07:03:00.000+01:00

Guidelines on care, treatment and support for women living with HIV/AIDS and their children in resource-constrained settings

Published by: World Health Organization (WHO), 2006
Via: Eldis

This publication, produced by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and the WHO (World Health Organization), addresses the specific sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of women living with HIV and AIDS. It includes recommendations for counselling, antiretroviral therapy (ART), care and other interventions. It is aimed at national-level programme planners and managers responsible for designing HIV programmes and comprehensive SRH services for women. The authors argue that improving women’s SRH, treating HIV infections and preventing new ones are important factors in reducing poverty and promoting the social and economic development of communities and countries. SRH services are uniquely positioned to address each of these factors.

The document examines: equity and rights; HIV and sexual health; family planning; termination of pregnancy; pregnancy, birth and postpartum; sexually transmitted infections; and women receiving ART. Key recommendations include: ART for women is an essential component of maternal mortality initiatives and needs to be sensitive to women-specific needs; health care providers should anticipate that women receiving ART may require additional counselling and support to make choices regarding their sexuality and childbearing; the possibility of a planned or unintended pregnancy must be considered when selecting an ART regimen for women; and special efforts to support adherence may be needed during pregnancy, childbirth and shortly after birth.

The female condom: a powerful tool for protection

2006-08-22T10:46:00.000+01:00

The potential of the female condom for empowering and protecting women

Published by: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) , 2006
Via: Eldis

This report emphasises the potential of the female condom as a strategy for women to gain control over their lives and their bodies, by preventing unwanted pregnancies and lowering their susceptibility to the HIV infection. According to the report the female condom is an effective STI and pregnancy prevention technology available now that enables couples to reduce their risks, while research shows that the method is comparable to the male condom in its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and STIs. However, despite the availability of the female condom for the last ten years usage is still low.

This report is one output from a consultation with more than 100 experts from 15 countries who met in Baltimore, Maryland, in September 2005 at the Global Consultation on the Female Condom (GCFC) to discuss the status of the female condom worldwide and to develop a plan of action to build support for the method. The report answers key questions about the female condom and builds on the momentum created at the GCFC by presenting evidence of the female condom’s effectiveness and impact, identifying current challenges to wider use, and indicating the steps that need to be taken now to develop strong female condom programmes worldwide.

The potential impact of mail circumcision on HIV in sub-Saharan Africa

2006-08-15T14:33:00.000+01:00

Male circumcision could help to prevent sexually transmitted HIV

By: Williams B, Lloyd-Smith J, Gouws E & Hankins C
Published by: Public Library of Science Medicine (PLoS Medicine) , 2006
Via: Eldis

This article, from Plos medicine, considers the findings that male circumcision (MC) reduces sexual transmission of HIV from women to men and explores the implications of this finding for the promotion of MC as a public health intervention to control HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The results of a mathematical simulation suggest that increasing MC coverage could result in 2 million HIV cases and 0.3 million deaths being avoided over the next ten years. In the ten years after that, a further 3.7 million cases and 2.7 million deaths would be prevented. The initial impact would be in men, but the reduction in the number of HIV-positive men would also lower the risk of women becoming infected. Overall, MC would reduce the rates of infection by about 37 per cent in both female-to-male and male-to-female transmission.

Although their predictions are based on the results of a single study, the authors argue that MC could substantially reduce the burden of HIV in Africa. This is especially true in southern Africa where the prevalence of MC is low but the prevalence of HIV is high. The authors conclude that while the protective benefit to HIV-negative men will be immediate, the full impact of MC on HIV-related illness and death will only be apparent in 10 to 20 years.

Promoting more gender-equitable norms and behaviors among young men as an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy

2006-05-12T08:18:00.000+01:00

Group education can improve attitudes towards gender norms and reduce the risk of HIV

By: Pulerwitz J, Barker G, Segundo M & Nascimento M
Published by: Horizons , 2006
Via: Eldis

This report, produced by the Horizons Project and Instituto Promundo, examines how gender-equitable behaviour among young men can affect rates of HIV and STI (sexually-transmitted infections). The study involved young men aged 14 to 25 in the favelas (low-income communities) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two interventions aimed to improve young men’s attitudes towards gender norms: interactive group education sessions, and community-wide social-marketing campaigns promoting condom use and gender-equity messages. At the beginning of the study, HIV and STI risk factors such as STI symptoms, condom use, and number of sexual partners, were high amongst the participants, and support for inequitable gender norms was associated with more risk. The two interventions appeared to be successful in promoting more equitable norms, and led to significant reductions in HIV and STI risk.

Based on their study findings, the authors conclude that addressing inequitable gender norms, especially those that define masculinity, can be an important element of HIV prevention strategies. Group education interventions can successfully influence young men’s attitudes towards gender roles and lead to healthier relationships. The study also demonstrates empirical evidence that a behaviour change intervention focused on combating inequitable gender norms is associated with improvements in HIV/STI risk.

Orphans and vulnerable youth in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

2006-05-11T07:18:00.000+01:00

An exploratory study of psychosocial well-being and psychosocial support

By: Gilborn L, Apicella L, Brakarsh J, Dube L, Jemison K, Kluckow M, Smith T & Snider L Published by: Horizons , 2006
Via: Eldis

Children and youth affected by AIDS typically face a wide range of stressful events and circumstances, including poverty, the loss of caregivers and loved ones, having to drop out of school, the burden of adultlike responsibilities, and social isolation. Increasingly programmes for orphans and vulnerable children are addressing not only their material and educational needs, but their psychosocial needs as well. Yet there has been little research on how to evaluate psychosocial support (PSS) programmes and the impact of these programmes on vulnerable youth’s psychosocial well-being.

