Gender & Workplace

Gender

The Zimbabwe National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan ( ZNASP 1V , 2021-2025) acknowledges that gender inequalities, power imbalances between men and women and gender norms continue to be determining factors in women and girls risk of contracting HIV .Gender-based violence also continues to threaten the safety of women and girls around the world and according to the World Bank, gender-based violence affects one in every three women globally and in Zimbabwe, the latest Demographic Health Survey also shows that one in three women between 15 and 49 years of age experience physical violence in their lifetime, while one in four experience sexual violence by the age of 15. Thus, concerted effort toward ending violence against women and girls is critical if women and girls are to fully realize their human rights. Although HIV prevalence has been declining in the country, HIV prevalence among women remains higher than of men. As at 2018, HIV prevalence was estimated at 15.41% among women and 10.1% among men. The country has adopted gender mainstreaming as a strategy aimed at addressing the gender inequalities that perpetuate patriarchy and the subordinate position of women. The National AIDS Council (NAC) has therefore consistently encouraged its stakeholders to mainstream gender into their HIV programmes, policies and strategies in line with the national development plans and in order to ensure the realisation of the full potential of women and girls. The ultimate goal of gender mainstreaming is to achieve gender equality. A National Gender and HIV Technical Working (NGTWG) Group was established to assist with coordination of gender mainstreaming. The NGTWG provides high quality and coordinated technical guidance and support on integration of gender and human rights in HIV and AIDS programming. Advocacy work has also been carried out around policy issues. While HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment interventions have mostly focused on women and girls because of their vulnerability, men have received considerably less attention in the epidemic and receive less targeted HIV

prevention and treatment programs. It is against this background that National AIDS Council with collaboration of key partners has also embarked on a robust programme for male engagement through partnering with Chiefs, Networks of Religious Leaders to mobilise and increase uptake of HIV services by men and boys.

Workplace

The Workplace has a key role to play in scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as part of the multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. In an effort to scale up the workplace response to HIV and AIDS, National AIDS Council together with other key partners have intensified the world of work participation and involvement in the national response by establishment of the Informal Economy HIV and AIDS Council and the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Wellness (ZIPSHAW) Board to coordinate the informal economy and the private sector respectively. HIV Focal persons have also been established in government ministries. Through these structures national workplace HIV policies and strategic frameworks as well as sector specific polices have been developed to ensure an effective, efficient and well-resourced workplace response to HIV and ADIS.

For more information about HIV and AIDS gender mainstreaming view or download documents below.