Today we are celebrating International Women's Day with a very interesting theme: "Accelerate Action".
Worldwide, strong women are working hard to ensure their fundamental needs and rights are being met in their communities. Accelerating action is about their fight to remove systemic barriers and inequalities that prevent them from claiming their fundamental rights. They are united in their aim for women and girls to thrive and exercise their rights without discrimination or disadvantage. And they know it is essential to work with women from marginalized communities, including indigenous people, sex workers, and transgender people.
I am extremely proud to present three (!) remarkable women from different parts of the world who all in their unique ways contribute to empowering women and girls in their communities to improve access to HIV services and fight against HIV stigma. They show us that there are so many ways we can contribute to empowering women, whether through research, journalism, awareness raising or teaching. Let's meet our three new Heroes of Hope!
Maahi, a transwoman living with HIV from Pakistan, is the founder of the first trans-led network of People Living with HIV in Pakistan, a brilliant teacher at a transgender school and a global advocate for the rights and well-being of transgender people living with HIV.
Claudette is an indigenous woman from the Kehewin Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. During her 30 years of living with HIV, through her work as a wisdom speaker on HIV and indigenous-focused research, she has grown into a leader in HIV action amongst indigenous women in Canada.
Harriet experienced the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS in the early 1990's while supporting people living with HIV in Germany. Today, her lived experiences and skills as a journalist and sexologist strengthen her in her fight for the rights of sex workers.
Need I say more? All of our three icons work with so much compassion within their communities, sharing their experiences and efforts at the global stage to inspire all of us to accelerate much needed action to positively impact the lives of women and girls affected by the global HIV epidemic.
I am very glad to call them Heroes of Hope who truly contribute immensely to this year's theme of accelerating action for women and girls. Let's support local HIV action to continue bringing positive changes to our HIV communities!
Click on the images above to read their individual Stories or find them and other Heroes of Hope here!
Happy International Women's Day!
Peace, Eliane
This blog was originally posted on hivstigmafighter