This report presents findings from an exploratory study by the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) and Catholic Relief Services’ Support to Replicable, Innovative Village/Community-level Efforts (STRIVE) Program of vulnerable youth living in and around Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It describes their demographic characteristics, exposure to stress and trauma, and psychosocial well-being. The report also highlights the relationships between psychosocial well-being outcomes and exposure to stress and trauma, and the differences in psychosocial well-being between males and females, orphaned and non-orphaned youth, and younger and older adolescents. In addition, the report explores the relationships between exposure to different psychosocial support programmes and measures of psychosocial well-being and distress.

Policy framework for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS South Africa

2006-05-03T08:28:00.000+01:00

Policy framework for children affected by HIV and AIDS

Published by: Ministry of Social Development, South Africa / The New Republic Online , 2005
Via: Eldis

This document lays out South Africa’s Policy Framework for orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. The framework reflects the collective commitment of government, faith-based organisations, community-based organisations, civil society and the business sector and serves as a guiding tool to all people involved in HIV and AIDS and the children’s sector. It seeks to reinforce the existing commitments and efforts to create a supportive and enabling environment for children.

The six key strategies, which will assist in developing comprehensive, integrated and quality responses for orphans and other vulnerable children at programmatic level are:

strengthen and support the capacity of families to protect and care
mobilise and strengthen community-based responses for the care, support and protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS
ensure that legislation, policy; strategies and programmes are in place to protect the most vulnerable children
assure access for orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS to ssential services
raise awareness and advocate for the creation of a supportive environment for OVC
engage the civil society sector and business community in playing an active role to support the plight of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.

Reporting on children in the context of HIV/AIDS: a journalist's resource

2006-04-12T07:14:00.000+01:00

Resource for the media reporting on children in the context of HIV and AIDS

Produced by: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town; Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town; Media Monitoring Project; HIV/AIDS and the Media Project, Journalism Programme and the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand / Children's Institute, University of Cape Town (UCT) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This resource provides reference information to assist journalists in reporting on children in the context of HIV/AIDS. Divided into five main parts, the resource contains the following information:

Part 1 highlights the many ways children are affected by HIV/AIDS, and challenges the predominant focus in the media on “AIDS orphans”. Some of the statistics and stereotypes commonly associated with “AIDS orphans” are contextualised within the range of children rendered vulnerable by the combined impact of HIV/AIDS and poverty
Part 2 presents ten of the many critical issues at stake in a national response to children experiencing the impact of the epidemic. Includes: key issues related to the implementation of clinical interventions to prevent and treat HIV in children; the delay in formalising programmes and policies, and the appropriateness of some existing responses, such as the building of more orphanages, the reliance on volunteers, and the ways government grants are being implemented; and the limitations of media prevention campaigns and poor health services for youth
Part 3 uses recent research studies to describe some of the media’s limitations in its representation of children and HIV/AIDS. Some of the misleading messages commonly perpetuated are listed and trends in the ways in which stories are reported are outlined
Part 4 provides five guiding principles to both safe-guard children and enhance reporting
Part 5 presents a list of resources.

HIV/AIDS: what about very young children?

2006-04-03T07:39:00.000+01:00

Including very young children in programming and policy responses in HIV and AIDS affected communities

By: Dunn A
Published by: Bernard van Leer Foundation , 2005
Via: Eldis

This paper responds to the fact that young children impacted by HIV and AIDS often seem to be almost invisible in the wider HIV and AIDS field. With a few notable exceptions, if they are mentioned at all, it is as minor footnotes in the general discourse on children and HIV and AIDS. The aim of the research which this paper presents was to review the literature and identify current responses taking place to meet the needs of very young children (age 0–8) in HIV and AIDS-affected communities.

The overall results show that at local, national and international levels, there are gaps in programming and policy to engage ideas and mobilise resources to address the needs and experiences of very young children infected/affected by HIV and AIDS. The question is then raised: What can we actually do to include very young children in programming and policy responses in HIV and AIDS affected communities? The paper makes recommendations which focus on meeting the needs of very young children.

South African child gauge 2005

2006-03-28T08:39:00.000+01:00

HIV and AIDS and children in South Africa

By: Jacobs M, Shung-King M & Smith C
Published by: Children's Institute, University of Cape Town (UCT) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This publication examines the links between the practical situation of children in South Africa, South Africa’s commitments to child rights, and society’s progress in this regard. The document discusses the country’s response to different aspects of the challenge of realising children’s rights, and presents a set of broad-based indicators aimed at gauging improvements in the situation of children over time. This issue focuses on children and policy; HIV and AIDS and children, and the number of children with access to social assistance and basic services.

HIV and AIDS is the leading cause of deaths among children under-five years of age - nationally and across all provinces - primarily due to HIV transmission before and during the birth process. At the same time, diseases of poverty account for at least 30% of all under-five child deaths. The second major obstacle to the realisation of child rights is found to be the ongoing income inequality and widespread poverty in the country. Almost 66% of the child population are living in poverty. Unemployment rate is also rising.

Young men and the construction of masculinity in sub-Saharan Africa: implications for HIV/AIDS, conflict, and violence

2006-03-23T08:55:00.000+01:00

Promoting alternative masculinities in sub-Saharan Africa

By: Barker G & Ricardo C
Published by: World Bank Publications , 2005
Via: Eldis

This report discusses the role of young men in the perpetuation of violence and the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and outlines the kind of programme interventions that can support alternative forms of masculinity. It argues that applying a more sophisticated gender analysis as it relates to conflict and HIV/AIDS is essential in order to understand how both women and men are made vulnerable by rigid ideas of masculinity and gender hierarchies. Throughout the report references are made to alternative, non-violent forms of masculinity and to elements of traditional socialisation in Africa which promote more gender-equitable attitudes on the part of young men. Included are examples of young men whose stories reveal ways in which men can question and counter prevailing norms of masculinity.

