Press release
Paris, March 8, 2019
As France prepares to host the Global Fund replenishment conference in October, the fight against HIV/AIDS is at a crucial turning point. Unless efforts are stepped up, particularly those targeting young women and adolescent girls, the progress made could be seriously jeopardized. France, which promotes its "feminist diplomacy," must play a leading role in finding concrete responses to this situation.
For nearly 20 years, the fight against HIV/AIDS has sparked unprecedented international mobilization, particularly through countries' contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. However, progress remains insufficient to end the pandemic by 2030. HIV/AIDS is still the leading cause of death worldwide among women aged 15 to 49. In sub-Saharan Africa, 75% of new infections affect young women aged 15 to 24. This figure is particularly significant for the future of the fight against HIV/AIDS, since sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of people living with HIV/AIDS and 66% of new annual infections, and its young population is rapidly expanding[2].
[1] UNAIDS, 2017 –[2] UNAIDS 2018
Several factors come into play, foremost among them gender inequalities, which limit the decision-making power of women and girls in all areas, starting with sexuality. Early marriage, violence, taboos related to sexuality, lack of access to education and information, and coercive laws are all obstacles to negotiating condom use or accessing health services.
But solutions do exist, first and foremost through the adoption of a human rights-based approach to combat these inequalities and remove legislative and normative barriers to women's and girls' access to health and autonomy. Currently, efforts in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and the fight against HIV/AIDS are often carried out separately. The next step is to provide integrated care (comprehensive sexuality education, prevention and management of unwanted pregnancies and STIs/HIV, maternal health care and prevention of mother-to-child transmission, assisted childbirth, access to treatment, combating violence) for all women. These approaches must meet the needs of young women and adolescents in all their diversity, including those most at risk of HIV/AIDS infection (such as sex workers, transgender women, and intravenous drug users).
France's role: embracing "feminist" diplomacy
By making gender equality a priority during its 2019 G7 presidency and by hosting the Global Fund replenishment conference on October 10 in Lyon, France has twice the responsibility. The French president will be tasked with rallying his counterparts in the fight against pandemics in order to substantially increase their political and financial involvement.
France, which promotes “feminist” diplomacy, must live up to its position by promoting and financing policies that apply a gender-based approach, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with the aim of transforming society and addressing unequal power relations between women and men.
The involvement of civil society, particularly feminist groups, is essential in addressing these issues. Its presence in all governance processes is crucial, starting with the French Presidency of the G7 and the replenishment of the Global Fund.
Press contacts:
Equipop – Lucie DANIEL lucie.daniel@equipop.org / +33 (0)1 85 08 05 20
Coalition PLUS – Camille SARRET csarret@coalitionplus.org/ +33 (0)7 81 73 34 77
Médecins du Monde – Insaf REZAGUI insaf.rezagui@medecinsdumonde.net / +33 (0)1 44 92 14 86 – +33 (0)6 09 17 35 59
