Global Programme “Supporting Gender Equality in the Context of HIV/AIDS” in Swaziland

Women and girls still do not have equal access to services, resources, and decision-making when it comes to the national response to HIV/AIDS. Experience shows that AIDS policies and programmes do not work for women until women’s organizations – particularly those of HIV-positive women and key populations - and gender equality experts – help shape their content and direction. Women’s leadership and participation are increasingly identified as a key component of an effective national and global response, but opportunities for women to fully participate in decision- making are limited.

HIV and AIDS are mainstreamed in our entire portfolio. In addition, UN Women SARO within the context of the EC-UN Women-UNDP Global Programme “Supporting Gender Equality in the Context of HIV/AIDS”, which includes five countries, namely Rwanda, Kenya, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea and Cambodia, will extend the scope of the Programme to Swaziland, a country which revealed, from previous research, high levels of HIV and violence against women, especially within the young women’s range group.

Specific Objectives of the Programme include:

- To promote the leadership and participation of HIV-positive women’s organizations and women affected by HIV/AIDS in shaping the policies, programmes, and resource allocations that address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in 5 selected countries.

- To develop core capacities of national AIDS coordinating mechanisms to promote human rights and gender equality in the HIV/AIDS response in the selected countries.