Women Living With HIV Launch Human Rights Survey

Call for Integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health Services With HIV Services to Address Epidemic Among Women



Please take the survey and spread the word!


National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2010 comes just weeks after the United Nations announced that HIV is the leading cause of death among women globally.


In the U.S., a woman tests positive for HIV every 35 minutes, and nearly one-third of all domestic HIV infections are among women -- up from 8% in 1987. AIDS continues to be the leading cause of death among African-American women ages 25 to 34. Yet the general perception is that women are not vulnerable to contracting HIV -- and women are dying as a result.



Multiple members of the U.S. Positive Women's Network (PWN), a national membership body of women living with HIV in the United States, have personal experience with this issue. "Everyone is at risk for HIV," says Demetra Tennison, Peer Educator at Women Rising Project in Austin, TX. "But many providers don't perceive women as being at risk or are uncomfortable talking about it. I told my doctor that my husband was positive, and he didn't offer me a test. I was diagnosed late and got into care late, because of a missed opportunity on my physician's part."

Advocates specifically call for integration of sexual and reproductive health services with HIV services. "Early HIV diagnosis means less transmission and better health outcomes. Yet we see missed opportunities for HIV prevention and diagnosis throughout the medical system," says Dr. Monica Gandhi, director of HIV Consult Services at San Francisco General Hospital. "Women show up for sexual and reproductive health services multiple times a year. Every one of those appointments -- for pap smears, contraception care, and routine check-ups -- is an opportunity for HIV education, screening for HIV risk factors like domestic violence, and testing."

The PWN also notes that over half of all people living with HIV are not in regular medical care, and that co-location of sexual and reproductive health services with HIV services has enormous potential to transform women's ability to access care.

HIV-positive women across the United States have organized to urge the Obama Administration to finish health care reform, demand a gender-sensitive National HIV/AIDS Strategy, declare HIV an urgent crisis facing women and demand, the immediate appointment of an openly HIV-positive Black woman to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA). Events will occur in locations as diverse as Philadelphia, PA; Oakland, CA; San Diego, CA; Washington, NC; Washington, DC; and Boulder, CO.

Advocates also stress that an effective response to the domestic HIV epidemic must address social factors that put some communities at disproportionate risk. "We have the tools to end the HIV epidemic. What we need is political will to address structural issues including homophobia, gender inequity, and the deep racial and economic disparities that drive the rising rates of HIV among our most marginalized communities," says Waheedah Shabazz-El, a Muslim and Philadelphia-based trainer with the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project, who was diagnosed in 2003.


In honor of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the PWN has launched a survey to track the extent to which HIV-positive women's human rights are being realized in the United States. This survey is the first in a series, and focuses on testing and disclosure, reproductive justice for women with HIV, and the criminalization of HIV.


Please take the survey and spread the word!


Learn more about the PWN -- and join the PWN's mailing list.


This article was provided by Positive Women's Network USA.

CVS PETITION to UNLOCK CONDOMS in CONCENTRATED MINORITY AREAS

I received this in a personal email and think it's important to share, not only because I do know some people who have been affected by HIV/AIDS but because this has been an important issue for me from my days of having a candy dish/plate full of condoms in my room for my friends and family alike to take--no questions asked--to attending college and passing out Condoms on campus. Listen, Minorities will always be in a loosing battle if we are not equipped or willing to take care of ourselves and our families.

You can show you care by reading this blog, passing the info on to family, friends and colleagues. signing the petition, http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/curecvs

CVS is one of the nation's largest pharmacy and drugstore chains. With more than 6,000 stores across the country, they are a major provider of condoms to people of all ages. However, a recent study showed that CVS stores in low-income and minority neighborhoods tend to lock up condoms. Often times these stores are in communities where the rates of HIV infection are the highest.

Advocates for Youth, in partnership with the Cure CVS Campaign, is working with college organizations to push CVS to adopt a policy that would prohibit stores from locking condoms behind glass. CVS's largest competitor, Walgreen's, already has a policy in place forbidding locked condom cases. It's time that CVS does the same!

