Policy Paralysis:
A Call for Action on HIV/AIDS-Related Human Rights Abuses Against Women and Girls in Africa

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. SUMMARY
   
   
2. ABUSES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS THAT FUEL HIV/AIDS
   
   HIV/AIDS and Abuse of Girls
   
   Sexual abuse, poverty, and girls as breadwinners
   Abuses Exacerbated by Orphanhood or Other Lack of Parental Care
   
   Sexual abuse by guardians
   Girls forced to drop out of school
   Loss of inheritance rights
   Risks associated with life on the street
   Trafficking and hazardous labor
   
   Sexual abuse in school
   Criminal justice systems and sexual abuse of girls
   International human rights law on sexual abuse of children
   
   Risks to Women and Girls in Long-Term Unions
   
   Domestic violence and marital rape
   Lack of redress in the police complaint process and the courts
   Relevant international human rights law on domestic violence
   
   Discrimination in Property and Inheritance Rights and HIV/AIDS
   
   Abuses against widows especially damaging
   Unresponsive local authorities and ineffective courts
   International human rights law on women’s property rights
   
   Traditional Practices that Increase HIV/AIDS Risk to Women and Girls
   
   Female genital mutilation
   Dry sex
   
   Abuse of Sex Workers
   Rape and Other Gender-based Abuses in War and Civil Conflict
   
   Humanitarian law and international human rights law on rape in war
   
   Lack of HIV Prevention for Rape Survivors
   Unequal Access to Information and Health Services
   
   
   
3. REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEGAL REGIMES
   
   The South African Experience: Legislation and Special Courts
   
   
   
4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION
   
   1. Sexual and domestic violence
      
      General
      Domestic violence and marital rape
      Police and judicial proceedings
      Other services
      Rape of sex workers
      Sexual violence in war
      
   2. Gender inequity in property ownership and control, inheritance, and divorce
      
   3. Unequal access to social services and information
      
   
   
5. CONCLUSION
   
   HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORTS ON GENDER-RELATED ABUSES AND AIDS IN AFRICA
   
   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

December 2003