ELECTORNIC BULLETIN OF THE SWISS PLATFORM ON HIV/AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

February 2014

Dear readers

“Countries that have high HIV incident have been found to have high levels of violence against women. HIV is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Young women and girls are particularly at risk and count for more than one-fifth of all new HIV infections. East and Southern Africa have high rates of sexual violence with 48% of young women in Swaziland reporting having been victims of sexual violence while 59% of Zambian women have ever experienced violence since the age of 15 years. Dear readers

“Countries that have high HIV incident have been found to have high levels of violence against women. HIV is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Young women and girls are particularly at risk and count for more than one-fifth of all new HIV infections. East and Southern Africa have high rates of sexual violence with 48% of young women in Swaziland reporting having been victims of sexual violence while 59% of Zambian women have ever experienced violence since the age of 15 years. Without addressing violence against women, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) cannot be achieved and without SRHR the struggle for zero HIV infections cannot succeed.” Nomfundo Mbuli, SDC Gender Focal Point Eastern and Southern Africa, summarises the issue very well.

The aidsfocus.ch conference in Berne on April 10, 2014 under the title of „Addressing sexual violence and HIV“ explores how the link between sexual violence and HIV can be broken. How can sexual and gender based violence be curbed, and infection with HIV be prevented? How can survivors of violence be supported and strengthened, to be able to lead a life in dignity – despite all adversities. At the conference, we will start off with exchanging information and experiences both in Africa and Switzerland and discuss appropriate measures. You are kindly invited to join.

Let me equally draw your attention to another event organised by the Medicus Mundi Switzerland Network, the Meeting Point on Influences of Religion and Health using the example of the Apostolics in Zimbabwe. Here too, we will focus on sharing know-how and experiences in relation to health in development cooperation. Again, you are welcome to participate.

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch Executive Director Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland

Information and registration: http://www.aidsfocus.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Physical or sexual violence is a public health problem that affects more than one third of all women globally, according to the report released by WHO “Global and regional estimates of violence against women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence”. The report represents the first systematic study of global data on the prevalence of violence against women – both by partners and non-partners. New WHO guidelines, launched with the report, aim to help countries improve their health sector’s capacity to respond to violence against women. (June 2013)

http://www.who.int
http://www.who.int

Gender-based violence is a serious violation of human rights and increases the risk of HIV infection. Recent research has established a clear association between intimate partner violence and HIV, with women experiencing such violence facing a 50% increased risk of acquiring HIV. Responding to gender-based violence and HIV is a matter of shared global responsibility for social justice. In the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, UN Member States pledged to eliminate gender inequalities, gender-based violence, and to protect women from the risk of HIV infection. (November 2013)

http://www.unaids.org

“In failing to act we remain in collusion with the perpetrators of violence”. This was the message that brought together 45 members of the UK Consortium on AIDS and international development on the issue of gender based violence (GBV) and HIV. Eight speakers shared knowledge and experiences of the link between GBV and HIV as well as programming that seeks to challenge and overcome violence. A fact sheet on violence against women and HIV explores how violence against women and girls increases vulnerability to HIV, why women living with HIV face violence, and current interventions to address violence. (July 2014)

http://stopaids.org.uk
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

The aim of this factsheet is not only to inform policy makers in the post-2015 debate on this issue, but especially to help development practitioners to become more aware of VAW in their day to day work across all thematic domains and to find sustainable ways to combat this phenomenon in their contexts. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) of the United Nations in its annual meeting 2013 adopted agreed conclusions on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls. However, there is still a glaring lack of data on the issue, as well as great lack of resources and political will devoted to combat this epidemic. (2013)

http://www.deza.admin.ch
http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Researchers from The Miriam Hospital and the University of Rochester have found a definitive link between violence among intimate partners and an increased risk of HIV infection. Based on the reports from the participants, Theresa Senn, PhD, senior research scientist says, “Our findings suggest that women involved in violent relationships fear that their partner might respond with violence if asked to use a condom, which in turn, leads to less condom use for these women. Protecting themselves from unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, is not as easy as just telling their partner to wear a condom. (2014)

http://www.lifespan.org

The impact of violence against women aged 15-24 cannot be ignored when it comes to HIV infection; rates in young women are twice as high as in young men, accounting for nearly a quarter of all new HIV infections. In Uganda the teenage pregnancy rate is particularly high with about 25 per cent of adolescents already mothers or pregnant with their first child. According to Uganda's 2011 Demographic and Health Survey, the country has a high maternal mortality rate; 435 deaths for every 100,000 live births. There can be no stronger evidence of the need to improve women's knowledge of and access to family planning and HIV services. (December 2013)

http://allafrica.com

This publication by the Population Council provides a framework for understanding how to implement a human rights based approach to prevent and manage HIV and sexual gender-based violence. The publication discusses the double-burden of SGBV and HIV, provides examples of comprehensive programmes on SGBV and HIV prevention, the challenges of using an integrated approach, and what the next steps are for SGBV and HIV prevention and management. HIV and SGBV prevention programs should operate at several levels and can include building condom negotiation skills, increasing access to emergency HIV prophylaxis, and developing laws and policies that positively impact gender norms. (2011)

