Gender focused responses to HIV/AIDS in Swaziland

The report addresses the needs of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The report finds that different forms of violence against women, particularly sexual, increase women’s vulnerability and the spread of HIV and AIDS. serious measures are needed to address the issue of violence against women if they are to be protected from the increasing prevalence of the epidemic.

The report makes a number of recommendations including:

• protect women from violence
• research on orphans and condom use
• address equal opportunities and access to resources for women
• increase access to information for women on HIV
• increase access to health care
• provide sex education to empower women
• share caring responsibilities among males and females

Long term, the recommendations address structural and institutional changes needed to address gender equality, especially attitudes and socuial norms with regard to subordination of women.

Author: UNDP
ISBN: 0-7978-1709-3
Publisher: United Nations Development Fund
Year of Publication: 2002
Classification Number: Swaziland NGO publications