Report on the education sector. Global HIV/AIDS readiness survey 2004

2006-03-16T08:05:00.000+01:00

Education sector response to HIV and AIDS in 71 countries

By: Badcock-Walters P, Heard W, Wilson D
Published by: UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team on Education / UNESDOC: Online UNESCO documents , 2005
Via: Eldis

This report presents a comparative review, in 71 countries, of the readiness of the education sectors to respond to, manage and mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS. In particular, the categories of review of include:

Ministry of Education HIV/AIDS structures
enabling environment for an effective response
HIV/AIDS mainstreaming
human resource adaptation to the impact of HIV/AIDS
workplace programmes
the curriculum
responses aimed at the infected and affected
partnership development in response to HIV/AIDS
research guiding the response to HIV/AIDS in the education sector

The results find that there is widespread acknowledgement of HIV and AIDS as factors affecting education systems and requiring attention on the part of ministries of education. However, in key countries or in key areas in many countries, the level of resources and concrete action is far from adequate given the scale and character of the problem.

The implications of early marriage for HIV/AIDS policy

2006-02-20T07:39:00.000+01:00

How early marriage can hinder progress towards combating the spread of HIV and AIDS

By: Bruce J & Clark S
Published by: UNFPA / Population Council, USA , 2004
Via: Eldis

This briefing paper is based on a background paper prepared for the WHO/UNFPA/Population Council Technical Consultation on Married Adolescents, held in Geneva, Switzerland, 9–12 December 2003. The Consultation brought together experts from the United Nations, donors, and nongovernmental agencies to consider the evidence regarding married adolescent girls’ reproductive health, vulnerability to HIV infection, social and economic disadvantage, and rights.

The relationships to major policy initiatives - including safe motherhood, HIV, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and reproductive rights - were explored, and emerging findings from the still relatively rare programmes that are directed at this population were discussed.
The briefing paper concludes that in many countries early marriage is a multi-faceted assault on girls’ rights and may serve as a bridge for the HIV virus into the general population. It argues that promoting later marriage, to at least age 18, and shoring up the protection options including condoms, and, when they become available, microbicides, within marriage may be essential means of stemming the epidemic.

Antiretroviral roll-out in South Africa: where do children feature?

2006-02-15T07:58:00.000+01:00

Gaps in children's issues in South Africa's national plan for care and treatment for HIV and AIDS

By: Shung-King M & Zampoli M
Published by: Save the Children Sweden / Children's Institute, University of Cape Town (UCT) , 2004
Via: Eldis

This paper explores whether children’s health needs are adequately addressed in South Africa's national plan for comprehensive care and treatment for HIV and AIDS. Whilst the commission specifically focuses on ART for children, the paper takes a more comprehensive view of the health needs of children with HIV-infection. The authors note that the current comprehensive Plan is commendable in that it does highlight children’s issues and does give children’s needs some attention. However, they argue that this is not done in a comprehensive child-orientated way where children’s comprehensive health needs are considered, and they identify a number of gaps in the Plan.

Formative research on youth peer education program productivity and sustainability

2006-02-10T07:00:00.000+01:00

Framework to assess impact of youth peer education

By: Svenson G, Burke H
Published by: Youth Net / Family Health International (FHI) , 2005
Via: Eldis

This document develops tools to assess programmatic impact and cost effectiveness of youth peer education (YPE) - a widely used approach to reproductive health promotion and HIV prevention. The study had two objectives: to describe the programme dynamics, activities, costs, and outputs in two countries (Zambia and the Dominican Republic) in order to identify the core elements of successful YPE programmes; and based on these core elements, to develop frameworks and tools to assess YPE effectiveness and sustainability.

Male sexuality in the context of socio-economic change in rural and urban East Africa

2006-02-08T07:51:00.000+01:00

Addressing male disempowerment in East Africa

By: Silberschmidt M
Published in: Sexuality in Africa Magazine, 2005
Via: Eldis

This paper argues that HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns have missed the point by concentrating on women’s empowerment and women’s ability to negotiate safer sex. Instead it asks to what extent disempowered men in East Africa are motivated for responsible sexual behaviour and HIV/AIDS prevention. Drawing on research in rural and urban East Africa, the paper discusses how socio-economic change has limited men’s access to income-earning opportunities, leaving many men unable to fulfil the social roles of breadwinner and household head. Multi-partnered sexual relationships and sexually aggressive behaviour have become a means by which men are trying to re-assert their masculinity. The paper concludes that strategies to improve the sexual and reproductive health of women are only meaningful if they are balanced against efforts to deal with men’s frustrations.

Summary written in collaboration with BRIDGE and Siyanda

The power of pleasure

2006-01-30T06:29:00.000+01:00

The need to recognise women’s desires in the response to AIDS

By: Jolly S & Cornwall S
Published by: Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex, UK , 2004
Via: Eldis

This article, published by the Institute of Development Studies, explores the way that women’s sexuality is represented in the context of development programmes and AIDS prevention. It claims that, although much sex takes place in encounters where women are unable to control what they want, the tendency to represent women as victims can undermine the power that women have to exercise control over their lives and their sexuality. Treating women as victims also gives the impression that they only have unsafe sex because they lack power to negotiate with male partners, ignoring the possibility of women feeling and acting upon their own desires.

