Asian People’s Alliance for Combating HIV&AIDS

CALL FOR ACTION in Pakaistan

APACHA Pakistan (Asian People?s Alliance for Combating HIV & AIDS) is a multi-sectorial alliance of HIV and AIDS services agencies, People Living with, Vulnerable to and Affected by HIV and AIDS, Activists, Civil Society Organizations, Trade Unions, Student Movements, Faith Based Organizations, peace and human rights movements, women?s groups, and social movements, in Pakistan. It has been doing its efforts at local, national and regional level to combat HIV and AIDS which is "the greatest challenge of our generation".

During VAW and HIV&AIDS Campaign APACHA Pakistan mobilized a number of people across the country. People representing different sectors participated in the campaign. Campaign was followed by a number of consultative meetings at community levels, districts levels and national levels. Following is the campaign document prepared for the public.

"Men outnumbering women by a ratio of 7-to-1" because of non reporting cases of women under strong patriarchy and inaccessibility of women to health facilities. Women are deprived of HIV prevention and treatment services.

The facts and figures have a lot of questions for all of us.

7500 cases of violence against women were reported in 2006.
There were 1271 women kidnapped, of which Punjab reported 874, Sindh 340, NWFP 46 and 11 in Balochistan.
There were 468 sexual offences committed against women, of which Punjab recorded 358, Sindh 88, NWPF 22 .
There were 259 rape cases recorded of which Punjab recorded 358, Sindh 58, NWFP 06, and Balochistan 01.
There were 119 cases of women trafficking cases in Pakistan, of which 53 were reported in Punjab, 33 in Sindh, 07 in NWFP and 26 in Balochistan.
There were 144 women booked under Hudood laws. Punjab reported 74 cases, Sindh 59 and NWFP 11.

There are hundreds of cases in Pakistan, which are not recorded.

Situation of HIV & AIDS in Pakistan in 2006
Number of people living with HIV	85 000 [46 000 ? 210 000]
Adults aged 15 to 49 HIV prevalence rate	0.1 [0.1 ? 0.2]%
Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV	84 000 [45 000 ? 210 000]
Women aged 15 and up living with HIV	14 000 [6600 ? 36 000]
Deaths due to AIDS	3000 [1700 ? 4900]

In most of the reported cases, it is found that the victims are in the age group of 20-44. Men outnumber women by a ratio of 7-to-1 because of non reporting cases of women under strong patriarchy and inaccessibility of women to health facilities. Women are deprived of HIV prevention and treatment services. WHO and UNAIDS estimate that there are around 70,000 to 150,000 HIV and AIDS persons living in the country. Heterosexual transmission accounts for the majority of reported cases (67%). Other modes of transmission include: infection through contaminated blood and blood products (18%), homo or bisexual sex (6%), injecting drug users (4%), and mother to child transmission (1.3%) (Source: National AIDS Control Programme)

According to UNAIDS, 60% of new infections occur among girls and young women who are between the ages for 15-24. Today, 11000 people are being infected with HIV & AIDS in the world everyday, and out of these 11000, about 10,000 are adults where as 1000 are children and out of these ten thousands, 50% are women.

Poverty and HIV infection are deeply intertwined:
- For many women sexual intercourse is not a question of choice but rather a question of survival.
- Poverty, however, can also limit mobility. Severe economic hardship can force women to stay in situations where their physical and emotional well-being is at risk.
Poverty limits women's choices, and in turn their ability to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection.
The need for money, food and other necessities is one of the major factors driving women into selling sex and encouraging others to do so.
IHRM executive director Ulfat Kazmi said estimates are hard to come by, but the number of sex workers appears to be increasing. At least 45 million people out of the country's 140 million population live in abject poverty. "As many as 44 percent women resort to the sex trade due to poverty, 32 percent by deception, 18 percent due to coercing, 4 percent due to surroundings (born to sex workers) and only 2 percent are involved in the sex trade at their own will," said a report by IHRM.
Biological, social, cultural and economic factors: Although HIV/AIDS affects both men and women, women are more vulnerable because of biological, social, cultural and economic factors.
Violence is a key factor in increasing women?s risk of contracting the virus. Studies suggest that the first sexual experience of a girl will often be forced. Tearing and bleeding from "rough sex", rape or prior genital mutilation multiplies the risk of HIV infection. Throughout the world, women run a similar risk from unprotected anal intercourse. Sometimes preferred because it preserves virginity and avoids the risk of pregnancy. In settings where violence is regarded as a man?s right, women are in a poor position to question their husbands and about their extramarital encounters, negotiate condom use or refuse to have sex.
The high social value placed on virginity in unmarried girls may also pressure parents and the communities to ensure girls are kept ignorant about sexual matters. Female ignorance of sexual matters is often viewed as a sign of purity and innocence. This emphasis on 'innocence' prevents young women from seeking information about sex or services relating to their sexual health. Married young women are also discouraged from discussing sex too openly with their partners for similar reasons. Free discussion on safer sex among companions is also a matter of fiction.
Women known to have HIV/AIDS are more likely to undergo rejection by their family, denied treatment, care and basic human rights. Yet women and girls tend to bear the main burden of caring for sick family members, including men living with HIV/AIDS.
HIV is women?s human rights issue: Women who are forcibly exposed to HIV infection, for example, by rape, are not allowed to entertain their right to life. Many social, cultural and economic factors restrict women?s right to health and right of access to health care, which further increased their vulnerability to HIV. Women's right to knowledge has also been transgressed in a number of ways during the course of the HIV epidemic. The recognition of women's right to knowledge is essential to their informed choice and action.

You are invited for following:

Conduct HIV & AIDS sensitization session with your staff.
If you know any one who is HIV positive coordinate with APACHA Pakistan on the given address, and refer them to Association for People Living with HIV & AIDS in Pakistan, and Pakistan National and Provincial AIDS Control Program, National and Provincial AIDS Consortium and NGOs working in your areas.
While organizing program on International Women?s Day 2007, include the component of HIV & AIDS in your program.
Include HIV & AIDS awareness component in your publications such as newsletters and IEC materials.
Coordinate for VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing Services) and Treatment, (ARV) and Care and Support with APACHA Pakistan, and refer them to Association for People Living with HIV & AIDS in Pakistan.
Speak up for the rights of women who have been vulnerable because of HIV infection in your target beneficiaries, and areas.
Advocate for the rights of HIV infected women in front of legislators, religious leaders, political parties and community leaders.
Any other idea you feel the most appropriate to advocate the rights of high-risk groups for HIV & AIDS infection.
Any suggestion for APACHA Pakistan, please write to: apachapakistan@gmail.com