AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION’S SECOND DESK REVIEW ON “WOMEN, GIRLS, HIV/AIDS AND CONFLICT LAUNCHED DURING WORLD AIDS DAY IN JUBA

Juba, South Sudan 1 December 2013- The African Union launched its second desk review on “Women, Girls, HIV/AIDS and Conflict: Situation Analysis of 11 Selected Conflict and Post Conflict Countries in Africa” during the World AIDS day commemorations in Juba, South Sudan. 

The report was handed over to the Chairperson of the South Sudan AIDS Commission Dr Esterina Novello by AU Commissioner for Social Affairs Dr Mustapha Kaloko on 1^st December and to the President of the Republic on 2^nd December. It flags out the situation analysis of women and girls in post conflict situations in line with their right to health care services as well as sexual and gender based violence status.

Concrete recommendations and strategic actions are made, to empowering women and girls in conflicts and post conflict areas, in an effort to reduce their risk of exposure to HIV, sexual and gender based violence, and curbing the vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child in conflict and post conflict situations.

Although South Sudan was not one of the member countries studied as it was still in conflict at the time of the review, the report is nevertheless relevant to its circumstances as a country newly emerged from conflict.