Violence against women is a worldwide scourge

It ensuring that women living with HIV have a voice and meaning participation in relevant decision and policy-making bodies on issues important to our lives and it values the transformative power of women living self-determined lives. Such action is essential to attainment of all of our human rights.

Introduction:

This is the only international network run for and by HIV positive women from 27 countries who met at the World conference on AIDS in Amsterdam in July,1992.
International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS In Tanzania was established in August 2004 now it has more than 62 members from different regions of Tanzania .
The headquarters are currently situated in NACOPHA at Ubungo Plaza in Dare s Salaam.
There is an interim committee composed of 6 members .

Background information

• Biological factors
• Economic status
• Gender inequality in sexual negotiations
• Traditional and cultural practices
• Lack of proper information on access to care and treatment- school drop -out, early marriages
• High vulnerability of women and girls (55%) to HIV/AIDS compared to men

Vision

• Have a respected and meaningful involvement at all political levels, local, national, regional and international, where decision that affect their lives are being made.
• Have full access to care and treatment and enjoy full rights, particularly sexual, reproductive, legal, financial and general health rights, irrespective of our culture, age, religion, , social or economic status/class and race.

Values

• As a network of women living with HIV throughout the world, ICW is based on the mutual respect, honest and integrity of its members, as well as on assurance of confidentiality.
• It ensuring that women living with HIV have a voice and meaning participation in relevant decision and policy-making bodies on issues important to our lives and it values the transformative power of women living self-determined lives. Such action is essential to attainment of all of our human rights.

Aims

• Creating a sense of solidarity and ensuring Tanzanian HIV positive women have the opportunity to speak at HIV/AIDs national events and conference.
• To combat the isolation experience by HIV positive women by encouraging self empowerment and facilitating national and international information exchange and mutual support.

Achievements

• ICW has formulated an Interim Committee which will promote the voices and improve situation of HIV positive women.
• ICW has conducted awareness workshop in Dar es Salaam in 10th August, 2004.
• ICW in Tanzania has enrolled new members from 13 regions i.e. Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Ruvuma, Kilimanjaro, Kagera, Iringa, Mara, Arusha, Mtwara, Mbeya, Lindi, Dodoma and Coast.

Challenges

• We are often blamed for AIDS, we fear the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. We are accused of being promiscuous.
• For this reason many women may not go for VCT. They may try to keep their HIV status a secret and will not seek care treatment and support
• Violence against women is a worldwide scourge. Tanzanian women and girls often don't have the power to say no to sex or to insist on condom use.
• Denial of women's inheritance and property rights. Many HIV positive women do not know that they have rights and how to go about gaining them. Our economic, legal and political rights are violated.
• We do not have resources to run our networks,
• We have no access to office equipment and we are temporarily accommodated at National Council for People Living with HIV/AIDS
• Women are presented by men not women themselves as it was the case in Mtwara
• Poverty makes claiming our rights to equality safe and secure livelihoods and good health almost impossible
• There is lack information on research done on the vaginal physiology of HIV positive woman at community level

HIV Positive women needs

• Encouragement and support for the development of self help groups and networks
• Accessible and affordable health care and research how the virus affects women.
• All funds directed to us need to be supervised by ourselves to make sure we receive them.
• Sustainable economic support in establishing livelihood Programmes.
• Any definition of AIDS to include symptoms and clinical manifestations specific to women.
• Recognition of the right of our children and orphans to be cared for and of the importance of our role as parents
• Education and training of health care providers and the community about women risk and our up to date and accurate information about all the issues for woman should be easily and friendly available

Recommendations

• The media realistically should portray us not to stigmatize us
• All funds directed to us need to be supervised by ourselves to make sure we receive them
• Education and training of health care providers and the community about women risk and our up to date and accurate information about all the issues for woman should be easily and friendly available
• In order to ensure access of treatment and care for positive women there is a need to have networking with all positive women in coming up with united voice in addressing our rights.