giovedì 3 ottobre 2013


A Positive Woman’s Survival Kit




Hallo, Shalom, Jambo, Dzien Dobry, Sawat-Dii, Guten Tag, Hey,Konnichi Wa, Namaste, Ciao, at Sri Akal, Chemchor, Yasas, alaam Alikhom, Zdrast-Viytye, Hola, Bonjour, Makadii:




Welcome to A Positive Woman’s Survival Kit.

“These twelve statements were agreed at the first meeting of ICW in Amsterdam in 1992. It was the first time that HIV positive women had come together globally and expressed their needs.They are the foundations on which ICW was built.” 
(Jo Manchester, founder member ICW) 

Twelve Statements to improve the situation of women living with HIV and AIDS throughout the world:




1 WE NEED encouragement and support for the development of self-help groups and networks.


2 WE NEED the media to portray us realistically and not stigmatise us.

3 WE NEED accessible and affordable health care (conventional and complementary) and research into how the virus affects women.

4 WE NEED funding for services to lessen our isolation and meet our needs. All funds directed to us need to be supervised to make sure we get it.

5 WE NEED the right to be respected and supported in our choices about reproduction.This includes the right to have children and the right not to have children.

6 WE NEED recognition of the right of our children and orphans to be cared for and of the importance of our role as parents.

7 WE NEED education and training of health care providers and the community at large about women's risk and our needs. Up-to-date, accurate information concerning all issues about women living with HIV/AIDS should be easily and freely available.

8 WE NEED recognition of the fundamental human rights of all women living with HIV/AIDS, particularly women in prisons, drug users and sex workers.These 
fundamental rights should include the right to housing, employment and travel without restrictions.

9 WE NEED research into female infectivity, including woman to woman transmission, recognition of and support for lesbians living with HIV/AIDS.

10 WE NEED decision making power and consultation on all levels of policy and programmes affecting us.

11 WE NEED economic support for women living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries to enable them to be self-sufficient and independent.

12 WE NEED any definition of AIDS to include symptoms and clinical manifestations specific to women.



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Read more: Survival kit