WOMEN AND AIDS :

Almost half of the adults living with HIV and AIDS to­day are women. Over the past two years, the number of women and girls infected with HIV has increased in every region of the world, with rates rising particularly rapidly in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls already make up almost 60% of adults living with HIV.
Launched by UNAIDS in early 2004, the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS works at global and national levels to highlight the effects of AIDS on women and girls and to stimu­late concrete and effective action to prevent the spread of HIV. Coalition partners seek to address some of the fundamental gender inequalities that fuel the epidemic. Efforts are focused on preventing new HIV infections, promoting equal access to care and treatment, ensur­ing universal access to education, addressing legal in­equities, reducing violence against women, and valuing women’s care work within communities.  
Guiding Principles :

The six principles that guide the Global Coalition are:
§ Women are leaders in many areas of the AIDS response but too often interventions are not adapted to their realities leaving them at greater risk of HIV infection and at a disadvantage when it comes to coping with AIDS.
§ Many women who are infected or at risk of becoming infected do not practise high-risk behaviours but are frequently married or in a monogamous relationship. They are vulnerable largely because of the behav­iour of others, through their limited autonomy and external factors, including social and economic inequi­ties beyond their control.
§ Women living with HIV and AIDS make a unique contribution to tackling the spread of HIV and fighting AIDS.
§ Women are not victims. Their vulnerability does not stem from inherent physical or psychological weak­nesses. Their resilience in the face of hardship and difficulty must be recognized and strengthened.
§ Men and boys and wider communities must be encouraged to fulfil their potential as positive forces for change in improving the situation of women and girls. Efforts to foster more equitable and respectful gender relations are essential.
§ Change is possible — Factors that make women and girls more vulnerable to HIV infection can be changed — if sufficient attention, commitment, and resources are invested.