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Abstract
Empowering the African woman with job training opportunities: a strategic tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS
Y.M. Tiandem
Issues: Poverty, cultural values and local legislations, as contributing factors to the fast spread of the HIV/AIDS disease in African communities.
Description: The African woman is a victim of a culture that usually disfavors her. She is considered the property of her husband, has no voice in decision making for the household and is required to remain completely submissive and dependent on her husband for survival. Failure to do so could lead to physical reprimade, neglect, abandonment or simply thrown out of the household. As a result, most faithful women become infected with the HIV virus because they are afraid to confront and/or speakout even when they suspect their partner´s infidelity. These women have lost their self-esteem and are completely financially dependent on the men, who give them a sense of belonging at the risk of staying in a relationship that exposes them to the HIV virus.
Also, Local African legislation contributes to the fast spread of the HIV virus. The Cameroon Civil Legislation Code for example, acknowledeges two form of marriage: monogamous and polygamous. The latter gives the right for a man to marry two or more wives. This is inadmissible in today´s society where HIV and STDs are making news.
Lessons learned: Modernization brings changes and we need to make changes to our lifestyles and legislation to suit the demands of our ever changing world.
Recommendations: We recommend empowering African women with job training opportunities to help them become less dependent on their partners/spouses thus gain self confidence and acquire the power to speakout, make their own decisions and choices in life.
We call on local government to revise present legislations on marriage, making it a union between one man and one women excluding all others. This is a crucial step towards eradicating HIV/AIDS disesease from our African communities.
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
CDE0301
Suggested Citation
" Y.M. Tiandem
Empowering the African woman with job training opportunities: a strategic tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
:
AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
CDE0301"
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