Violence Linked to Rapid Rise of AIDS in Women

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By Theresa Braine
WeNews correspondent
Health officials at a global AIDS conference in Mexico City this week highlighted the growing feminization of the pandemic and its link to gender violence. The U.N. may form a women's agency that advocates say could mount a more effective response.

MEXICO CITY (WOMENSENEWS)--Worldwide the rate of HIV infection is rising faster among women than men, and the link between AIDS rates and violence against women is becoming even clearer, said health advocates and officials gathered here this week for the XVII International AIDS Conference, which concludes today.

"Violence against women is both a cause and consequence of HIV and AIDS," said Ines Alberdi, executive director of UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, at a press conference preceding the international gathering, held in Latin America for the first time. "In order to successfully tackle AIDS, we must address violence against women. Both pandemics are intertwined in a vicious cycle."

The U.N. General Assembly is set to vote in September on the creation of a unified women's agency to streamline its fragmented approach to women's issues and programs. Many activists say the new agency would strengthen the world body's response to issues affecting women, including violence and AIDS. Several groups lobbied actively for the creation of this agency during the Aug. 3-8 conference.


http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3697