Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW/G, see definition below) and HIV&AIDS (see definition below) are interconnected in ways that few policymakers and programme implementers address.

Most basically,

(i) VAW/G increases a woman or girl's risk of HIV infection or re-infection;
(ii) An HIV positive status, known or perceived, can increase a woman or girl's risk of violence.

Below we outline some of ways in which this interconnectedness plays out; however, we do not suggest it is a comprehensive list.  We have also included some useful definitions:

• Violence against women
• Gender-based violence
• HIV & AIDS

(i) VAW/G Increases the Risk of HIV Infection/Re-Infection

• Violent and/or Forced/Coerced Sex - Tears or lacerations in the vagina or anus increase the risk of HIV transmission. Violence, force, roughness, and vaginal/anal dryness can all increase the number of tears and lacerations in the vagina or anus.
• Lack of Power to Negotiate Safer Sex - In the face of rape (forced/coerced sex) by a partner or non-partner, a woman or girl is unlikely to be in a position to insist on condom use. Additionally, the presence of or the threat of violence (physical, sexual, or psychological) in a relationship often decreases a woman or girl's ability or willingness to insist on condom use.
• Fear of Saying No to Sex - The presence of or the threat of violence (physical, sexual, or psychological) can make women or girls less likely to say no to sex when they normally would.
• Fear of Leaving/Ending a Relationship - The presence of or the threat of violence (physical, sexual, psychological) can make it difficult for women or girls to leave or end relationships that are violent, that are not monogamous, where their partner won't practice safer sex, or that they no longer want to be in for another reason.

(ii) Being HIV Positive (or Being Perceived as Being HIV Positive) Can Increase the Risk of Violence

• Violence by a Sexual Partner - Often women are the first in a partnership to learn they are HIV positive (because of ante-natal testing, for instance), which can result in blame and violence from their partners.
• Violence by Family/In-Laws/Friends/Community - Because of stigma, discrimination, and fear, a known HIV-positive sero-status can increase a woman's risk of violence perpetuated by her family or partner's family, friends, and community.
• Rejection by Family/In-Laws/Friends/Community - Because of stigma, discrimination, and fear, an HIV positive woman or girl may be unable to find support among her family or partner's family, friends, or community if she wants to leave a violent relationship or confront the perpetrator of violence.
• Personal Stigma - Internalized fear and stigma can make it less likely that a woman or girl will have the self-confidence necessary to leave a violent relationship or confront the perpetrator of violence.

For more information about the connection between HIV&AIDS and Violence Against Women and Girls, see the Factsheets section in our Resource Center .

Definition: Violence Against Women and Girls

For the purpose this campaign, we understand Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW/G) to include any physical, sexual, or psychological violence perpetuated against a woman or girl.

We know that women and girls can be exposed to violence as the result of conflict, war, and social unrest and in the work place or other public spheres.

However, we also know that violence against women and girls is most often perpetrated by partners, family members, and acquaintances.

Additionally, we understand VAW/G to be inextricably linked to social, economic, and legal inequity as a consequence of gender. Therefore, we recognize that most Violence Against Women and Girls is a form of gender-based violence.

Definition: Gender-Based Violence

"Gender-based violence" is violence (physical, sexual, or psychological) that is perpetuated against a person because of that person's gender, gender identity, or gender performance or the perpetrator's understanding of gender roles and or expectations.

Gender-based violence is often, but not always, violence against women and girls.

Transgendered or transsexual people, homosexual or bisexual people, and boys or men who do not conform with society's gender expectations are often also the targets of gender-based violence.

Definition: HIV&AIDS

Although often incorrectly used interchangeably, HIV and AIDS are not the same thing.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that weakens the immune system.

AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the syndrome or disease of the immune system that is characterized by increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

AIDS is cause by HIV and, therefore, everyone who is living with AIDS is also living with HIV. However, not everyone living with HIV is living with AIDS, although without access to anti-retroviral and adequate nutrition and health care (and often even with this access), people with HIV will eventually develop AIDS.

As a campaign we have chosen to use the term "HIV&AIDS" when were are referring to "HIV and/or AIDS" or "HIV and AIDS" or "HIV or AIDS" because we find this formulation easier to read than the various iterations just outlined and because we find the term "HIV/AIDS" to be problematic in some cases because it can suggest that HIV and AIDS are the same thing or that the terms are interchangeable. We will use the term "HIV" when were are talking specifically about "HIV" and we will use the term "AIDS" when we are talking specifically about "AIDS."