Women Confront HIV and AIDS in Latin America

Feb. 26, 2010—Twenty-four women from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries have joined CEDPA in Mexico City this month to develop advocacy strategies to confront the AIDS epidemic in their communities.

Because women are a small percentage of the documented HIV cases in the region, it is often difficult for women living with HIV to access treatment and support. In addition, there is a public perception that women are not at risk of contracting HIV and strong stigma against those who are public about their status.

CEDPA’s Latin American and Caribbean Regional Women's Leadership in HIV/AIDS workshop, held from February 22 through March 12, brings women living with HIV with others working in the AIDS response to address these challenges. Participants come from countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

The workshop sessions strengthen project and financial management skills of these leaders, ground their work in current technical content on HIV and AIDS, and provide an opportunity for participants to develop advocacy strategies to improve programs, policies and resources for AIDS, especially from the lens of women and girls.

In the program’s first week, participants have prioritized the need for increased funding for women-centered services, prevention programs targeting youth, and integrated health delivery approaches to ensure women can access HIV information and services no matter where they access health care.

"The CEDPA leadership workshop is giving me essential tools to better lead my organization in Panama by reinforcing my knowledge and helping me to move forward step by step." - Edith Isabel Tristan Perez, workshop participant.

The workshop is the final training component of the Advancing Women’s Leadership and Advocacy for AIDS Action initiative, which is aimed at achieving greater and more meaningful participation of women in ensuring programs, policies and funding respond to the unique impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Previous global, regional and country-specific training programs have been held in sub-‘Saharan Africa, South Asia and in the United States.

The initiative, funded by the Ford Foundation, is implemented by CEDPA in partnership with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW),International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) and National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC).

Learn more about CEDPA’s work in HIV/AIDS.

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