HIV and AIDS
UN Women believes that one of the most important strategies in responding to the HIV epidemic is empowering women and guaranteeing their rights – so that they can protect themselves from infection, overcome stigma, and gain greater access to treatment and care. Priority areas of support include:
- Promoting and supporting the leadership and participation of women living with HIV and those affected (including unpaid care givers), and their networks, in key decision-making processes at local, national, regional, and global levels;
- Integrating gender equality and women’s rights into governance of the HIV responses, including HIV strategies, policies, budgets, institutions, and accountability frameworks;
- Addressing the intersection of HIV and violence against women, in particular violence against women living with HIV;
- Promoting access to justice of women living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, including their access to property and inheritance rights.
As the newest UNAIDS cosponsor, UN Women commits to supporting the implementation of the UNAIDS Strategic Framework – “Getting to Zero” – which advances three strategic directions: a) Revolutionizing HIV prevention; b) catalyzing the next phase of treatment, care and support; and c) advancing human rights and gender equality.
In Jamaica, UN Women’s work under the Strategic Framework will focus on supporting national stakeholders, in close collaboration with the UN Joint Team on HIV and AIDS, ensuring that stakeholders have the tools and partnerships necessary to analyze, formulate and execute gender-responsive HIV plans and budgets; as well as ensuring women living with HIV are actively engaged in national and regional policy and standard setting processes.
In the Caribbean, UN Women’s regional level work has prioritized supporting the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS in integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment concepts into its work. Additionally, UN Women has supported the creation and functioning of the Caribbean Coalition on Women and AIDS (CCWA), and which prioritizes ensuring the voice and needs of women living with HIV are reflected in the regional and national standards and policies adopted.