In a bid to stop Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) violations, The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) continues to;
Challenge and say no to coerced and forced sterilisation of women including women living with HIV with a focus on Kenya and Uganda, where it is documented that women living with HIV have been subjected to these injustices.
With support from Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa, ICWEA continues to create awareness about SRHR violations of women living with HIV with an aim of undoing the myth and practice of people making SRHR decisions for women because they are HIV positive. In addition to this, women living with HIV are being enlightened about their sexual and reproductive health rights so that they can tell when they are being abused and stand up for themselves and other women.
For gender based violence, given the fact the vice is mostly rooted in the cultural norms. ICWEA with support from Global Fund through The Aids Support Organization –Uganda is engaging with cultural and religious leaders to get to the root causes of GBV and to come out with strategic actions to address and change attitudes about the unfair treatment on women by the male counterparts and the in society.
Action to take
Bringing an end to GBV and SRHR will take collective efforts. Everyone can do something for example;
Influential people in the community, cultural and religious leaders
Denounce these injustices and attempt to change the attitudes of people about women being a lesser species that should be submissive and for whom all decisions are made. Speak out against GBV and SRHR at each and every gathering.
Government (policy makers)
Incorporate, SRH into all HIV&AIDS programmes and carryout countywide campaigns against these practices especially at the grassroots. The materials bearing these messages must be in languages that are understood by the people in the areas. Teaching against violating SRHR of women and GBV should start right from an early stage even in schools so that children can unlearn related bad traits that they might have seen so many times in the communities that they think it is the way to do things.
Women living with HIV
Make attempts to learn your sexual reproductive health rights, demand for them where they are not given and when violated or when you experience GBV, speak out. Share the knowledge you have about GBV and SRHR violations with other women so that they too can easily tell when their rights are being abused. And even when the rights of other women other than you are being abused, speak out.
