Stopping the Silent Killer: Efforts to Address HIV/AIDS in Darfur

UNAMID’s HIV/AIDS Unit works to provide Darfuris with greater access to information and medical care designed to help protect them from the spread of the disease.

By Abdullahi Shuaibu

HIV/AIDS interventions in peacekeeping operations are supported by UN Security Council resolution 1308 (17 July 2000), which details the need to address the disease in all possible ways. Following this resolution, on 27 June 2001 the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS adopted a declaration of commitment that calls on all UN agencies, regional and international organizations, as well as nongovernmental organizations involved with assistance to regions affected by conflict or natural disaster to provide HIV/AIDS awareness and training programmes.

The Security Council adopted resolution 1983 on 7 June 2011 to reinforce its earlier mandate on HIV/AIDS. Among other things, the resolution called for formalising approaches to HIV prevention, treatment and support, and initiating programmes for counselling and testing in peacekeeping operations, as well as providing assistance to national institutions.

In line which this framework, the African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been addressing the HIV/AIDS situation in the region. Although there is no definitive data on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Darfur, the nine-year conflict introduces several factors to the area that experts say are contributing to the spread of the epidemic here. These factors include economic and social disruption, widespread poverty and population movements.

According to human rights observers, women around the world are isproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS on the whole, largely as a result of gender inequality, poverty, inadequate access to education and the tragic cycle of sexual violence, which places a burden on social, economic and medical resources. The situation is further complicated by the reality that many women living with HIV/AIDS are subjected to ill treatment and are denied health care, housing, employment or the right to travel.

Read the full article in the August issue of Voices of Darfur. Download the magazine (PDF) here.