October 2017

Oct 30, 2017

A Hashtag with Consequences?

Dear aidsfocus readers,

The #metoo hashtag is currently receiving worldwide attention, revealing the extent of sexual harassment, assault and rape experienced by women. In the last few days women from all over the globe have been using social media to make their experiences of sexual violence public. The numbers are staggering and the outcry is vehement! The background to all this is the scandal surrounding the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein who is accused of having sexually assaulted and raped women in the film industry.

Sexism, violence, misogynist comments and acts are part of daily life for women throughout the world, even in the 21^st century. And even a US president can unabashedly proclaim his sexism in public. Trump’s misogynist utterances and attitudes are reflected to devastating effect in his politics, to the detriment of millions of women and girls. He was scarcely in office before he reintroduced the "Global Gag Rule" (MMS News from 7 February 2017). His further announcement to immediately withdraw all payments to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was met with horror. These decisions not only have wide-ranging consequences for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls but also for the HIV/AIDS prevention integrated into these programmes. No AIDS education, no contraceptives, no sexual counselling! A bitter blow to hard-won women's rights and a violation of the human right to make free choices.

UNAIDS' Successful Course at Risk

It could also prove to be a bitter blow for UNAIDS, destroying its successful course of recent years. Although UNAIDS director Michel Sidibé is still confident the cuts will fail to gain a majority in the US Congress, it is also clear to him that if funding for PEPFAR and the Global Fund is slashed as has been announced, the epidemic will once again threaten to run out of control (Interview in Global Health Now: HIV/AIDS: "From Despair to Hope"). And young women will once again be the ones who suffer the most. With 300,000 new infections in 2016, young women are still disproportionately affected by HIV and are not being adequately reached by prevention programmes. This means their situation and physical and mental health will further deteriorate.

Now is the time for those are who affected to shout out! And why not with a hashtag which will go around the world?

In our striking topic of the month you can also read about the effect depression has on the progression of AIDS and how the disease can, in turn, lead to mental health issues.

Martina Staenke
Collaborator communication Medicus Mundi Switzerland
mstaenke@medicusmundi.ch