HIV/AIDS and vulnerability: sundering the bonds of human society

2006-01-24T09:31:00.000+01:00

AIDS orphaning could significantly impact upon societal structures

By: Barnett T
Via: Eldis

This background note, for a UNAIDS workshop on Vulnerability and AIDS, explores how the impact of HIV and AIDS may threaten social development, with major implications for social and political relations at household, community and national level. The paper: describes the nature of HIV and AIDS and why it is a cause for concern; explores the extent of AIDS orphaning; and speculates about the broader implications for public policy and the welfare of children. The author outlines a cycle of AIDS orphaning that results in the basic unit of social structure being threatened, as the bond between grandparents, parents and children is threatened.

The impact of HIV/AIDS on children and young people

2006-01-24T09:22:00.000+01:00

Reviewing research conducted and distilling implications for the education sector in Asia

By: Wijngaarden J & Shaeffer S
Published by: UNESCO Bangkok: Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education , 2005
Via: Eldis

This paper examines the impact of the HIV and AIDS epidemic on children (0-18 years old) in Asia, and also looks at the implications of HIV and AIDS for the education sector. The main impact of HIV and AIDS on children are summarised into three main areas:

loss of social and/or family support: children will also lose their economic, social and emotional safety net. Growing up, children may have to live in a foster family or in either state or religious institutions. This may lead them to be less well-supervised than would be the case in a nuclear family situation
stigma and discrimination: addressing these misconceptions is needed to tackle one of the heaviest burdens on the well-being of persons with AIDS, but also as a prevention strategy
decreased access to education, health care and social services: as a consequence of losing the family unit, as well as of stigma and discrimination, children and young people end up having less access to education, health care and social services. In many instances, they are shunned by community members and are actively discriminated against.

A new blog on Same-Sex Marriage

2006-01-09T14:59:00.000+01:00

Dear Readers

In the light of the recent developments regarding Same-Sex Marriage in South Africa, I have added another blog to my little family. It will deal with all matters relating to Same-Sex Marriage, especially regarding legislation.

A link to it has been added in the breadcrumb, and several links to informative websites have been added to the link menu.

News from the Librarian

2005-12-09T14:22:00.000+01:00

Dear Reader

Yet another year has flown by. And it was a busy year indeed! I am going to take a well-deserved break, and will start posting again at breakneck speed in the New Year.

I hope that Thread and Thrum and its sister blogs have been of some help to you, and will continue to do so in the future. So look forward to a bumper crop of posts early in January 2006, as I will endeavor to bring you all up to speed with what has been happening over the holiday season.

Have a great time, and a Happy New Year!

Regards
The Librarian

Deadly inertia: a cross-country study of educational responses to HIV/AIDS

2005-12-07T13:02:00.000+01:00

What have been the responses to the HIV and AIDS crisis by Ministries of Education worldwide?

Produced by: ActionAid / Global Campaign for Education (GCE) , 2005

This report analyses responses to the HIV and AIDS crisis, both by Ministries of Education and civil society groups working on education, in 18 countries across Asia, Latin America and Africa. It attempts to answer the following three questions:

What progress have Ministries of Education made in responding to the epidemic?
How have civil society organisations working on education responded to the epidemic?
How can the educational response to HIV and AIDS be strengthened and galvanised?

The report is split into three chapters. The first chapter describes why educators need to start taking HIV and AIDS seriously; the second gives an overview of policy and programmatic responses to HIV and AIDS; and the third chapter discusses partnerships between NGOs and Ministries of Education.

Scaling up youth HIV/AIDS prevention

2005-12-07T12:52:00.000+01:00

The experienec of Pathfinder International and the Foundation for Community Development in Inhambane Province, Mozambique

By: Casey L, Pacca J & Badiani R
Produced by: Pathfinder International , 2004

This paper documents the Pathfinder/FDC project in Inhambane, Mozambique, which focused on increasing the adoption of safer sexual decision making strategies among youth through increased demand and access to information and services and to further develop the capacity of NGOs, youth associations and communities to undertake STI/HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.

The project took a peer education approach, and focused on behaviour change communications, with a complementary and reinforcing aspect of capacity building for youth associations. Interventions were aimed at male and female pre-adolescents, adolescents and young adults, including both in-school and out-of-school youth.

AIDS in Africa: three scenarios for the education sector

2005-12-07T12:43:00.000+01:00

Three scenarios for the education sector in the context of AIDS in Africa

By: Bennell P
Produced for: UNAIDS, 2004

This report presents three distinct scenarios of how the AIDS epidemic could impact on the education sector in sub-Saharan Africa over the next two decades and, in particular, the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals for education.

The first scenario suggests that the impact of the epidemic on education will be much less than is anticipated mainly because the country projections of HIV infection are over-estimated and that governments will be able to introduce effective HIV prevention programmes and provide life saving anti-retroviral drugs to affected teachers.

"But where are our moral heroes?"

2005-12-06T07:12:00.000+01:00

An analysis of South African press reporting on children affected by HIV/AIDS

By: Meintjes H & Bray R
Published by: Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) / Children's Institute, University of Cape Town (UCT) , 2005

Messages conveyed both explicitly and implicitly in the media play an important role in the shaping of public understanding of issues, as well as associated policy, programme and popular responses to these issues. This paper applies discourse analysis to a series of articles on children affected by HIV/AIDS published in 2002/2003 in the English-medium South African press. The paper argues that in each instance, the particular moralism is questionable in the light of both empirical evidence and principles of human dignity underlying the South African constitution.

AIDS Epidemic Update 2005

2005-11-22T07:00:00.000+01:00

Special Report on HIV Prevention

Produced by: UNAIDS/WHO, 2005

The AIDS Epidemic Update 2005 was released today by WHO and UNAIDS. The report is issued in advance of World AIDS Day, marked globally on 1 December.

