Gregoria Apaza Center for the Promotion of Women

Project: Addressing the needs of young women in relation to violence and sexual and reproductive health, particularly STIs and HIV and/or AIDS

Location: Bolivia

Duration: August 2011 – March 2012

Partner: Gregoria Apaza Centre for the Promotion of Women  (CPMGA)

The Situation

Violence against women is pervasive and under-reported in Bolivia, particularly in El Alto and La Paz.  Imagine that:

• 7 out of 10 women report having experienced situations of violence in their lives

• Health care service-providers  are often ignorant about the type of care needed or experiences of women victims of violence

• The partners of female victims of violence are often sexually active with multiple partners and thus are at high risk of spreading STIs, including HIV / AIDS

Added to this, several other conditions make women vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases such as:

• Socio-cultural norms that define male and female roles and responsibilities, where ‘femininity’ demands a submissive role, passivity in sexual relations and ignorance about sex

• Cultural stigma and taboos, especially related to sex and sexual activities

• Sex education in Bolivia often disseminates misleading information on sexual and reproductive rights, based on sexist myths and social prejudices

These factors act as barriers to seeking knowledge of HIV prevention and to providing the treatment, care and support needed by those infected and affected by HIV. Thus, it is imperative to address the lack of information on STIs, HIV and their relation to VAW.

What Womankind is doing

Womankind and our partner are aiming to decrease the vulnerability of young women in La Paz/El Alto to VAW and its related risks in terms of sexual and reproductive health by increasing their awareness and providing information on sexual and reproductive rights (SRR), risks around VAW and its effect on vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and STIS, unwanted pregnancies, maternal mortality, and the available services to protect themselves

What we have achieved so far

This project began in August 2011 so please check back in a few months for updates.