Women network laments over prevalence of HIV/AIDS
These were contained in the communiqué issued by the network at their just concluded second high level meeting in Abuja, where Professor Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria minister of state 1 for foreign affairs took over the presidency of the network. Despite the promising progress made on a number of targets by most African countries, the group […]
These were contained in the communiqué issued by the network at their just concluded second high level meeting in Abuja, where Professor Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria minister of state 1 for foreign affairs took over the presidency of the network.
Despite the promising progress made on a number of targets by most African countries, the group noted that there are still substantive gap to be addressed including key populations in view of the MDG deadline and ensuring that the unfinished MDGs are incorporated into the post 2015 development framework.
President of the Network and Nigeria’s Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Adaku Owuliri, in her address gave the theme of the summit as accelerating the implementation of the global and regional commitment for women and girls, socio-economic development, gender equality and HIV/AIDS in Africa and the adoption of post 2015 priorities.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, expressed the need to empower women and the girl child to work against discriminations at school and work place. She however called for policies that will protect women on property rights and avoid discrimination at work place and school saying “this is the time for women to act”.
Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan who was also at the meeting called for maximization of women potentials to fight against discrimination and encouraged female education.
In his words, “Any society not encouraging and maximizing the potentials and brain in women cannot meet up with others in this highly competitive world.” He therefore called for the enactment of government policies that are women friendly adding that for any nation to fight HIV, it must fight poverty adding that the empowerment of women produces tangible impact beyond the family with a promise to take GPWNA to AU.
In its expression of commitment, the group resolved to accelerate the operationalisation of the Harare call to action in view of the decade of women declaration by the African Union assembly with a call on AU member states to leverage the AU roadmap on shared responsibility and global solidarity for the HIV response to sustain and expand progress on HIV/AIDS with particular attention to the reduction of vulnerabilities of women and girls.
They urged member states to report specific action taken to address the poverty issues which hinder lasting progress on AIDS response, gender equality, sexual reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Africa as well as report on specific actions taken to end violence against women and girls including rape especially in conflict and post conflict situation. Acknowledging the link between the acquisition of HIV and violence and using HIV response as an entry point among others.