Link via: UN Pulse

Reproductive rights of women in Thailand

2005-11-21T08:22:00.000+01:00

Progress and challenges towards attainment of international development goals

Produced by: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) , 2005

This report examines Thailand’s progress in the area of women’s reproductive health in the context of major international declarations and conventions including the MDGs. The report finds that a persistent gender gap exists in reproductive health and maternal mortality. The following areas are considered:

Thai women’s status in the economic and political arenas
reproductive health concerns including maternal mortality STI/HIV/AIDS, adolescent reproductive health, reproductive malignancies, and older person’s reproductive health
addressing larger issues concerning women’s reproductive and sexual rights in the country
the reproductive health of women from minority groups and those who have experienced gender based violence.

Caring and contributing

2005-11-21T08:13:00.000+01:00

The role of older women in multigenerational households in the HIV/AIDS era

By: Schatz EJ & Ogunmefun C
Produced by: Population Aging Center, Institute of Behavioral Science, Colorado , 2005

This paper explores the coping strategies of households in rural South Africa, where HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality are having profound effects on household resources. The paper focuses specifically on the potentially crucial role older women's pensions play in multi-generational households both during crises (e.g. HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality) and day-to-day subsistence. Results are based on interviews with women between the ages of 60-75. Half of the respondents are South African born, and thus eligible for the South African non-contributory pension; the other half are self-settled Mozambican refugees, who officially were ineligible for the pension until recently.

Update

2005-11-14T10:03:00.000+01:00

Dear Readers

I will unfortunately not be updating the Blogs until the 21 November, due to work pressure. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Regards
The Librarian

SEAGA livestock guide: planning with a gender and HIV AIDS lens

2005-11-08T15:12:00.000+01:00

Socio-economic, gender and HIV and Aids issues in livestock production

Produced by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) , 2005

This handbook provides an overview of some of the key socio-economic and gender issues related to livestock production, and considers the impact of HIV/AIDS on livestock production and related activities.

The guide looks at strategies for mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS (and other chronic illnesses) on food security and agriculture in terms of the role of livestock production. Pull-out checklists of questions are provided to help users consider gender, HIV/AIDS and socio-economic concerns in planning livestock initiatives and addressing these issues in livestock-focused institutions. There is also a pull-out toolbox of ten participatory tools to help field-based users in livestock project identification and preparation.

Public works in the context of HIV/AIDS

2005-10-28T07:47:00.000+01:00

Innovations in public works for reaching the most vulnerable children and households in East and Southern Africa

Produced by: Southern African Labour and Development and Research Unit (SALDRU), University of Cape Town (UCT) , 2005

This report examines the social protection role of public works programmes in the East and Southern Africa region, in terms of their ability to address the needs of OVC and households affected by HIV/AIDS. It explores whether public works have a role to play in addressing the massive social protection challenges arising as a result of the high HIV prevalence rates in East and Southern Africa, and the growing incidence of OVCs.

Dolescents: orphaned and vulnerable in the time of HIV/AIDS

2005-10-27T09:46:00.000+01:00

Programme priorities for HIV/AIDS orphaned and vulnerable adolescents

By: Daileader Ruland C, Finger W. Et al.
Produced by: YouthNet, Family Health International (FHI) , 2005

This paper emphasises the distinct needs of HIV/AIDS orphaned and vulnerable adolescents. It summarises the limited studies and programmes which are working primarily with adolescents orphaned due to AIDS, and highlights four case studies:

Cambodia (Koh Kong) – community-based integrated services
Zambia – youth involvement and service
Zimbabwe – camp activities and psychosocial support
Romania – group home

These case studies demonstrate different strategies for working with adolescent orphans and other youth vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, reflecting different cultural and programmatic approaches relevant to Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Update

2005-10-20T18:44:00.000+01:00

Dear Readers

I will unfortunately not be able to update the Blogs until the 26th of October. Please visit next Thursday, and get the latest news and views.

I apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Regards
The Librarian

Gender mainstreaming in HIV/AIDS

2005-10-19T15:10:00.000+01:00

Seminar Proceedings

By: Sharon Kleintjes, Bridgette Prince, Allanise Cloete & Alicia Davids (eds)
Produced by: Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) 2005

Current trends of HIV transmission and prevalence clearly show that the epidemic is fuelled by gender-based vulnerabilities. Close to 60 per cent of adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa are women, and almost 75 per cent of young people living with HIV in southern Africa are female. It is also clear that issues of gender need to be mainstreamed into attempts to curb the further spread of the epidemic. Research on the gender dimensions of HIV/AIDS needs to be augmented. New and existing research must be integrated into policy. Policy must translate into action, and good practice must inform further policy.

Young children and HIV/AIDS: mapping the field

2005-10-19T14:18:00.000+01:00

Psychological aspects of children and HIV/AIDS

By: Sherr L
Produced by: Bernard van Leer Foundation , 2005

This paper presents an overview of the literature on children and HIV/AIDS from a psychological perspective. It summarises the complexity of who the children are, examines emerging orphan and vulnerability issues, explores HIV/AIDS treatment interventions and how they affect the emerging scenario in terms of child and parent infection, and focuses on the widespread psychological effects of HIV/AIDS on the young child. The study looks at the affects of infection, for example, at the family level, care arrangements, emotional and mental health considerations, development implications and gender.

Letting them fail: government neglect and the right to education for children affected by Aids

2005-10-11T06:58:00.000+01:00

Government neglect of millions of children affected by HIV/AIDS is fueling school drop-out across East and Southern Africa, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today

Produced by: Human Rights Watch (HRW), 2005

The 55-page report, “Letting Them Fail: Government Neglect and the Right to Education for Children Affected by AIDS,” is based on firsthand testimony from dozens of children in three countries hard-hit by HIV/AIDS: South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda. It documents how governments fail children affected by AIDS when they leave school or attempt to return. Churches and community-based organizations provide critical support to these children, but these groups frequently operate with little government support or recognition.

