Gender Equality, HIV and AIDS

 

UNESCO supports and promotes a gender-sensitive response to HIV and AIDS UNESCO is, in particular : Getting education systems to be gender-responsive: seeking system wide responses through EFA national action plans; Promoting Human Rights-based and culturally appropriate approaches that support women’s empowerment and more balanced gender relations; Using training and non-formal education as key entry points to address gender inequality, HIV and AIDS related issues; Developing empowering educational prevention strategies and material for adult and lifelong learning; Developing and promoting the better use of information & communication technologies, the media, public entertainment and awareness campaigns (radio and TV) to spread socially targeted, gender-sensitive and effective messages about HIV and AIDS and the need for equal gender relations. >>> UNESCO Gender, HIV and AIDS related resources, tools & publications HIV/AIDS work - caring for the infected and affected, preventing the spread of the epidemic and protecting the most vulnerable - is inextricably linked to gender issues. Which issues are embedded in specific socio-cultural experiences and histories that translate complex power relations between women and men. The nature of these relations determines women’s and men’s ability to protect themselves from infection and affect their capacities to cope with its impacts. Our responses to the epidemic must therefore be systematically built on a thorough understanding of the gender relations that prevail in the countries we serve. The ultimate goal is to empower men and women to make uncontrieved, informed and enabling decisions about their lives and those of their families. Education in its broadest sense, both formal and non-formal, whether geared towards the acquisition of life skills or formal knowledge, has a major role to play in changing attitudes and behaviours that sustain vulnerability to the disease and put girls, young and adult women at risk of infection. Education systems and development programmes with an educational objective must acknowledge this responsibility and act accordingly. >>> Learn more about what UNESCO is doing to halt the spread of HIV and AIDS _____________________________________________ NEWS

News

UNAIDS Action Framework: Addressing Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV - (UNAIDS) “Our challenge is to make access a reality for all – regardless of gender, age or HIV status….Gender equality must become part of our DNA -- at the core of all of our actions. Together with governments and civil society, we must energize the global response to AIDS, while vigorously advancing gender equality. These causes are undeniably linked.” -Michel Sidibé, 2 March 2009

International Guidelines on Sexuality Education - (BSP/GE) UNAIDS has published a feature story on the International Guidelines entitled "UNESCO: Sexuality Education is a critical part of HIV prevention".

The Fourth Wave: Violence, Gender, Culture & HIV in the 21st Century - (UNESCO) Under the banner of World AIDS Day on the 1 December, the Division for Gender Equality provides a sneak-preview of the soon to be released publication "The Fourth Wave". Watch the video of one of the co-editors, Professor Vinh-Kim NGUYEN, during an open discussion.

UNESCO at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico - (UNESCO) On the occasion of the XVII International AIDS Conference, held in Mexico from 3 – 8 August 2008, UNESCO held a series of events and presentations highlighting its work in the domain of HIV & AIDS education.

Ms Cristina Owen-Jones, Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against HIV/ AIDS, by MEHRI MADARSHAHI - (UNDiplomatic Times 2004 - 2) Calling her “a woman of heart and action” and a friend of UNESCO with a proven record of work defending the rights of under-privileged children, UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura on 23 March appointed Italian-born Cristina Owen-Jones Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against HIV/ AIDS.

Global Coalition for Women and AIDS - (UNAIDS) Established in 2004, The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS is a UNAIDS initiative, a movement of people, networks and organizations supported by activists, leaders, government representatives, community workers and celebrities, to raise the visibility of issues related to women, girls and AIDS and lead to concrete, measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls

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		UNIFEM-UNAIDS Gender and HIV/AIDS web portal One-stop Knowledge portal.