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Africa: Women and AIDS
Africa: Women and AIDS
Date distributed (ymd): 981221
Document reposted by APIC
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Continent-Wide
Issue Areas: +economy/development+ +gender/women+
Summary Contents:
This posting contains the final declaration from the Dakar Panafrican Conference
on Women and AIDS in Africa, held in December 1998, as well as a pre-conference
announcement from the sponsor, the Society of Women Against AIDS (SWAA).
Additional information is available on the web site of the Fondation du
Present (http://www.hivnet.ch), in Switzerland,
which hosts discussions on a variety of aids-related topics, including
gender and AIDS and AIDS in Africa. The postings from the discussions,
and information on how to subscribe, are available at the following addresses:
gender-aids: http://www.hivnet.ch:8000/gender-aids/tdm
af-aids: http://www.hivnet.ch:8000/af-aids/tdm
How to join: http://www.hivnet.ch:8000/join/
If you have e-mail access only, write to [email protected].
Contact mailing addresses and phone numbers for SWAA can be found at the
end of the posting below.
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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SWAA 7th Panafrican Conference on Women and AIDS in Africa
Dakar Declaration
17 December 1998
[The SWAA Conference Initiative is supported by the Fondation du Present,
SWAA and UNAIDS]
Knowing the extreme seriousness of the AIDS pandemic in Africa,
Knowing that Africa is the most severely affected continent and that
efforts already undertaken in terms of health are seriously jeopardised,
Knowing that life expectancy has already been reduced by ten years in
the most severely affected countries,
Knowing the extreme vulnerability of women and children in sub-Saharan
Africa,
Knowing the low levels of international solidarity and the aggravation
of North/South inequality in terms of the disease and its treatment,
Knowing the inadequacy of prevention efforts, especially aimed at young
people,
Knowing the personal suffering caused by AIDS - isolation, stigmatisation,
silence and loneliness - and the serious shortcomings of collective measures
for people living with AIDS,
Knowing the absolute urgency of strong and motivational measures to
complement measures undertaken to promote health,
We, the participants of the Conference on "African Women and AIDS
and Men, Our Partners in the Fight against AIDS", make a formal appeal
and seek the firm and unwavering commitment of all individuals and institutions
signing this declaration, to act to the utmost of our capacities and bring
effective solutions to the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
We call for total commitment and increased dialogue between men and
women to create an AIDS-free future for African children.
We ask:
- political leaders to tirelessly broadcast messages on the seriousness
and urgency of the AIDS problem in order to spur measures against a pandemic
that jeopardises all their efforts to develop their countries and the well-being
of the people they lead;
- the scientific community to intensify research efforts, especially
to develop vaccinations quickly and contribute to the development of immediately
accessible medication;
- pharmaceutical laboratories to stop their practice of reserving medications
for almost exclusive use by northern countries and to commit themselves
to seeking ways of helping reduce inequality between the North and South
with respect to the disease;
- international institutions to take epidemic-fighting action as they
have in the past, by promoting solidarity in terms of research and rapid
availability of vaccinations, and seeking ways of obtaining rapid access
to medication by increasing their support for community initiatives and
responses;
- Africans with healing knowledge and powers, who are often the only
recourse of the sick, to share in supporting the sick and participate in
the many and varied forms of case-management efforts;
- spiritual leaders to send out messages that cannot be interpreted as
impediments but rather as support for prevention efforts, and to emphasise
and reinforce their support for the sick and those close to them;
- legal and statutory authorities to inspire legislation aimed at protecting
women and children, as well as people who are denied their rights because
of the disease;
- communities to make protection of women a top priority, through measures
that strengthen their capacity to make personal decisions and freely participate
in social and family life;
- communities not to forget their children, whose future cannot be secure
without strong social protection and universal access to education and
prevention;
- for increased prevention, which remains a top priority: prevention
should begin much earlier in life and should be applied to all social groups,
especially those who are forgotten and who are often the most affected,
prevention messages should be bolder and seek new avenues, especially aimed
at young people, girls and boys;
- that cultural traditions be reconsidered and no longer seen as obstacles
to prevention and as a means of transmitting the disease, and that they
be used judiciously to reinforce solidarity and promote life;
We declare our firm commitment to seeking, diversifying and reinforcing
community responses to the pandemic, to emphasising respect for people
infected by AIDS, and to working towards a future without AIDS for African
children, women and men.
All participants are requested to distribute this declaration as widely
as possible in their respective countries and collect the signatures of
all individuals and institutions who wish to demonstrate their commitment
to responding to the challenge of AIDS and saving African children, women
and men.
If you want put your name behind this declaration, send a message to:
[email protected]
we will pass on all responses received to The Society for African Women
and AIDS.
About Society of Women Against AIDS and conference
under the auspices of SWAA/SENEGAL scheduled for
December 14-17, 1998, Dakar, Senegal
INTRODUCTION
Realizing Africa's peculiarity as regards the AIDS epidemic, a group
of women has decided to mobilize itself and speak as one, and to set up
SWAA, Society of Women Against Aids. Or women's Panafricanist Organization
for the fight Against AIDS. Since its inception in 1989, SWAA provides
African women with a framework for dialogue and expression that enabler
them to fully play their role in the prevention and control of HIV infection.
African women's great vulnerability no longer needs to be proved. The weight
of prejudices and taboos, socio-economic conditions have made women victims
of the lack of equal opportunities that prevent them from having access
to education, training, paid employment information about health issues...
It is therefore essential to define lines of action taking into account
women's status.
As a mater of tact, it is recognized that any action that tends to improve
women health has an impact on a nation's ability to control its destiny:
Women who are educated, informed, free to decide what to do with their
lives constitutes an efficient weapon in the fight against health problems
such as HIV/AIDS.
