ALQ,Gender Violence & HIV and AIDS

Editorial...

…prevailing discriminatory attitudes and beliefs create a situation in which women are at greater risk of violence and HIV infection…

Looking at a holistic approach in response to the links between gender violence and HIV and AIDS, the AIDS Legal Network (ALN) and the KZN Network on Violence Against Women combined knowledge and resources to develop, write and publish a resource and training manual on Gender Violence and HIV & AIDS.

A potpourri of concepts and realities of gender, gender violence and HIV, a gendered look at prevention, treatment, support and care (of both violence and HIV and AIDS); ‘spiced up’ with relevant legislation (including fundamental rights and freedoms) – this is what trainers and ‘wannabee trainers’, can look forward to in this resource and training manual.

Ever wondered why there is little joy to be had for women while celebrating ten years of constitutionally guaranteed dignity, equality, non discrimination and freedom? Ever wondered why we don’t seem to be ‘able’ to enjoy our ‘freedom’? Free to equally and fully enjoy all rights and freedoms; free to make choices, to make informed decisions about ones own body; free to choose whether or not to have sex, with whom, when where; free to choose whether or not to test for HIV and to disclose one’s HIV status; free to enjoy respect and protection from all forms of violence, be it at home, the bedroom, the workplace, or the many places where we want to access services for our own protection. Ever wondered why some human beings are at the forefront of decision-making while others remain to be ‘voiceless’, vulnerable and violated? Ever wondered why ‘some are more equal than others’ just seems to be the way it is…? What needs to be explored, done and challenged to create a society which is free of violence and free of HIV, is what this publication is all about.

The manual aims to give insights, and to provide valuable information and resources to everyone, including trainers, facilitators, educators, who feel compelled to ‘stop wondering and do something’ about the linked pandemics of gender violence, HIV and AIDS and stigma and discrimination of the ‘other’. The ‘book’ is a tool: a tool to train and educate, to build and strengthen capacity of self and others, to give information and deepen knowledge, to promote an understanding of the links, and to contribute to change of the environments fostering the pandemics.

This manual is unique, because the ‘link’ has never been done before this way, and because

• it links gender, gender violence and HIV and AIDS
• it is based within a human rights framework
• it offers theoretical background and practical exercises
• it can be used by in context of the link or separate by issue
• it offers additional reading material, including articles from different viewpoints
• it can be used individually or collectively
• it is user-friendly

For more information on the manual and/or how to get a copy, please contact the AIDS Legal Network on
(021) 447 8435 or at campaign@aln.org.za.