THE ELECTRONIC BULLETIN OF THE SWISS PLATFORM FOR HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION April 2008

Dear Reader,

Human rights are closely linked to the prevention and mitigation of HIV and AIDS. Among these are women’s human rights to housing and land rights. The lack of respect for such rights disempowers women and makes them more vulnerable to the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The aidsfocus.ch conference “HIV and livelihoods. Securing property and inheritance rights” on 10 April 2008 in Berne will address these issues from different perspectives. International speakers will share background information, analysis and experiences on the issues, focussing on the most vulnerable groups: women, children, and old people. They will also present innovative approaches in tackling the issue on field level as well as national and international level.

PLEASE REGISTER NOW!

See you soon in Berne,

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch

Bern | aidsfocus.ch: Children’s rights to inheritance are often violated even while the mother is still alive and becomes more severe when both parents have died, and so are women's rights when her husband passed away. The relatives are the first to gain access to the property. The staggering number of AIDS deaths in the coming years will result in millions more women becoming widows or grandmothers carer of their grandchildren. These women and their children are likely to face not only social stigma against people affected by HIV and AIDS but also deprivations caused by property rights violations.

At community level partner organisations of aidsfocus.ch are faced with these issues and are developing innovative strategies to enable women affected by HIV to exercise their rights and challenge existing power structures and cultural norms. The recent Technical Consultation on Gender, Property Rights and Livelihoods in the Era of AIDS moderated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO (November 2007) demonstrates the urgency of the issue for all organizations working in the field of development cooperation.

Bern, kornhausforum, Kornhausplatz 11, 9.15 – 16.45

--------------------------------------------------------------- PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION

Helena Zweifel, aidsfocus.ch, Medicus Mundi Switzerland Welcome and introduction

Dr. Kaori Izumi, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Rome Gender, Property grabbing from women and children in the context of AIDS - a symptom of deepening poverty and changing cultural norms

Mercy Wahome, Society of Women and AIDS in Kenya (SWAK), Kenya Securing property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV and AIDS. Action and advocacy – community and national level

Maimuna Kanyamala, Kivulini Women’s Rights Organization, Tanzania “SASA!” Women, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. Innovative strategies from grassroot activism (with film)

Frank Mischo, Kindernothilfe Deutschland, Germany A doubled traumatic experience: Children loose their parents and homes. Field experiences from an

Working Groups on key issues 1. AIDS and livelihoods: Progress and directions in international policy 2. Formal versus traditional law: Choices and chances for women 3. Integrating health and livelihoods with the focus on children: Challenges and opportunities

Plenary: Where to go from here: Key messages and evaluation

Conference fee: for partners of aidsfocus.ch: CHF 50.-. Others: CHF 80.-

Program and Registration:

http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

“While property and inheritance rights are important for women generally, in the context of HIV/AIDS they take on an increased value. Dispossession can drive women into poverty, and leave them with few options. For unmarried women, lack of access to land or housing restricts economic option, reduces personal security and can force women to endure violent or abusive relationships, or have sex in exchange for money, housing or education.” (United Nations Secretary General’s Task Force on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa)

http://womenandaids.unaids.org

aidsfocus.ch is a project set up by Medicus Mundi Switzerland. aidsfocus.ch is sponsored and shaped by 31 partner organizations who support the aims and activities of the platform through their financial contributions, expertise and commitment.

Partners: Afro-European Medical and Research Network (AEMRN), AIDS & Child, Bethlehem Mission Immensee, Caritas Switzerland, cinfo, CO-OPERAID, Berne Declaration, Doctors without Borders, Esperanza Medicines Foundation, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, HEKS, IAMANEH Switzerland, International Federation of the Blue Cross, INTERTEAM, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, mission, REPSSI, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, missio, mission 21, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical Institute, Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.