Report taken from Amplify.org:

a report released by Change to Win highlights the fact that in many low-income and minority neighborhoods CVS stores display condoms only in locked cabinets. Those who want condoms must find a store employee and wait for them to unlock the cabinet – which might make some people turn right around and not buy the condom at all. The study looked at stores in Detroit, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, New York City and Miami between September 2007 and January 2008. In some cities, the percentage of CVS stores with locked condoms was more than three times higher in communities of color than in areas that are predominately white.The cities listed also have some of the highest numbers of AIDS cases in the country.

CVS says they lock up condoms “based on whether shoplifting is to such a degree that they’re becoming unavailable for customers to purchase.” However, competitors Rite Aid and Walgreen's both have policies against locking up condoms.

Don’t let CVS create barriers for young people who want to act responsibly and protect themselves. Join Advocates for Youth and Change to Win in demanding that CVS adopt a corporate policy against locking up condoms!

Want to help make a difference Like I just did , sign the petition:

http://www.amplifyyourvoice.org/curecvs

learn about Advocates for Youth, Click Here! http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/

Middle-School Teens in Tampa being tried as Adults in Sexual Assault Case

Randall Raymond Lee Diemante

This is very sad and developing story, going on in my Hometown(Tampa). I sat here pushing back a few tears, having trouble typing because it not only hurts me, but disturbs me deeply. I will keep you posted and follow this as much as I can. I posted pictures of the accused for principals that I hold dear.

I also would like all to understand a fundamental factor that is present in most cases involving victims of violence, that we as people(the public) tend to forget, It is "our"own who commit acts of violence against one another not random strangers as we would like to believe and conveniently hold .


Four Tampa middle-school students names listed below, will be tried as adults for Sexual Assault and Battery.

Randall John Moye, 14;
Raymond A. Price-Murray, 14
Lee Louis Myers, 14
Diemante J. Roberts, 15

When school officials questioned the defendants, all four admitted in a written statement that they had sexually assaulted the victim. it's important to note there was actual ongoing bullying investigation going on with the named individuals,but no one knew the extent and that it would later include rape(s) of the13yr. old they ganged up on. The victim didn't acknowledge being sexually assaulted until questioned.

What is equally sad is that several students and others were aware that he was being bullied for over two months and on one of the days in question April 30th,students heard the screams as he was attacked in the locker room but no one did anything about it. School Officials contacted the Authorities which led to the arrest of the Eight Graders. The victim finished out the school year at home.

On another note one of the accused students, who is represented by Atty. Tim Taylor made the statement that his client was from one of the finest in the community and brought several character witnesses forward to speak on his behalf including Raymond Moyle's mother Jeanne Meyers who wanted it known that her son wants to attend college and when asked about his confession statement, she dumbed it down by describing it as just "the guys clowning around in the locker room with a HOCKEY STICK , but added her son did say he held the victim down for a few seconds."

State Attorney's office Spokeswoman Pam Bondi said Wednesday that each boy faces four counts of sexual battery, stemming from "multiple incidents on different dates." Each count carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A 15,000 bond was set for each individual and automatic home monitoring (ankle monitors) on all except one, Moyle who relocated to live with his father. Diemante Roberts who remains in jail, will wear a monitor as well, he's the only one has not posted bail.

If you know someone who is being bullied or you suspect may need help please report! Ask for guidance on how to help a friend. The tauting and/or abuse of another is never okay and as you can see can lead to possibly more heinous crimes. It is often said that individuals feel more powerful and will act out more aggressively with intent when in pairs, groups or crowds compared to when acting out on violence alone. No Matter your age,
DON'T BE AFRAID TO SAY NO or WALK AWAY FROM YOUR FRIEND


Here are links reporting on this story:

http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Three-teens-accused-of-raping-classmate-released/RnsBPnfEsEav4QrGvKYi3g.cspx?rss=794

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/04/florida.sexual.assault/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/04/4-teens-charged-as-adults-in-Fla-attacks/UPI-55151244124490/

This link has good discussions points, interest and commentary on the case, Add your two cents at:
http://www.queerty.com/disgust-4-teens-rape-classmate-with-hockey-stick-and-broom-20090511/