25th November 2009 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women-Statement by Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS
Statement by Michel Sidibe Ex Director of UNAIDS, on occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 25 November 2009.
‘UNAIDS is fully committed to stop violence against women and girls. The response to HIV provides an opportunity to reduce intimate partner and sexual violence and develop comprehensive responses to gender-based violence and HIV prevention within and beyond the health sector.
There is strong evidence of the links between gender-based violence and HIV. According to a 2006 report by United Nations Secretary-General, one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, usually by someone known to her.
“We need to scale up effective programmes which promote gender equality at country level and invest more in building-up the evidence base,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Policies and programmes addressing gender inequality and gender-based violence will help achieve our universal targets for prevention, treatment and care. Investment in responses is an essential part of HIV programming.”
