The Stop AIDS Now! Initiative (SAN) in The Netherlands is preparing to expand its attention to issues of gender, women and HIV/AIDS. In that context, SAN member Hivos commissioned this background paper to examine how gender-based factors are currently influencing women’s and girls’ vulnerability to the HIV/AIDS pandemic and how these factors can be addressed in the next five years. While recognizing that gender also plays a role in determining men’s susceptibility to HIV infection and its effects, a particular concern held by Hivos and SAN is the identification and promotion of interventions that will ultimately lower women’s and girls’ risks of contracting HIV and lessen the burdens they face in dealing with its consequences.
While Hivos will continue to focus on other types of HIV/AIDS-related interventions (e.g., programmes for MSM), this paper examines interventions that can complement Hivos’ overall goals of increasing women’s selfreliance and contributing to greater societal gender equality and equity. The paper is primarily intended to serve as a resource for Hivos’ staff and SAN partners; hopefully, it will provide useful information for their counterparts in developing countries as well. While the author recognizes Hivos’ choice to focus mainly on capacity-building, human rights, advocacy and policy-making, some of the recommendations touch on treatment and care issues that could be of interest to the SAN partners.