Law as a tool: the challenge of HIV/Aids in Uganda

2005-10-07T08:05:00.000+01:00

HIV/Aids - Human Rights Law in Uganda

By: Jenny Kuper
Produced by: Crisis States Reseach Centre & LSE

"This paper aims to explore, with particular reference to Uganda, the role of human rights law in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In doing so, it may also contribute to debates concerning: a) the role that law can play in rehabilitating or preventing the formation of ‘crisis’ states; and b), more generally, the usefulness of law in addressing major development issues."

Failing our children: bariers to the right to education

2005-10-05T08:14:00.000+01:00

Recommendations for enabling fair access to education

Produced by: Human Rights Watch (HRW) , 2005

The paper examines barriers to education such as fees, the impact of HIV and AIDS, discrimination and lack of access, violence, child labour and gender-specific barriers. It also provides an assessment of the legal standards related to educational access.

This report is based on more than thirty investigations conducted by Human Rights Watch in over twenty countries since 1998. It is based on interviews with hundreds of children who were out of school, faced barriers to gaining access to education, or had experienced abuses in the educational system, as well as members of their families, nongovernmental organisations and other advocates, officials, and other sources.

Reproductive rights for women affected by HIV/AIDS? A project to monitor MDGs 5 and 6

2005-09-28T09:54:00.000+01:00

Progress is slow for achieving MDG goals: reproductive rights for women

By: de Bruyn M
Produced by: IPAS , 2005

This document reports on how six organisations in Argentina, Mexico and Poland, Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland tried out a monitoring tool as a data collection method to assess steps along the path toward achieving MDGs 5 and 6. This report is a synthesis of each organisation’s own project report, describes how the monitoring tool was used and outlines the main findings presented by the individual organisations.

Facing the crisis: supporting children through postive care options

2005-09-28T09:43:00.000+01:00

Increasing number of children are at risk of separation from their families

By: Tolfree D
Produced by: Save the Children Fund (SCF) , 2005

This report responds to the situation of the increasing number of children who are at risk of separation from their families or need alternative care due to HIV/AIDS, poverty, conflict, natural disasters, exploitation, abuse and family breakdown. The paper emphasises the need for practice and policy responses that reinforce family- and community-based care and support options. It looks at the underlying principles and rationale for an alternative approach to the protection and care of children and explores a range of 'packages' to meet the individual needs of children both within the family and in a range of care settings.

A strange illness: issues and research by children affected by HIV/AIDS in central China

2005-09-19T08:03:00.000+01:00

Impacts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in China on children

By: West A & Hui Z
Produced by: Save the Children Fund (SCF) , 2005

Caused by unsafe practices in the sale of blood, HIV/AIDS has affected a large number of children in central China. This child-led research explores the severe HIV/AIDS epidemic in China which is leaving many children orphaned and infected by looking at how the affected children view their situation and at what their hopes are for the future.

Positively informed: lesson plans and guidance for sexuality educators and advocates

2005-09-16T11:41:00.000+01:00

Replacing silence and shame with positive information: resources for sexuality education

Produced by: International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) , 2004

This resource manual, produced by the International Women’s Health Coalition, provides selected lesson plans and guidance in English for those involved in sexuality education of adolescents aged 10 to 19. Its materials are adaptable to diverse cultural settings and include coverage of gender and sexual rights, sexual orientation, sexual behaviour and decision-making, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, contraception, unintended pregnancy and abortion, and sexual violence and harmful practices. A list of further resources is also provided.

Male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men

2005-09-16T11:24:00.000+01:00

What role does male circumcision play in preventing HIV transmission?

By: Siegfried N, Muller M & Volmink J et al
Produced by: Medical Research Council (MRC), South Africa , 2003

The aim of this paper is to assess the evidence of an interventional effect of male circumcision for preventing acquisition of HIV-1 and HIV-2 by men through heterosexual intercourse. It takes the form of a review of published and unpublished studies and conference proceedings.

Potential impact of adjustment policies on vulnerability of women and children to HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

2005-09-16T11:16:00.000+01:00

Structural adjustment policies increase women's and children's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS

By: De Vogli R & Birbeck GL
Produced by: Centre for Health and Population Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) , 2005

This article evaluates the potential impact of the IMF and WB adjustment policies on women's and children’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa through connecting changes at the macro level with effects at the meso and micro levels.

The study finds that adjustment policies may inadvertently produce conditions facilitating women's and children’s exposure to HIV/AIDS. In particular, it finds that certain components of adjustment reforms, such as currency devaluation and trade liberalisation, may produce mixed effects on the vulnerability of women and children to HIV/AIDS. Other reforms, such as financial liberalisation, removal of food subsidies, and introduction of user fees for healthcare and education have a negative impact on the spread of the epidemic among poor women and children.

Just die quietly: domestic violence and women's vulnerability to HIV in Uganda

2005-09-09T13:37:00.000+01:00

Domestic violence increasing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Uganda

Produced by: HRW / Human Rights Watch (HRW) , 2003

This paper argues that women are becoming infected with HIV because the state is failing to protect them from domestic violence. It bases the report on 120 interviews with Ugandan women.

The paper argues that many women are victims of marital rape. Women were also powerless to protect themselves from infection and are unable to access HIV/AIDS services because their husbands physically attacked, threatened, and intimidated them, and did so with impunity. Most women saw domestic violence as innate to marriage, and viewed sex with their husbands as a marital obligation. Despite a rhetorical commitment to women’s rights, the Ugandan government has failed in any meaningful way to criminalise, condemn, or prosecute violence against women in the home.

