HIV/AIDS

The global HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a catastrophic effect on women in Africa and the number of HIV infections among women has risen in recent years.

The nature of the disease and its mode of transmission has devastating effects, not only on those affected with HIV/AIDS but families, communities, societies and the world.

HIV/AIDS thrives where there is marginalization of the poor, who are especially vulnerable to the infection. Without proper education, health care standards, social inequities, economic disempowerment- the poor, and especially poor women, suffer dis-proportionally from HIV/AIDS.

This is because poor social and economic conditions as well as gender imbalances put pressure on women particularly to support their families and this and to engage in prostitution and unsafe sex which is a catalyst for the spread of the AIDS virus.

Cultural practices like polygamous marriages, widow inheritance, female genital mutilation, and ritual sexual cleansing among others are recipes for the spread of the virus. In most cases, poor women or women who are not economically sound and have been denied their rights to land and housing or women who are victims of property grabbing are vulnerable to become infected with the virus.
Women’s economic and (developmental rights- no such thing really, better to say human rights) are abused forcing them to live in slums and other degrading conditions where the infection spread rapidly. Such women cannot even negotiate for safe sex and crimes such as rape and defilement are perpetrated daily and such condition is good breeding ground for the spread of the infection. In addition, women widowed and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS are stripped of property and the right to own and farm land, could spread further.

Women who lack title to land or housing, suffer restricted economic options, reduced personal security, poverty, violence, and homelessness, contributing to both their and their children's impoverishment. Poverty can also encourage risky livelihood measures, such as enduring an abusive relationship or engaging in unsafe sex in exchange for money and this increases the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Gender equality and the empowerment of women economically and financially are fundamental elements in the reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. Protecting the property and land tenure rights of women is vital to prevent women slipping into a spiral of poverty which makes them vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.

Where a woman owns land or other property or understands her legal rights over a piece of land or other property, she also has so many benefits including economical, financial and environmental benefits. It has been shown that when women have secure housing and land, they are less victimized as a result of domestic violence.

Governments and other stakeholders, by failing to enact and effectively enforce laws on domestic violence, marital rape, women’s equal property rights, and sexual abuse of women, and by tolerating customs and traditions that subordinate women, foster an environment where HIV/AIDS can continue claiming the lives of millions of women.

Other Cross-cutting Links:
Discrimination  | Poverty | Housing Rights | Inheritance  |  Domestic Violence