Talking Points for Writing Letters to the Editor

Address the feminization of the AIDS pandemic

Facts:

1. Girls and Women in sub Saharan Africa are Disproportionately affected by HIV.
2. Over 60% of those living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa are women and young girls.
3. Girls and young women represent ss much as 75% of infections in youths aged 15-24.

Yet the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is failing women. Prevention strategies that focus on abstinence, being faithful, and using condoms (ABC) do not take into account the societal inequities and human rights violations that make women and girls especially vulnerable to HIV infection.

PHR is calling for the integration of family planning and HIV/AIDS services.

Women are widely discriminated against in sub Saharan Africa; this discrimination has a number of negative consequences regarding their ability to protect themselves against HIV. For instance, though they may know how to prevent HIV, they are often unable to control when and with whom they have sex, and whether or not they can use a condom. PHR's 2007 report Epidemic of Inequality also showed that in some countries, women who were not financially self-sufficient were especially at risk of becoming infected with HIV. An example of a program to support women might include microfinance to improve women's economic standing in their families and communities.

PHR is calling for Universal Access to PMTCT+ programs

Only 11% of the women in need are accessing prevention of mother-to-child transmission  programs, let alone PMTC+.  The PMTCT+ approach emphasizes the importance of the "M" in PMTCT+: caring for the mother is as important as protecting the life of the child. PMTCT+ programs provide HIV medicines for the pregnant mother and everyone else in the family with HIV, not just a short-term treatment for the mother solely to prevent HIV in the baby. PMTCT+ programs keep both mothers and fathers alive, as well as the baby. Since babies who lose their mothers are likely to die in sub Saharan Africa, PMTCT+ programs are also better for babies.

PHR is calling for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to prevention

Focusing on abstinence, being faithful, and using condoms (ABC) does not take into consideration the unequal power dynamics often present in marriages and societies around the world. Prevention programs must take into account these structural inequities which leave women vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

• The current ABC model does not address the dire human rights issues at the core of the epidemic, nor does it recognize women's unique vulnerability to the disease. Married, faithful women in many societies are at extremely high risk of becoming infected with HIV due to the actions of their husbands.
• Comprehensive programs must go beyond  the ABC approach to also:

1. "D" - Defend women's rights and end Discrimination;
2. "E" - Educate and economically empower women;
3. "F" - provide Freedom of movement and Food sufficiency.