MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
This information is so depressing, but hopefully the coalition can do some good work...
LONDON (Reuters) - Actress Emma Thompson joined health experts and equal rights campaigners Monday to launch a coalition to improve prevention and treatment for young women and girls with HIV/AIDS.
Half of the estimated 40 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS are women. In Africa, twice as many young females are infected with HIV than men.
The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, a grouping of organizations and individuals, also aims to address violence against females and legal and social inequalities that make women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
"AIDS is the greatest threat to face the human race ever," Academy Award winner Thompson told a news conference.
She said she was inspired to join the coalition after witnessing the consequences of AIDS and seeing the bravery of women and activists during trips to Uganda and Mozambique.
Dr Peter Piot, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS which initiated the coalition, said the illness has become more lethal because of the injustices and discrimination women face.
"We are deeply concerned that women's issues are still very marginalized when it comes to the response to AIDS," he said.
Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other prominent women in academia, the public sector, and U.N. agencies in countries around the globe will be participating in the coalition.
"This coalition is an opportunity to get realistic about the catastrophic effect of HIV/AIDS," said Robinson.
The need for a coalition became clear because prevention methods recommending abstinence, being faithful and using a condom were totally irrelevant for women who are infected by their husbands.
"Marriage is no protection against AIDS," said Piot.
AIDS has rampaged across the globe but sub-Saharan Africa, with up to 28.2 million adults and children with the virus, has been the most badly affected.
Women in Africa are at least 1.2 times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys or men. For young women and girls the figure is 2.5 times higher.
Females are more vulnerable because the virus is more easily transmitted from men to women than the other way around. Women have sex earlier and generally with older partners. Sexual violence against women increases the risk of infection.
In South Africa, 20-48 percent of girls aged 10-25 report their first sexual encounter was forced. Most children are infected by their mothers during pregnancy, birth or through breast feeding.
Inequitable property and inheritance rights in many countries also make it impossible for women to leave their husbands even if they know he may be HIV positive. Widows also lose part or all of their assets, including their home and land, to relatives which can increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
LONDON (Reuters) - Actress Emma Thompson joined health experts and equal rights campaigners Monday to launch a coalition to improve prevention and treatment for young women and girls with HIV/AIDS.
Half of the estimated 40 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS are women. In Africa, twice as many young females are infected with HIV than men.
The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, a grouping of organizations and individuals, also aims to address violence against females and legal and social inequalities that make women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
"AIDS is the greatest threat to face the human race ever," Academy Award winner Thompson told a news conference.
She said she was inspired to join the coalition after witnessing the consequences of AIDS and seeing the bravery of women and activists during trips to Uganda and Mozambique.
Dr Peter Piot, executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS which initiated the coalition, said the illness has become more lethal because of the injustices and discrimination women face.
"We are deeply concerned that women's issues are still very marginalized when it comes to the response to AIDS," he said.
Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and other prominent women in academia, the public sector, and U.N. agencies in countries around the globe will be participating in the coalition.
"This coalition is an opportunity to get realistic about the catastrophic effect of HIV/AIDS," said Robinson.
The need for a coalition became clear because prevention methods recommending abstinence, being faithful and using a condom were totally irrelevant for women who are infected by their husbands.
"Marriage is no protection against AIDS," said Piot.
AIDS has rampaged across the globe but sub-Saharan Africa, with up to 28.2 million adults and children with the virus, has been the most badly affected.
Women in Africa are at least 1.2 times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys or men. For young women and girls the figure is 2.5 times higher.
Females are more vulnerable because the virus is more easily transmitted from men to women than the other way around. Women have sex earlier and generally with older partners. Sexual violence against women increases the risk of infection.
In South Africa, 20-48 percent of girls aged 10-25 report their first sexual encounter was forced. Most children are infected by their mothers during pregnancy, birth or through breast feeding.
Inequitable property and inheritance rights in many countries also make it impossible for women to leave their husbands even if they know he may be HIV positive. Widows also lose part or all of their assets, including their home and land, to relatives which can increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
to Thompson, I've always liked her, she's an amazing actress and I think we need more women AIDS activists so speak up on this issue. Thanks for the article.
