Championing gender equality and women’s leadership in the HIV response: The experiences of five programme countries

AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide. In addition to their biological susceptibility, HIV disproportionately affects women and adolescent girls because of their unequal cultural, social and economic status in society. Gender inequality, gender-based violence, and harmful traditional practices reinforce unequal power dynamics with men and limit women’s choices, opportunities and access to information, health and social services, education and employment.

This advocacy kit provides key results and lessons learned in Cambodia, Jamaica, Kenya, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda under the European Commission–UN Women programme, “Supporting Gender Equality in the Context of HIV and AIDS (2009–2013)”, which demonstrates the important progress and transformational changes that can derive from investments targeted towards implementation of commitments to gender equality. These include policies, programmes and budgets, as well as empowering the leadership and participation of women and girls, especially those living with HIV.

The advocacy kit provides a global overview of the programme and includes country profiles featuring the specific strategies, results and lessons learned in each of the five countries that were part of the programme.