Training Activities
Using a interactive approach, the presentation posited questions designed to challenge the participants’ knowledge and stereotypes of women’s vulnerability to infection. With the epidemic being fuelled by gender disparities – such as male dominant sexual behaviour, discriminatory cultural practices, sexual exploitation, women’s lack of equal access to resources, and inequality within the family – the discourse looked at the specific cultural, social and epidemiological impact of HIV/AIDS on women. The presentation concluded with concrete ways in which the gendered aspects can be negotiated and overcome, including ensuring that women’s leadership is enhanced, that men are included in the solution, and that overall a political will to combat the phenomenon be framed into practical measures.