In 2023, the Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS conducted a monitoring study focused on identifying violence against women living with HIV. 130 women from Kazakhstan and 110 from Moldova participated. Participation in the training and community-led monitoring played a key role in strengthening the ability of women with HIV to prevent or respond to gender-based violence, hold governments accountable to international obligations and laws, utilize legal mechanisms for protection, and increase referrals and visibility of legal needs. VirusOff reviews the results and impact of this training, and also, introduces the reports produced.
The monitoring tool examined four types of violence (physical, psychological, economic, and sexual) against HIV-positive women who have experienced it. In Kazakhstan, nearly one in three HIV-positive women who experienced violence were prohibited from seeking medical services or working. In Moldova, 59% of women used children to pressure them, and one in ten linked sexual violence to HIV.
Examples from the study show that being HIV-positive justifies violence, even in the eyes of women themselves, because of internal stigma. Only one-third of women in Moldova and one in five in Kazakhstan sought help for physical violence, partly due to lack of faith in help, fear of publicity, and stigmatization.
The monitoring also revealed difficulties in law enforcement, where police did not respond to cases of violence, suggesting that they reconcile and wait for the conflict to be resolved without intervention. Despite participation in programs, only half of women with HIV who experienced violence were informed about shelters and crisis centers.
To reduce violence and improve access to services, respondents suggested developing assistance and information systems, improving legislation and its enforcement, increasing accountability, stricter penalties for aggressors, and developing the capacity of women and women’s communities.
Based on the monitoring results, it is recommended to hold national consultations with women activists and leaders of the women’s community to formulate consolidated recommendations and an action plan. The publication was prepared by the Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS and published within the framework of the regional project “Sustainability of Services for Key Populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (SoS_project 2.0) implemented by a consortium of organizations led by the Alliance for Public Health in partnership with 100% Life, with financial support from the Global Fund. The design and translation of the report into English was supported by UNFPA, the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health.
Yuliia Holub