The association of women and girls infected and affected by HIV, And Bokk Yaakaar (ABOYA), is working to establish a framework for consultation to create a supportive environment for young girls infected and affected by HIV. With the support of AFD through the Feminists in Action project, ABOYA has implemented capacity-building and advocacy activities in three regions of Senegal: Dakar, Saint-Louis, and Ziguinchor. Scheduled to last 18 months, this project aims to encourage opinion leaders to take greater account of the problems faced by young girls and women in terms of violence and stigmatization, and to create a supportive environment where they no longer suffer acts of violence.
Strengthening local ABOYA cells to advocate for change
As part of this project, ABOYA trained around 15 young girls and women who are members of ABOYA cells in each of the regions of Dakar, Saint-Louis, and Ziguinchor on sexual and reproductive health, human rights, advocacy, and leadership. Similarly, training on project management was provided to equip the women in charge of ABOYA in Dakar to develop and manage projects themselves. The objective of this capacity building for young girls and women is to take the lead in advocacy activities in their respective regions. To ensure that the messages conveyed to the authorities are meaningful and relevant, several discussions were organized during which issues were raised directly by the young girls and women. A delegation of trained young girls and women visited local administrative and judicial authorities and health professionals in each region to advocate for their cause. The aim of these visits was to advocate for access to health services, prevention, management of cases of gender-based violence, and the need to put in place measures to protect women and girls infected and affected by HIV within communities.
