WUNRN
International HIV/AIDS Alliance
HIV/AIDS - APPROACHES TO GENDER
& SEXUALITY
Direct Link to Full 44-Page 2010
Report:
APPROACHES TO GENDER &
SEXUALITY: RESPONDING TO HIV
Gender and sexuality – and their related norms and practices – have long
been recognised as key factors affecting the dynamics of HIV and the global
response to it. This survey report, published by the International HIV/AIDS
Alliance, maps current work and assesses the capacity, challenges and
aspirations around gender and sexuality programming. Whereas issues vary across
communities and countries, the authors contend that power imbalances, harmful
social norms, violence and marginalisation affect women, men, girls, boys and
transgender people across the world, limiting their ability to prevent HIV
infection.
Key findings of this survey are:
To
improve the Alliance’s work on gender and sexuality in the future, the authors
recommend the development of a gender strategy for Alliance partners; carrying
out of a more specific assessment of the capacity needs of partners for
gender-transformative approaches, and development of a plan to address the
ensuing needs; documentation examples of good practice of gender-transformative
approaches; and ensure that gender transformation is fully integrated and
addressed in existing and future work on good practice responses to HIV.
In conclusion, the authors note that there are a growing number of HIV and
broader health initiatives that not only highlight gender issues, but also aim
to change harmful norms and practices. These are called ‘gender-transformative’
approaches. However, there are few approaches to achieve gender transformation,
and many organisations within and outside the Alliance have struggled to
overcome the controversies, sensitivities and structural barriers that impede
progress.