UNAIDS Action Framework: Addressing Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV

29.06.2009 Globally, women comprise about half of the 33.2 million people living with HIV. Women, especially young women are particularly vulnerable to HIV due to biological factors, inadequate knowledge about HIV and AIDS, insufficient access to prevention services, a general lower status in society and a lack of female-initiated/controlled HIV-prevention methods.

Risk to HIV infection is highest among the poorest and least powerful members of society, which includes women. The vulnerability of women, young women and girls is almost always exacerbated in situations of armed conflict where women and girls are likely to experience sexual exploitation and violence.

In order to address these inequalities and reduce the vulnerability to HIV that women face daily – just because they are women, strong leadership is required at all levels, especially from governments and the United Nations.

The work of UNAIDS is guided by a Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) with representatives of 22 governments from all geographic regions, the UNAIDS Cosponsors, and five representatives of nongovernmental organisations, including associations of people living with HIV.

In June 2006, the 18th Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS requested that guidelines be produced to address gender issues in response to the increased feminisation of the epidemic in many regions of the world. Governments would use these ‘guidelines’ as well as national AIDS programmes, donors, international agencies, the UN system and NGOs.

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