November 25, 2016
Today marks the 25th year of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. The annual campaign is a global opportunity to strength action to end all forms of violence against women and girls. This year, The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA) is taking action to raise awareness on Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) and to challenge any form of SRHR violations experienced by women living with HIV including Gender Based Violence (GBV) as a cause and consequence of HIV.
During these 16 Days of Activism, we will continue challenging and saying 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 forced and coerced into sterilisation. Women’s reproductive health and rights must be protected. Family Planning must be a choice and women must be provided with full information and options and enabled to make informed choices. The principle of informed consent must be upheld.
ICWEA with support from Global Fund through TASO –Uganda is partnering with Cultural and Religious leaders to get to the root causes of GBV and to come out with strategic actions to address the same. During these 16 Days of Activism we will feature voices and commitments by these leaders.
OUR CALL to all of you during the 16 Days of Activism is: you have the power and ability to eliminate GBV, together we can end violence against women. EVERY CONTRIBUTION COUNTS.
Starting today until December 10, The Human Rights Day, we will talk about GBV and SRHR violations faced by women living with HIV and give recommendations on how to stop them. On December 9, we will have a one hour Tweet chat at 12.00 -13.00 p.m. Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and 11.00 a.m. -12.00 p.m. Rwanda.
As we create more awareness about this vice during the 16 days, we call for investment (of time and money) in social norm change at the community level for changes in gender relationships and the acceptability of violence against women and the need to end it. Speak about the vice and call for transformation at all gatherings.
