Violence and Vulnerability

HIV/AIDS is not a bio-medical problem alone and it is apparent that women in the Asia Pacific region seem to be bearing a disproportionately high burden of this epidemic. Women in this region lack control over many aspects of their lives; lack basic human rights and overall lack any identity. Tradition and culture in the some societies of the Asia Pacific region enforce a code of silence and the secrecy of silence pervades women from inception till death. Over the years looking at safe sex, barrier methods, etc. to prevent HIV/AIDS and to stop the spread of HIV, women have been constantly targeted by the bio-medics, clinicians, social researchers and also the media. However the spread of the HIV virus has much to do with the attitude and behaviour of men towards women. The discourses on violence against women fail to systematically address the issues of patriarchy and the cultural and traditional oppression women have to endure in almost every society. With the advent of HIV/AIDS, energies are focused elsewhere whilst women cannot even negotiate safe sex within marriage. Violence against women is pervasive in our societies and gender based violence has not been addressed as a priority issue. One of the recommendations to emerge from this discussion was to emphasise the gigantic direct developmental and economical cost of violence against women adversely affecting the family, society, and the nation.