http://www.genderandaids.org

Sexual violence and exploitation against children is steeped in contextual determinants, such as the socio-economic development and legacy of war-time sexual violence, the intersections of HIV and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), gender relations in Mozambique, and the social vulnerability of children to sexual and economic exploitation. This assessment by AIDSTAR-One focused on current availability and practices of post-rape care (PRC) for children in two provinces of Mozambique, Zambezia and Sofala, and in the capital city of Maputo. (AIDSTAR-One 2014)

http://www.aidstar-one.com

The prime aim of a LifeLine center is to provide emotional wellness to the community at large. This is done through individual counseling and community group interventions. LifeLine has broadened the range of activities to include the local Rape Crisis Centre, providing survivors with specialist care. We offer trauma debriefing for victims who have been involved in a variety of violent situations. LifeLine offers to rape crisis survivor immediate and on-going counselling, immediate rapid HIV testing, provision of a rape care pack, facilitate access to prophylaxis medication, assistance with legal procedure and facilitate medical examination. LifeLine Pietermaritzburg is a partner of terre des hommes schweiz.

http://www.lifeonline.co.za
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za

The aidfocus.ch conference explores how sexual and gender based violence increases vulnerability to HIV, AIDS and other STIs. It highlights current interventions to address the consequences of sexual violence on the health of women, children and men. Based on experiences and best practice, the conference will explore programming and key actions addressing the consequences of sexual violence on HIV in protection of the survivors of sexual violence. The focus is on sharing of experiences and information and learning from each other. Sinikiwe Biyela, Director of LifeLine, South Africa, is one of the guest speakers. Information and registration:

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

Apostolic faith communities believe in prophets and healers and take a critical attitude in rela-tion to Western medecine. A UNESCO-study shows that there are very diverse tendencies within one religious community: The use of modern health care services and drugs is rigorous-ly forbidden for ultra-conservative Apostolics, whereas semi-conservative groups recognise and use modern medicine as secondary options to faith healing and church. The aim of the Meeting Point is sharing and joint learning in order to gain insight into one’s own work. Input by Dr. med Urs Allenspach, physician and board member of SolidarMed, who during his work with the SolidarMed Mother-Child-Program encountered the Vapostori (Apostolics) in Zimbabwe.

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

Zurich/Harare, 24 February 2014 – This week, Newlands Clinic in Harare celebrates its 10th anniversary. The outpatient clinic, which is operated and financed by the foundation Swiss Aids Care International, has become established as a model for high-quality HIV treatment in Zimbabwe. The plans for the coming years are to increase the number of patients from the current level of around 4,500 to 6,000. Newlands Clinic has developed from being an out-and-out clinic into a centre of competence for HIV/AIDS. At Newlands Clinic Training Centre, Prof. Ruedi Lüthy and his local team now train more than 300 nurses and doctors from across Zimbabwe in HIV management every year. The centre has also been offering training in identifying and treating the early stages of cervical cancer, which is particularly common among women suffering from HIV.

http://www.swissaidscare.ch

An intricate tale of medicine, monopoly and malice, FIRE IN THE BLOOD tells the story of how Western pharmaceutical companies and governments aggressively blocked access to low-cost AIDS drugs for the countries of Africa and the global south in the years after 1996 - causing ten million or more unnecessary deaths - and the improbable group of people who decided to fight back. FIRE IN THE BLOOD is the never-before-told true story of the remarkable coalition which came together to stop the Crime of the Century and save millions of lives in the process. A film by Dylan Mohan Gray.

http://fireintheblood.com

1. February 2014 - The International HIV/AIDS Alliance today deplored the news that President Museveni has signed Uganda’s notorious “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” and called on international leaders and donors to step up public criticism of the bill. Signed into law by President Museveni today, the bill has serious human rights implications and will have a disastrous impact on the country’s HIV response. It threatens harsh penalties for those who promote or “aid and abet” homosexuality as well as life imprisonment for “aggravated homosexuality”. According to Enrique Restoy, Senior Advisor on Human Rights: “Signing the bill goes against all the scientific evidence of the impact of negative legal discrimination on the AIDS response and its passage into law has direct implications for access to healthcare services for groups most at risk of the HIV epidemic.

http://www.aidsalliance.org
https://www.allout.org/en/actions/kill-the-bill-taf

London, 17 February 2014 - Peter Piot called on the AIDS movement to take a cold, hard look at the lessons learned, and counter what he sees as the dangerous myths that could lead to a collective state of denial. He warned, the AIDS response is at a critical junction. He acknowledged the optimism around new scientific developments but urged caution that the rhetoric around ‘the end of AIDS’ could translate into ‘the end of the AIDS movement’. He said, “If we drop the ball now, we may get to a situation where we can’t break the epidemic.” In his speech he went on to outline what he sees as the dangerous ‘myths’ around the AIDS response today.

http://www.aidsalliance.org

Yaounde, 23 January 2014 - People living with HIV in Cameroon, which has the highest prevalence of the disease in West and Central Africa, endure widespread stigma, with some facing difficulties obtaining bank loans or suffering mistreatment at hospitals, patients and observers say. “Despite the government’s efforts to make ARV treatment free, decentralize treatment centres and establish HIV/AIDS support programmes for patients, there are still widespread myths and discrimination associated with the disease”, said Isaac Bissala, the head of Cameroon Workers’ Union.

http://www.irinnews.org

Partner organisations: AIDS & Child, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, IAMANEH Switzerland, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, mission21, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss Catholic Women’s League, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (SwissTPH), Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch