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4th World Conference
on Women,
Beijing, China;
September 4 - 15, 1995
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The United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
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Political Problems - Empowering women
World-wide, nearly half of all HIV infections are found in women (48%, much higher in some parts of Africa). In years past, these numbers were much lower, but there are now increasing quickly. Indeed, more and more women are becoming infected at an earlier and earlier age.
One of the reasons for this growing “feminization of AIDS” is the relative powerlessness of women in much of the developing world. It is all very well to preach the “prevention ABC” (Abstinence, Being faithful, Condoms), but it means nothing to women who have no say in their sexual relations. Abstinence is not an option where women cannot refuse the sexual demands of men. Being faithful does not protect women if men do not practice it, too. Condoms are no help as long as women cannot insist that men use them.
The only effective AIDS prevention in these circumstances is to raise the status of women, educating and empowering them so that they can reach an adequate level of sexual self-determination. However, this means asking for revolutionary changes in some countries that are still bound by ancient patriarchal traditions in religion, custom, and law. On the other hand, it is clear that these countries will court disaster if they fail to carry out the necessary changes and do it soon. There will be millions of AIDS orphans with no women to care for them, and where farming is still mostly women’s work, it will simply no longer be done, leaving the survivors without sufficient food.
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