Bahir Dar, March 28, 2008: A yearlong campaign organized by Network of Positive Women–Ethiopia was launched on March 28, 2008 in Bahir Dar. Hundreds of women rallied demanding for action to stop HIV and violence against women.
According to activists, there is a high prevalence of gender violence in the Amhara Region. Early marriages (as young as three-year-old girls) are still arranged by families in the region. Other varieties of violence such as abduction, rape, circumcisions also prevail in the region.
H.E. Ato Ayalew Gobeza, Amhara Region President at the opening of the rally, vowed to stop violence against women in his region and said his office will work with all interested and responsible bodies in mobilizing the community to realize the intersection between violence and HIV.
According to National Network of Positive Women in Ethiopia (NNPWE), women and girls are at an alarming risk of HIV infection due to violence. One of the risk factors for contracting HIV for Ethiopian women and girls is violence.
“Many of our members report of violence perpetrated against them either due to their gender or due to their HIV status. We can’t wait and just look on as our sisters and children are exposed to violence. It is an alarming situation that needs immediate action.”
Women rights and HIV advocates question the adequacy of existing programs in Ethiopia in protecting women from violence and HIV.
“Guidelines such as HIV testing and Antiretroviral Treatment need to take violence into consideration in order to provide the necessary treatment to victims of violence. And we shall work with all concerned to bring about changes,” said Mrs. Berhane Kelkay, Head of NNPWE.
“The link between violence against women and HIV/AIDS has not been sufficiently recognized by many stakeholders in Ethiopia. Most actors in the country treat the AIDS epidemic and violence against women and girls as separate social issues,” Action Aid argues in its report on the outcome of a study it conducted on Violence and HIV.
The campaign aims to conducts community conversation on violence and HIV and will similarly be launched in four more regions - Oromia, Tigray, Southern Region and Addis Ababa.
Activists from Action Aid Ethiopia, Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association, Negem Lela Ken New Positive Women Association, Finot Positive Women Associations participated in the rally.
Representatives of Amhara Region HIV Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), Amhara Youth Network, Amhara Region Labor and Social Affair Bureau, Amhara Region Women Association and many other representatives of the community based organizations also attended the rally.
Wz. Selamawit Mamo
Media Liaison Officer
AIDS Resource Center
Tel: +251-11-5503584
Fax: +251-11-5503749
Email: SelamawitM@etharc.org
http://www.etharc.org