The United States Department of State recently announced a plan from the White House to provide $4.65 million in grant money to grassroots organizations around the world which address gender-based violence. Funding for this initiative will come from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The grants, each up to $100,000, will be distributed to organizations working in countries that have partnered with the President’s Emergency Plan.
The gender-based violence prevention is a key part of the HIV/AIDS relief platform. “Addressing gender inequities and norms is essential to reducing the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection,” the State Department’s press release stated. The press release also noted that victims of gender-based violence have a much higher rate of HIV infection, up to three times that of the general population. Women living in cultures accepting of gender-based violence are also likely to be unable to practice safe sex or seek out proper medical treatment due to fear of that violence.
Compiled from: New Initiative Responds to Gender-Based Violence as Part of Global HIV Response, US State Department Bureau of Public Affairs (14 March 2012).