Gender and HIV/AIDS; International Workshop on the Development of Empowering Educational HIV/AIDS Prevention Strategies and Gender Sensitive Materials; Nairobi; 2001

The sub-Saharan region is the region with the highest prevalence of HIV worldwide. In 1998 the Durban Statement adopted by the MINEDAF VII Conference of African Ministers of Education stressed the urgent need of joint efforts to combat the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS “with all means at our disposal”. The Dakar Framework for Action adopted by the World Education Forum in April 2000 underlined that “programmes to control and reduce the spread of the virus must make maximum use of education's potential to transmit messages on prevention and to change attitudes and behaviours”. During the World AIDS Conference held in Durban, South Africa in April 2000, the great importance of effective HIV prevention work has been underscored as well as the urgent need for specific gender sensitive approaches. UNESCO’s Strategy for HIV/AIDS Preventive Education is based on the principle that “prevention is not only the most economical response – it is the most patent and potent response, i.e. changing behaviour by providing knowledge, fostering attitudes and conferring skills through culturally sensitive and effective communication” and is directed towards five core tasks: advocacy at all levels; customising the message; changing risk behaviour; caring for the infected and affected; and coping with the institutional impact of HIV/AIDS.

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