Day Seven: World AIDS Day
Today, we join the global community in observing World AIDS Day. We take today as a moment to honor the lives of more than 32 million individuals lost to AIDS-related illnesses while renewing our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic. This year’s theme, “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress,” emphasizes the importance of centering human rights, equity, and community leadership to achieve the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
This year’s observance coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), providing an opportunity to explore the critical intersections of HIV/AIDS, GBV, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Addressing the AIDS crisis through an SRHR lens ensures equitable access to prevention, treatment, and care while dismantling structural barriers like stigma, discrimination, and violence.
Challenging Misconceptions and Stigma
Western narratives often depict HIV/AIDS as primarily affecting gay men or being linked solely to drug use. However, the epidemic’s complexity requires a global, intersectional perspective. Depending on geographical context, different populations face unique vulnerabilities, with women, girls, and marginalized communities often left out of the conversation.
In 2023, 44% of all new HIV infections occurred among women and girls, with a significant majority of these infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Here, women and girls accounted for 62% of new HIV diagnoses, making the region a focal point for understanding how gendered dynamics fuel the epidemic.
Sub-Saharan Africa highlights the intersections of GBV and HIV/AIDS. Southern Africa, the region most severely affected by the epidemic, demonstrates how unequal gender relations, sexual coercion, and economic inequalities exacerbate HIV risks. Women, especially young women, are statistically infected almost a decade earlier than their male counterparts due to dynamics like relationships with older men, limited negotiating power in households, and pervasive GBV.
The prevalence of GBV in southern Africa is alarmingly high, with young women under 18 most at risk for sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Epidemiological studies reveal strong correlations between experiences of violence and heightened vulnerability to HIV. Women who endure trauma, abuse, or other forms of sexual violence are significantly more likely to contract HIV. These overlapping crises—high rates of GBV and the HIV/AIDS epidemic—underscore the urgent need for integrated approaches addressing both.
Globally, HIV-related stigma and stereotypes further marginalize vulnerable groups, diverting attention and resources. For example, in Western countries, Black and Hispanic women face significant disparities in HIV care, with lower rates of treatment access, retention in care, and viral suppression compared to white populations. These inequities highlight the need for intersectional approaches to HIV prevention and treatment that account for structural racism, socioeconomic barriers, and healthcare inequities.
Making the fight against AIDS a feminist fight is essential. To eliminate AIDS by 2030, special attention must focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa and marginalized communities globally. Gender equity is not just a moral imperative but a public health necessity.
The need for an intersectional approach
HIV is the most lethal sexually transmitted infection (STI), making access to comprehensive SRHR essential for HIV prevention and care. Barriers to SRHR—such as inadequate sex education, lack of contraception, and restricted access to healthcare—exacerbate vulnerabilities, increasing a person’s risk of contracting HIV. Women, especially those in marginalized communities, face additional challenges, such as:
- Limited Access to Sexual Health Services: Many women lack access to HIV prevention tools, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and condoms.
- Disproportionate Burdens of Violence: GBV survivors are at heightened risk of contracting HIV, yet they often face stigma and discrimination when seeking healthcare.
- Systemic Inequities in Reproductive Health: Pregnant women living with HIV face unique challenges, including restricted access to antiretroviral therapies that prevent mother-to-child transmission.
In underfunded or politicized healthcare systems, these risks intensify. For example, cultural stigmas, healthcare shortages, and punitive laws criminalizing HIV status obstruct progress. Women diagnosed with HIV frequently face GBV directly tied to their health status, perpetuating cycles of vulnerability. Addressing these intertwined issues demands integrated, gender-responsive care that prioritizes equity and violence prevention.
Accelerating Progress Through Gender Equity
Ending the HIV epidemic requires dismantling the harmful narratives and systemic inequities that have historically marginalized women. The mischaracterization of HIV/AIDS as a “male” or “drug-related” disease has left women underserved and overlooked. Gender equity is not just a moral imperative but a cornerstone of effective public health responses.
Globally, women and girls must have access to comprehensive healthcare—HIV testing, prevention, and treatment programs free from stigma and discrimination. Addressing structural barriers, including poverty, lack of education, and GBV, is equally crucial.
On this World AIDS Day, let us honor the power of collective action and solidarity. By centering the voices of women and marginalized communities, we can advance gender equity and take critical steps toward eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Emphasize Voices and End Stigma
Stigma divides us. It isolates individuals and creates barriers to accessing life-saving care, perpetuating fear and misinformation. Addressing stigma is not just about education—it’s about amplifying real voices and stories that challenge stereotypes and inspire change.
The following video series celebrates the resilience and perseverance of individuals living with HIV, highlighting their personal journeys in the face of stigma. Through storytelling, this initiative helps foster empathy, dismantle discrimination, and build a stronger, more united community.
“Voices of Strength”
“ViiV Healthcare: Real Stories”
https://viivhealthcare.com/en-us/supporting-the-hiv-community/against-stigma/real-stories
References:
CDC Global Health. “Gender-Based Violence and HIV.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d., https://www.cdc.gov/global-health/observances/gbv.html#:~:text=Women%20who%20experience%20GBV%20are.
HIV.gov. “Women and Girls.” HIV.gov, n.d., https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/women-and-girls.
HIV.gov. “World AIDS Day 2024: Collective Action to Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.” HIV.gov, 30 Nov. 2024, https://www.hiv.gov/blog/world-aids-day-2024-collective-action-sustain-and-accelerate-hiv-progress.
Hunter, Mark. “The Gendered Context of HIV Risk.” PMC, 2015, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4430426/#:~:text=The%20Gendered%20Context%20of%20HIV%20Risk.
McClelland, Robert S., Jared M. Baeten, and Julie Overbaugh. “The Impact of Hormonal Contraception on HIV-1 Transmission.” AIDS Research and Therapy, vol. 10, no. 30, 2013, https://aidsrestherapy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-6405-10-30.
Office on Women’s Health. “Resources.” National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, n.d., https://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad/resources.
ViiV Healthcare. “HIV in Women.” ViiV Healthcare, n.d., https://viivhealthcare.com/en-us/about-hiv/hiv-in-women/#:~:text=In%20Sub%2DSaharan%20Africa%2C%20women.