Tackling violence against women will help towards reducing the numbers of women dying from AIDS across the world, says UNAIDS.

AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst women aged 15-49 says UNAIDS on the day it launches a framework in New York to tackle the root of the problem – violence.

Speaking at the launch of the Agenda for Accelerated Country Action in New York this week, UNAIDS – the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDs – Executive Director Michel Sidibé and celebrity and social activist Annie Lennox said they were hoping to bring renewed political attention to the well-being of women and girls across the world.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report published last October revealed AIDS to be the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age – 15-49 – worldwide. There is evidence of a particular problem in Sub-Saharan Africa where women account for approximately 60% of estimated HIV infections. 

According to UNAIDS, a key priority in tackling this devastating disease is trying to end violence towards women. Up to 70% of women will experience violence in their lifetime said the organisation, and in South Africa a woman is raped every minute.

“The brutality faced by many women and girls goes far beyond social policy issues; in essence it is about equality and justice – it must become a foreign policy issue,” said Mr Sidibé. 

Annie Lennox used her opportunity to talk to of a challenge to gender roles in order to stop the AIDS epidemic.

“We know the facts; we know that gender inequality puts millions of women and girls across the globe at greater risk of HIV infection. It is unacceptable than only 38% of young women have accurate comprehensive knowledge of HIV,” said Ms Lennox who is calling on leaders across the world to “change the power imbalances between men and women.”

UNAIDS says its next action is to create an open dialogue about how to address the issues of gender inequality and violence against women so that an urgent response can begin.