Accountability to Women and Girls in the AIDS Response

World YWCA Statement to the United Nations High Level Meeting on HIV and AIDS New York, June 2008

Women and girls urgently need strong leadership and accountability by governments for effective and sustainable solutions to the AIDS pandemic that meet their needs. Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, must be achieved by 2010. The United Nations High Level Meeting is held at a critical moment when all governments must show commitment and apply concrete resources and action that will achieve Universal Access by 2010.

Globally women make up 46% of all people living with HIV, and the proportion of women infected with HIV is increasing in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. In sub-Saharan Africa, the region most affected by AIDS, 61% of all adults and three out of four young people living with the virus are female (HIV Epidemiology update, UNAIDS 2007). As HIV increasingly affects women and girls, a gender-balanced approach to the pandemic will ensure reduction in HIV prevalence, better access to treatment and care for all those who need it.

For more information contact: Kaburo Kobia Communications Director World YWCA 16 Ancienne Route CH-1218 Grand Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland Telephone (+41) 22 929 60 30 | Telefax (+41) 22 929 6044 Website: www.worldywca.org | Email: communication@worldywca.org

The World YWCA is a global movement that reaches 25 million women and girls in 125 countries, providing them with the space and skills to develop leadership to achieve justice, peace, security, health, human dignity, freedom and care for the environment for the entire community.