To have and to hold: women's property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS

2005-09-09T13:33:00.000+01:00

Exploring the link between HIV/AIDS and women’s property rights

By: Strickland R
Produced by: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), USA , 2004

Produced by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) in collaboration with UNAIDS, this paper seeks to examine the link between HIV/AIDS and women’s property rights. The author asks if women’s lack of rights increases household poverty and women’s own vulnerability to infection; and if securing these rights can mitigate the impoverishing impact of the epidemic.

The healthy brothel: the context of clinical services for sex workers in Hillbrow, South Africa

2005-09-09T13:28:00.000+01:00

HIV/AIDS interventions often have more social than individual impact

By: Stadler J & Delaney S
Produced by: Reproductive Health Research Unit , 2004

This paper explores the risk sex workers face of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. While public health messages provide information and skills for negotiating safer sex, yet these are not always realistic for women who earn a living from sex. Conventional health services often present barriers to sex workers seeking sexual and reproductive health care and treatment.

Qualitative evidence on adolescents' views of sexual and reproductive health in Sub-Saharan Africa

2005-09-09T08:46:00.000+01:00

Increased education and more mass media programmes needed to address HIV among adolescents

By: Amuyunzu-Myamongo M, Biddlecom A, Ouedraogo C & Woog V
Produced by: Alan Guttmacher Institute , 2005

This study examines how young people in sub-Saharan Africa view sexual and reproductive health issues. It also explores what they think about sources of sexual and reproductive health information and services. Findings show that young people are aware that they may be at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, but the quality and depth of their knowledge varies and misconceptions persist. The study also found that a young woman’s right to negotiate condom use was dependent on whether she had received money or gifts. Abstinence was seen as a means of preventing HIV although there was little consensus on how realistic this option was.

Hope: building capacity. Least developed countries meet the HIV/AIDS challenge

2005-09-08T14:09:00.000+01:00

Women carry crucial burdens and roles in overcoming the HIV/AIDS epidemic in LDCs

Produced by: UN Office of the High Representative of the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) , 2005

This paper addresses the development situations of the world's least developed countries, particularly focusing on the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The paper specifically examines the internatinal community's commitment to the Brussels Program of Action (BPOA) for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001 to 2010 – that committed to the eradication of poverty and improvement of the quality of lives of the people.

Policy paralysis: a call for action on HIV/AIDS related human rights abuses against women and girls in Africa

2005-09-08T14:05:00.000+01:00

Review of, and policy recommendations on, HIV/AIDS human rights abuses against women and girls

Produced by: Human Rights Watch (HRW) , 2003

This report details cases of abuse of women and girls that increase susceptibility to HIV/AIDS. It reviews regional and national legal regimes and makes recommendations for policy action against manifestations of HIV/AIDS human rights abuses against women and girls.

Facing the future together: report of the Secretary-General's Task Force on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa

2005-09-08T13:59:00.000+01:00

Six urgent interventions needed to stop HIV prevalence among women and girls

Produced by: UNAIDS; Global Coalition on Women and AIDS & UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) , 2004

This UNAIDS report, from the Secretary-General’s Task Force on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa, presents empirical data on the scale and character of the pandemic in nine countries in Southern Africa with the highest HIV prevalence rates. As the majority of young people aged 15-24 living with AIDS in these countries are women, the report calls for an end to gender inequality, which is key to the spread of HIV among women.

Women and HIV/AIDS: confronting the crisis

2005-09-08T13:52:00.000+01:00

Addressing gender issues essential in averting the impact of HIV/AIDS

Produced by: United Nations(UN) Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) , 2004

This report, published by UNIFEM, UNAIDS and UNFPA, is a call to action to address the triple threat of gender inequality, poverty and HIV/AIDS. It highlights the work of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, a UNAIDS initiative that supports programmes which mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls worldwide. The report focuses on six areas of action: prevention, treatment, caregiving, education, violence and women’s rights. Each section outlines key issues and offers examples of where women are leading the way to combat these problems.

Rwanda: "Marked for Death", rape survivors living with HIV/AIDS in Rwanda

2005-09-08T13:48:00.000+01:00

Multiple barriers to health care for rape survivors in Rwanda living with HIV/AIDS

Produced by: Amnesty International (AI)/AIUK , 2004

This Amnesty International report explores the situation of rape survivors living with HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. Ultimately, the report finds that gender discrimination, compounded by both the stigmatisation of sexual violence and poverty discrimination, contributes not only to the transmission of HIV/AIDS but to the denial of adequate health care for those living with HIV/AIDS as well.

Gender, HIV/AIDS and food security: linkage and integration into development interventions

2005-09-08T13:44:00.000+01:00

Linking gender, HIV/AIDS and food security in development projects

By: Kebede D & Retta S
Produced by: Drylands Coordination Group (DCG), Norway , 2004

This paper looks at the links between gender and HIV/AIDS and food security. It aims to address the challenges that HIV/AIDS and gender inequality pose to development efforts in relation to food security in Ethiopia, in particular on the coping mechanisms related to food security among men and women suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Gender and HIV/AIDS: an analysis of Zimbabwe's national policies and programs on HIV/AIDS/STIs

2005-09-08T13:38:00.000+01:00

How does Zimbabwe's AIDS policy measure up to gender analysis?

Produced by: Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network (ZWRCN) , 2003

This report analyses the major Zimbabwean AIDS policies for their take on gender equity and equality. The policy documents it outlines and analyses are: the National HIV/AIDS policy, the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe Act and the National AIDS Trust Fund.

