Elly Burhaini Faizal, Jakarta – HIV/AIDS advocacy groups have called for an integrated effort to protect HIV-positive women from becoming the targets of violence.
So far, only few programs on HIV/AIDS are specifically designed for women despite the fact that the disease affects the lives of women more than men in the country.
"Violence against HIV-positive women in the form of physical, sexual and economic suffering continues to happen. Few HIV programs in the country are women-friendly, however," said Baby Rivona Nasution, the national coordinator of IPPI, an association of HIV-positive women.
Stigma and discrimination are the most common forms of abuse experienced by HIV-positive people regardless of their gender. A report compiled by IPPI shows that HIV-infected women have fallen victim not only to stigma and discrimination but also to sexual, physical and economic abuse by their partners and families.
"This makes HIV-positive women feel utterly helpless. Their status as a person with HIV has deterred them from reporting abuses to law enforcers. They worry that reporting the violence will disclose their HIV-positive status. Consequently, they have to live in a continuing cycle of violence," she added.
Baby is one representative from a number of NGOs that focus on HIV/AIDS who shared her experience in dealing with the challenges of the epidemic at a recent discussion "Raising HIV/AIDS Awareness" held by the US Embassy to commemorate 2012 World AIDS Day, which fell on Dec. 1. Around 25 percent of IPPI's 450 members in 22 provinces are female teenagers.
"We have a teenage member who was infected with HIV when she was only 16 years old. Even more, we have members who were infected with the virus during rape. This is why we must integrate HIV control into gender-based violence prevention and response programs," Baby said.
A new report published by the United Nations (UN) states that the rate of new HIV infections in Indonesia increased by more than 25 percent between 2001 and 2011.
National AIDS Commission (KPA) chairman Kemal Siregar said that after first being discovered in 1987, HIV infections in Indonesia continued to soar. At the end of the 1990s, intravenous drug use spread HIV rapidly throughout the country.
"We need to think about several steps we can take to create an HIV-free generation," said Esthi Susanti Hudiono, director of the Hotline Foundation.
US Ambassador Scot Marciel said raising awareness was a major part of HIV prevention campaigns.
"In terms of numbers, the HIV epidemic in Indonesia is not so big. But unfortunately, HIV is high in certain groups and the number is growing rapidly. In this regard, we want to do all we can do to support the Indonesian government and NGO activists who are working not only to educate people about HIV/AIDS, but also to take action to stop its spread," he said.