OBJECTIVES
Its key objectives are as follows:
- Sensitize and raise the level of awaress of African women on AIDS and
its consequences.
- Educate African women on HIV/AIDS prevention, taking into account their
socio-cultural realities.
- Provide support to women and children infected with HIV/AIDS.
SWAA'S MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGY
The major activities aim at mobilizing women and making them act for
a change in behaviors and practices that encourage the transmission of
HIV infection (sororote "levirat", excision etc). Sensibilization
and education on beliefs and superstitions, traditional norms and values
that encourage the stigmatizing of women and young girls. Reducing female
prostitution through the creation of income generating activities and the
promotion of safe sex. Supporting people directly or indirectly affected
by HIV. Reviewing the ways and means of collaboration with exiting women
organizations, international institutions national committees for the fight
against AIDS for a better control of this epidemic. Peer group education
is the strategy adopted by SWAA women, the youth, especially teenagers
can easily be reached in their environment by sensitization and education
programs.
STRUCTURES
SWAA's consists of 3 structures:
1-The executive Board: Composed of eleven women from ten countries,
the Board is entrusted with the planning and monitoring of SWAA's major
activities 'setting up national branches, organizing conferences and the
general assembly every two years.) The Executive Board ensures the link
between national sections and financial backers on the one hand between
national section and NGOs fighting against AIDS on the other hand. Through
UNAIDS support a head office was set up in Dakar since January 1998, the
purpose being to carry out activities efficiently while ensuring a better
coordination. An administrative assistant is in charge of the communication
between the eight national sections, the Executive Board and international
partner.
2- Regional offices: A group of four coordinators: West, East, Central
and Southern Africa ensure coordination and supervision at regional level.
3- National branches: Semi-autonomous, they enable the decentralization
of grass root activities. Each branch develops and implements programs,
taking into account its realities. SWAA is present in 28 countries in Africa.
SWAA'S PREVIOUS CONFERENCES
Since its founding SWAA has organized six conferences under the following
themes:
United against AIDS 'Harare, Zimbabwe 1989) * Coming to terms with AIDS'
impact (lagos Nigeria 1990) * Obstacles to AIDS' prevention (Yaounde Cameroon
1991) * AIDS an family (Arusha, Tanzanie 1992) * AIDS: a family disease
(Lusaka, Zambia 1994) * AIDS: grassroots challenges
Over 25 African countries have participated in these conferences. Communications
and recommendations from these conferences have been widely published and
broadcasted in various ways such as:
Oral presentation women AIDS: new and old problems (1989) At the annual
meeting of the association of African studies. Atlanta, Georgia USA. -
5th international conference on AIDS in Africa (Kinshasa, Democratic Republic
of Congo 1990). - AIDS in the 1990's both a collective and individual responsibility
communication presented at the 7th International Conference an AIDS. 3RD
WORLD Congress on STD's (Amsterdam, Holland July 1992) - A publication
triple trap by Panos Institute, London. Describes the report of SWAA's
second conference. - A SWAA's satellite symposium: Working with the youth
organized in collaboration with WHO/GPA during the 7th International Conference
on AIDS in Africa, (December 1993, Marrakech, Marroco) - AIDS: women and
gender: Presentation during plenary session by a SWAA Executive member
at the 7th International Conference on AIDS. - In addition five reports
have been developed on the Conference (1989-1990-1991-1992-1994) as well
as Summaries and recommendations.
4- 7th Conference on women and Aids in Africa.
The 7th Conference will be held in Dakar, Senegal from December 14-17-
under the auspices of SWAA/SENEGAL.
4-1- General Theme
"Expanding the response: Men as our partners in the fight against
AIDS"
4-1- The steering Committee is composed of:
SWAA/SENEGAL - SWAA/Executive Board - The Senegal National Committee
for the fight against AIDS - The Senegal Ministry of Public Health and
Social Action
Co-sponsors: UNAIDS UNFPA WHO
4-3- The goal of the conference
To improve awareness of AIDS' realities and the need for an effective
partnership men/women for a better control of the epidemic.
4-4- The objectives of the 7th conference
- Sensitize public opinion about the impact of AIDS on African women
and the vulnerability factors.
- Encourage men to better participate in the fight against AIDS.
- Formulate recommendations in order to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention
with the family.
- Establish a solidarity network so that African women living with HIV
could have easy access to quality care, especially to anti-retrovirus.
- Examine the ways and means to enhance a more effective involvement
of men in the fight against AIDS in for African women's access to prevention
through AZT , of the mother to child transmission.
- Define alternative strategies to breastfeeding, that are adapted to
the African socio-cultural economic context.
CONTACTS:
Pr. Ag Charlotte Faty NDIAYE, President SWAA/SENEGAL, BP 5035 CHU Fann,
Senegal; Tel/Fax: (221) 24 37 22
Dr. Ibra NDOYE, Coordinator of the National committee for the fight
against AIDS, Service d'Hygiene Sociale, Tel (221) 822 90 45
Dr. Eka Esu-WILLIAMS, President SWAA/NIGERIA, C/o 1601 Adeola Hopewell
Street, Victoria Island, Lagos-NIGERIA; Tel: 234 1 610773, Fax 234 1 2612815
Dr. Claire MULANGA KABEYA, International Cordinator, SWAA, 28, av Rainbaud
d'Orange, 34080 Montpellier France; Tel (33) 97 41 63 13 (o) (33) 67 45
25 64 (h) Fax 33 67 54 78 00
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the Africa
Policy Information Center (APIC). APIC's primary objective is to widen
the policy debate in the United States around African issues and the U.S.
role in Africa, by concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant
information and analysis usable by a wide range of groups and individuals.
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