The paper explores issues around gender and HIV/AIDS and uses that exploration as its basis for the consideration of Zimbabwe's AIDS policies. It outlines what the authors consider top be gender imbalances in those policies and makes recommendations for addressing them.

HIV Aids and gender impact report

2005-09-08T13:35:00.000+01:00

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of how HIV/AIDS effects Zambian households

Produced by: Zambia Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives & Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) , 2003

This report summarizes the findings of a household livelihood survey in Zambia. The aim was to gain a clear understanding of the dynamics of assets and livelihood strategies that are induced by the presence of HIV/AIDS in communities and households in Northern Province.

Gender, HIV/AIDS and rights: a training manual for the mendia

2005-09-08T13:19:00.000+01:00

Course for journalists to become more aware of gender and rights issues in HIV/AIDS reporting

By: Made P
Produced by: Inter Press Service (IPS) , 2003

This manual provides training for members of the media reporting on HIV/AIDS. Its introduction argues the importance of gender training for the media because research shows that news is told largely through the eyes, voices and perspectives of men. The media often makes the mistake that gender equals women. This leads to a news approach which focuses on women as isolated members of societies with specific needs and interests.

Oh! This one is infected!: women, HIV & human rights in the Asia-Pacific

2005-09-08T13:10:00.000+01:00

Addressing women's higher vulnerabilities to HIV in the Asia-Pacific region

By: Paxton S
Produced by: International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) , 2004

This paper, commissioned by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, sets out to explain the varied reasons why a significant majority of women in the Asia Pacific region are disproportionately at risk of infection. It also documents specific examples of discriminatory attitudes and actions against HIV-positive women in the region as a result of their HIV status, and concludes with recommendations of action by and for all levels of society to counteract these human rights violations.

Working with men responding to AIDS: gender, sexuality and HIV

2005-09-08T13:03:00.000+01:00

Engaging with men is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS

Produced by: International HIV/AIDS Alliance , 2003

Across the world, people working on HIV/AIDS now recognise the importance of developing their work with men in order to have a real impact on the epidemic. This has involved identifying what their roles and responsibilities are in different contexts, and developing strategies to work with men on them. This case study collection, produced by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, presents experiences and lessons from a range of projects that are working with men.

Integrating gender into HIV/AIDS programems: a review paper

2005-09-08T11:58:00.000+01:00

Ultimate challenge to HIV/AIDS depends on structural transformation and empowerment

By: Gupta GR, Whelan D & Allendorf K
Produced by: World Health Organization (WHO) , 2003

This review paper aims to provide background information and a suggested framework for considering the issues and challenges of integrating gender into programmatic and policy action. It also offers some programmatic examples of successful HIV/AIDS interventions that have addressed gender issues in a meaningful and significant way. It thus creates a broad picture of the ways in which gender influences women's and men's vulnerability in the epidemic, and the range of potential programmatic responses.

Mainstreaming gender into the Kenya national HIV/AIDS strategic plan 200-2005

2005-09-08T11:49:00.000+01:00

Kenya recognises the importance of gender in national HIV/AIDS plan

Produced by: The Gender and HIV /AIDS Technical Sub-Committee of the National AIDS Control Council / Policy Project, Futures Group, Washington , 2002

This report documents the process taken by the Kenyan National AIDS Control Council to mainstream gender in the National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan.

The motivation to mainstream gender in the national plan came from the fact that no explicit strategies on gender were included in it despite the overwhleming evidence that the incidence of HIV/AIDS among women was rising at a shocking rate and women were being infected at an earlier age than men. This evidence is presented in the introduction of this document.

Mainstreaming gender into HIV/AIDS action: priorities for interventions focusing on women and girls

2005-09-08T11:46:00.000+01:00

What factors underlie gender differences in HIV/AIDS impacts?

By: Koitelel P
Produced by: GDNet document store , 2004

In the formulation of Kenya’s National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan (KNASP) of 2000-05, it was recognised that the impact of the epidemic on women was strikingly different from that on men: the incidence of HIV/AIDS amongst women was rising more quickly, and women were being infected at an earlier age than men were.

Gendering AIDS: women, men, empowerment ,mobilisation

2005-09-08T11:43:00.000+01:00

How can policy implementation of gender sensitive HIV/AIDS be strengthened?

Produced by: Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) , 2003

This report examines how national and international policy implementation of HIV/AIDS can be strengthened. Research was carried out in South Africa, Namibia, India and Cambodia to find out, at national and international levels, the overlap between lack of rights, gender inequalities and HIV/AIDS and to address what is needed to strengthen the implementation of policies addressing these issues.

Reproductive health and rights: HIV/AIDS and gender equality

2005-09-08T11:39:00.000+01:00

Gender relations crucial in the spread of HIV/AIDS; similarly important in HIV/AIDS prevention

By: Pargass G
Produced by: United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC / CEPAL) , 2004

This paper is part of an ongoing study that explores the role of gender in the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. Specifically it examines how gender and gender relations impact on women’s access to their sexual and reproductive health and rights and how this in turn increases women’s vulnerability to HIV infection.

Gender-based violence and HIV among women: assessing the evidence

2005-08-22T08:34:00.000+01:00

More interventions needed to address gender-based violence and HIV

Produced by: American Foundation for AIDS Research (Amfar) , 2005

This issues brief from AMFAR reviews the evidence that links between gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV among women. The brief highlights how females account for 76 per cent of HIV infections among young people aged 15 to 24, due to a number of biological, behavioural and social reasons, with GBV receiving increased attention. GBV can be a cause of HIV infection, and emerging evidence connects the rapidly expanding HIV epidemic and GBV, especially among young women. Moreover, GBV can be a consequence of HIV as risks associated with disclosure of HIV infection often deter women from revealing their HIV status.