Co-convened by the World YWCA and the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS, the Forum attracted the largest global gathering of women living with HIV, created an agenda for positive women and provided them with the opportunity to network and build strategic partnerships.

Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, former General Secretary of the World YWCA was a panellist at the report launch and said ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ is an important resource for positive women’s leadership. “ If we are to be effective, women living with HIV must be at the forefront of the AIDS response, and have the space to develop leadership. The Positive Women’s Forum not only gave women the space to determine the agenda, but they also provided leadership in the consultation,’ said Kanyoro. ‘ This report captures some of the wisdom that was generated first at the positive Women’s Forum and then fed into the International Women’s’ Summit.’

‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ offers much needed insight into the challenges positive women face and the solutions positive women leaders have to offer. “Sadly, for the most part, women’s organisations around the world have found it hard to address HIV other than as a prevention issue alone. This forum came at a time when there were so few spaces for positive women and opening up to them was indeed a courageous risk-taking.” said Dr Alice Welbourn, former chair of the International Community of Women living with HIV and AIDS (ICW) who also took part in the launch.

The report evaluates the Positive Women’s Forum and draws on feedback from participants and organisers. ‘Meetings of this kind need to be sustained in order to build upon the learning they generate to guide future policy and action, particularly if the participation of HIV positive women is to be considered non-negotiable in the future AIDS response,” said one participant.

Kristan Schoultz, Director of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and panellist at the launch, agreed that HIV positive women must be involved as equal partners in shaping AIDS programmes and policies. " Such representation is particularly important for women living with HIV. Only women living with HIV know what it means to be a woman living with HIV. So it simply doesn’t make sense to think of shaping a response to the epidemic in the absence of such insight, " said Schoultz.

World YWCA HIV and AIDS Coordinator Sophie Dilmitis believes ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’ is a clear message that HIV positive women’s voices need to be heard in the HIV response. “ The Positive Women’s Forum was a success by the virtue of the fact that it united us not just for one day but that positive women’s voices were heard throughout the International Women’s Summit in all sessions and panels. We need to take positive women’s voices to the farthest end. This report paves the way,” says Dilmitis.

" We are excited about the launch of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us, ‘ said World YWCA President Susan Brenann. “ It builds on the successes and lessons of the Positive Women's Forum. The World YWCA continues to foster and affirm the leadership of positive women within the YWCA movement and to strengthening its partnerships with positive women's organisations.”

Related Links

• Women unite at AIDS 2008 and demand rights in response to HIV
• World YWCA calls on religious leaders to rise up against stigma and discrimination in response to HIV and AIDS
• New AIDS report: Global HIV infection down, but women remain at risk says World YWCA
• News, photos and events from AIDS 2008