International Woman's Day 2012: GNP+ calls for more protection of women's and girls' rights in the HIV response
8 March 2012 - The Global Network of people living with HIV
(GNP+) urges all stakeholders in the HIV response to better utilize opportunities to promote the health and dignity of women
and girls, living with and affected by HIV.
"A lot more can be done to promote women´s and girls´ rights as part of the HIV response," says GNP+ co-chair
Anna Zakowicz.
Speaking on the eve of International Women's Day, Ms. Zakowicz noted that "Many studies have conclusively shown
that protecting women's rights, not only reduces their vulnerability to HIV, but also increases their chances of accessing
treatment, care and support when they are infected.Women must be meaningfully engaged in researching, designing and
implementing programmes in the HIV response, so that all opportunities to promote dignity and rights are fully exploited."
Reflecting on the results of consultations with people living with HIV on the prevention of vertical
transmission, which were carried out in partnership with the International Community of Women living with HIV (ICW),
Ms Anna Zakowicz said: "Women living with HIV experience serious barriers in making informed choices about their
sexual and reproductive health and rights. Removing structural and societal barriers that disempower women,
such as gender-based violence and unequal access to education and income, ensuring access to full and
accurate information, and providing a supportive environment for women to access services is key to
promoting conditions where women's full potential is realised."
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The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) is the global network for and by people living with HIV.
GNP+ advocates to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Driven by the needs of people living with HIV worldwide, GNP+
supports people living with HIV through their organisations and networks. GNP+ works to ensure equitable access to health and social
services, by focusing on social justice, rights and more meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in programme and policy
development - the GIPA principle. www.gnpplus.net
More information about this news release:
Please contact
GNP+ Martin Stolk, Communications officer,
by email communications@gnpplus.net )
or phone +31-20-423 4114
"Reproduced with permission - Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)"
Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
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