Prevention of GBV begins with a broader analysis of power imbalance in intimate relationships and the social norms that relegate women's status as lower than that of men. In this broad conceptualization, a whole range of issues become linked to GBV prevention, particularly HIV/AIDS. Women's vulnerability to HIV infection is closely related to their autonomy and status in their intimate relationships, their ability to negotiate safer sex with their partners, and the level of communication, respect and mutuality in their partnership. Women's vulnerability to both GBV and HIV is a result of a core set of issues including gender inequity, imbalance of power in their personal relationships and their low status in their community. Activists and practitioners working both on GBV and HIV could greatly benefit from linking the issues if it means, in turn, that causes of infection would be better understood and prevention efforts could be facilitated. At the same, however, there are challenges with overlapping the two areas of work. It is important that we analyze the linkages, conceptualize them within the framework of prevention and invest further in creating practical programmatic responses that take into account the context and constraints of both areas.

On this page you will find some examples of Member Organization's GBV and HIV/AIDS program approaches.

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Gender-Based Violence and HIV/AIDS in South Africa: Organizational Responses (2003)
Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE), South Africa. This report provides insight into experiences and perspectives of organizations working to address the intersections between gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS.   [view]

Strategic Interventions: Intersections between Gender-Based Violence & HIV/AIDS (2003)
Bernadette Muthien for the Gender Project, Community Law Centre, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. This report describes the linkages between GBV and HIV, provides examples of various programmatic approaches and makes recommendations for future program directions.   [view]

Rakai Project, Uganda
Programme Description of project in rural Rakai District in Uganda that aims to integrates HIV and GBV prevention. Excerpt from Preventing GBV in the Horn, East and Southern Africa: A Regional Dialogue (2004).   [view]