We know that in order to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa, we must confront, and subdue, sexual violence. With the Turning the Tide Campaign, we want to support and expand the reach of grassroots organizations that are helping women who have been raped to heal, seek counselling and to cope with the aftermath of sexual violence.
Join the Campaign and support efforts to curb sexual violence.
Within the next five years, we will:
- Provide quick and effective support in crisis situations for grassroots organizations working at the crossroads of sexual violence and HIV/AIDS to alleviate the trauma of rape and prevent the spread of HIV as a result of violence.
- Create a Pan-African Institute on Sexual Violence and HIV/AIDS. We have already begun work with expert organizations on the ground in Africa to design and build a mobile Institute to provide counselling, capacity and emergency response in situations of violence (as in the Kenya post-election violence, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Zimbabwe, and during the xenophobic attacks in South Africa). The Institute will also provide a much-needed forum for advocates to come together and exchange new ideas, approaches and lessons learned around sexual violence and AIDS, and provide concrete assistance to those in need.
STEPHEN LEWIS: SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND AIDS
project HIGHLIGHT:
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Betty Makoni, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, founded the Girl Child Network (GCN) in Zimbabwe to address the extreme vulnerability of girl children to rape, forced early marriage and exploitation. Today, more than 60,000 girls meet regularly through GCN’s 689 Girls’ Empowerment Clubs, where they share their stories, receive counselling, vocational training, health care and legal advice. GCN has inspired the creation of 18 spin-off organizations and their campaign to end sexual violence against children has contributed to Zimbabwe’s reformed child rape laws. |
Learn more about how community-based organizations are turning the tide of AIDS in Africa by reading our newsletter and visiting the What We Do section.