Day 1/16: ICWEA Calls on Governments in Eastern Africa Region to Take Immediate Actions to END Violence against

ICWEA Calls on Governments in Eastern Africa Region to Take Immediate Actions to END Violence against Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and women living with HIV including those at high risk of HIV

November 25, 2018 Kampala –The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) today joins the World to Commence a Sixteen (16) Days’ Campaign to End Violence Against Women. We call for bolder actions from the Governments in Eastern Africa region towards ending and eliminating Violence Against women in all its forms.

Whereas ICWEA acknowledges the important progress made by the governments and all partners in the region in HIV response including having special courts sessions to address GBV cases (Uganda), having a tribunal specifically to address HIV (Kenya), there are still laws, policies and practices that particularly promote structural violence. These include but not limited to coerced and forced sterilization, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Forced abortion and Child marriages. These practices are not only violations of human rights but they limit adolescent girls and women from accessing and enjoying their full sexual reproductive health and rights.

Call to Action on the states

Repeal laws, condemn and challenge policies and practices that fuel violence. Having laws, policies and practices that seek to protect and not fuel violence is a clear commitment to address violence in member states.

Invest more in female controlled methods for HIV prevention such as PrEP which gives women and girls more control over their bodies.

Call to action on Women

Amplify your Voice, Orange the World so that your voices can be hard and that is how change will be realized. Join the Global Campaign (Orange the World, #HearMeToo).