|
New Report Hightlights Gender Dimensions of DC HIV/AIDS Crisis |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 01 October 2009 |
|
Washington, D.C. is facing a modern epidemic, with the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the United States. In its response to this crisis, the D.C. government has failed to recognize the way policies, and structural factors have interacted to increase women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. As a result, women have one of the fastest growing rates of HIV infections in D.C. Yet, the District has no integrated and multi-sectoral HIV Policy and its Care and Prevention plans lack a concerted government strategy to address the HIV/AID crisis for women.
This human rights report, entitled A Capitol Offense: The Gender Dimensions of Washington D.C.’s HIV/AIDS Crisis, was written with the goal of beginning a dialogue in the District about women’s unique needs in the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the way in which a human rights framework can best address the current gender gaps in District’s approach to HIV/AIDS. The report is the result of a partnership between The Women’s Collective – an organization run by and for HIV-positive women in the District – working on the front lines of the HIV/AIDS crisis, and the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center.
Working together, the partners have highlighted and reported on key areas in which government programs, or the lack thereof, compromise women’s health and rights and contribute to their greater exposure to HIV, or fail to serve the needs of women already living with the virus in the District. The report will focus on 1) the increasing and disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on women, and Black women in particular; 2) barriers to accessing preventive health services, particularly mental health and substance abuse resources; 3) lack of affordable housing options placing women at risk of HIV transmission and creating barriers to care; and; 4) failure to link HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts to address pervasive rates of gender-based violence in the District.
Access the report. |
|
|
|
Special Observances |
|
 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7th.
- Feb. 5th – TWC will provide in-house testing as well as testing in the community at Anacostia Metro Station – 1101 Howard Rd., SE from 3 to 7 pm. Hot food and incentives will be available.
- Feb. 6th, - TWC will table at an event hosted by Food & Friends in observance of the day.
 National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 10th.
TWC will be conducting a series of events over the week of March 10. Check back for more details as the date gets closer.
We urge you to take action today: - get tested for HIV
- practice safer methods to prevent HIV
- decide not to engage in high risk behaviors
- talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, classmates, and colleagues
- provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS
- get involved with or host an event for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in your community
|
|
Special Events |
|
TWC is offering the Health Connect program for women and girls!
Health Connect will teach you how to navigate the web for health information with the goals to: - Identify major websites for information on HIV, diabetes and other health conditions;
- Locate health topics and drug information on Medline Plus;
- Develop skill to evaluate website usefulness.
Workshops will be offered on April 7, and July 7, 2010.
Transportation, supplies and incentives will be provided.
View the flyer and for more details contact Ana. |
|
