World YWCA to discuss reproductive health rights for women living with HIV
In the year 2007, at least 529,000 women died in pregnancy or childbirth and 99% of those deaths occurred in the developing world. Equally shocking is that for every woman who dies in childbirth, around 20 more suffer injury, infection or disease – touching approximately 10 million women each year. Add HIV into this mix and the challenge for women grows.
"Many mothers describe the day their child was born as one of the happiest days in their life. In countries where women do not enjoy their reproductive rights and where the health-cares system is not working for women, especially HIV positive women, the day a child is born all too often is the day its mother dies," says World YWCA HIV and AIDS Coordinator Sophie Dilmitis.
Dilmitis will attend an International Expert meeting on 'Sexuality, Reproduction and HIV and AIDS' in the Netherlands on November 26-27 to discuss how to better include Christian faith based organisations in maintaining health."25 years after the epidemic was discovered, HIV positive women still experience women’s rights violations because of their HIV status," says Dilmitis. "When it comes to their sexual and reproductive rights, the challenges are magnified and in many areas of the world these issues are becoming worse rather than better."
Human rights violations such as criminalisation of HIV transmission and its impact on women will be amongst the challenges Dilmitis will discuss at the meeting. "Criminalising HIV has further repercussions for women, especially pregnant women who in many countries are now being prosecuted for endangering the foetus. Women whose babies are born HIV-positive could be prosecuted for transmitting HIV to their newborn."
Along with the possibility of prosecution, positive women who access antenatal clinics often face extreme discrimination. "We have had reports through the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS that positive women are often made to stand in separate lines when waiting to see a health-care provider, are told that they should not be pregnant, and are not offered any confidentiality. These are just a few of the human rights violations they suffer."
The meeting has been organised by the International Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation, Kerk In Actie and Prisma.
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