Strengthening Women’s Voices in the HIV Movement

1. Strengthening Women’s Voices in the HIV Movement All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIVPre-conference Satellite Session“Women and Girls Turning the Tide”Washington DC, USAJuly 22, 2012

2. All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV. History of creation • During last ten years women leaders from the All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH: • Participated at different international conferences, assemblies and forums • Became familiar with specifics of work of International Network of Women Living with HIV and National Women’s Networks • Took part in International Summit of Women Living with HIV

3. All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV. History of creation (2) • GF project, 6th Round: • Medical, psycho-social support of HIV+ pregnant women, and children born to HIV+ mothers • Psycho-social support related to reproductive health as well as family planning for PLWHA and discordant couples • Other projects: • “Empowering women to fight against HIV” (2010 – 2011) • “Monitoring UNGASSgoals on sexual and reproductive health (2009 – 2010)” • “Gender and HIV: from paternalism to active involvement” (2010 – 2012)

4. All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV. History of creation (3) • During implementation of “Gender and HIV: from paternalism to active involvement” project • Needs of HIV+ women and those who are affected by HIV were identified • A number of trainings on women's leadership, business and self-defense were conducted • Two study tours to Great Britain for women leaders were conducted • Gender Policy of All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH was developed

5. All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV was created in May 2011

6. Board

7. UN General Assembly. Special Session on HIV/AIDS – New York, June 2011 • Vladimir Zhovtyak and Iryna Borushek, All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH representatives, were the members of the government delegation of Ukraine • Iryna Borushek represented the All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV during all the meetings as well • Svetlana Moroz, Board member, more than 6 months worked for Task Force Group in terms of selection speakers from Civil Society and topics for the Meeting

8. UN General Assembly. Special Session on HIV/AIDS (2) The meeting was held with Yuriy Seregeev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, and Olga Kavun, Second Secretary to the Embassy of Ukraine on Humanitarian Issues

9. UN General Assembly. Special Session on HIV/AIDS (3) • UN countries-members passed the Declaration on global counteraction to HIV epidemic for further 5 years • Declaration stated that creation of “UN-Women” Structure might play significant role in global efforts to fight against HIV, including gender equality and expansion of women’s rights and opportunities • Responsibilities taken: to eliminate gender inequality and oppression; expand women’s and girls’ opportunities to protect themselves from HIV by provision of services on sexual and reproductive health; realization of rights and opportunities; consolidation of their economic independence • Countries took the following responsibilities: by 2015 to achieve absence оf PMTCT and considerably decrease maternal mortality

10. Conclusions • Declaration considerably expands women's rights and opportunities in response to HIV epidemic • “UN-Women” Structure will support and encourage initiatives of women infected and affected by HIV • All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV needs to mobilize resources in order to support achievement of Declaration goals by the government

11. 4th Women’s International Summit Zürich, July 2011 • Iryna Borushek and Svetlana Moroz, Board members attended the Summit • World Young Women Christian Association (WYWCA) in a partnership with International Women’s Society (ICW) conducted the “Living Your Personal Passion” workshop

12. Union representatives at International AIDS Society Conference on HIV pathogenesis, treatment and prevention (IAS 2011) in Rome, July 2011 Meeting of National Women’s Networks and European Women Network WECARE

13. Union representatives at International AIDS Society Conference on HIV pathogenesis, treatment and prevention (IAS 2011) in Rome, Italy (2) Iryna Borushek at the conference organized by International AIDS Society to support Opioid Substitute Therapy in East Europe & Central Asia Union of PLWH Svetlana Moroz at Plenary Session “Economic crisis influence on HIV/AIDS programs: are services integration and operational researches the solution?”

14. Women’s Networks Meeting «Women, Girls, Gender equality and HIV»

15. All-Ukrainian Network of Women Infected & Affected by HIV. Strategic Planning

16. Mission of All-Ukrainian Union Of Women Infected and Affected by HIV We, women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, are uniting for creation of equal opportunities and participation in decision making process at all levels with the purpose of forming proactive life and Civil position through: • development of leadership, empowerment and competence development • provision of equal access to quality services.

17. Union Strategic objectives (for 2 years) • Ensuring participation of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in decision making at all levels • Development of women’s leadership by forming proactive life and civil position • Ensuring equal access of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS to wide range of services, including gender sensitive • Forming and maintenance Union’s positive public image • Capacity building of the Union

18. Art Exhibition “+ Woman = Life” Women living with HIV who are the members of the All-Ukrainian Union of Women Infected & Affected by HIV, took part in the photo project “+ Woman = Life” that was firstly presented at the close out conference of the project “Gender and HIV: from paternalism to active involvement” You are most welcome to attend our Art Exhibition 956 at Global Village during the conference. We will share with you our life-stories and achievements