WAGGGS' resources on HIV/AIDS

WAGGGS has initiated many programmes and publications related to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS, Fighting Ignorance and Fear is the title of a brochure published by WAGGGS. It showcases some of the work that is being carried out by WAGGGS’ Member Organizations in Africa, leading advocacy campaigns and community programmes in many villages and cities across the continent.

The WAGGGS AIDS badge curriculum was launched in partnership with the International Council of AIDS service Organizations (ICASO) and UNAIDS, the project funder. The activities form a challenge pack that addresses the following aspects of HIV/AIDS awareness: prevention through change in behaviour, discrimination and care and support. The scheme is especially relevant to young women because they are facing the highest risk of HIV infection through heterosexual contact in all countries.

As part of the Alliance of Youth CEOs Lesley Bulman-Lever, Chief Executive of WAGGGS, signed a joint Statement on HIV/AIDS Programmes. The Alliance of Youth CEOs perceive the HIV/AIDS pandemic as a crucial issue affecting young people and therefore has made it one of the top priorities for all their organizations.

WAGGGS’ Chief Executive Lesley Bulman-Lever is also founding member of SOFIA, a forum of influential women across different sectors who have come together to influence key opinion formers regarding women and girls living with HIV/AIDS. SOFIA was launched a year ago and aims to:

Strive towards effective, long-lasting policy change , to provide prevention and better access to treatment for women living with HIV and AIDS
Promote awareness amongst organisations, influential individuals and women so that they commit to fighting the HIV and AIDS pandemic
Promote inclusion and access to their rights for women living with HIV and AIDS throughout the world

girls worldwide say “fight AIDS”

In 2005 WAGGGS conducted its first ever global survey and the chosen topic was Adolescent Health. Out of this survey came the seven key advocacy messages and one of them is girls worldwide say “fight AIDS”.

WAGGGS global advocacy strategy aims to:

Speak up on issues that affect girls and young women and influencing opinion-formers
Do projects that address root causes of issues affecting girls and young women
Educate girls, young women and society at large in areas such as leadership, nutrition, peace and world citizenship

You can download selected parts of WAGGGS’ Toolkit on Adolescent Health regarding girls worldwide say “fight AIDS” and find out more about WAGGGS’ advocacy work.