On AIDS and Abortion

On the morning of the last day of the International AIDS Conference 2010, one of the most important breakout sessions of the entire week made history just by taking place. It was the first time in the entire 18 years of the IAC for a workshop to focus entirely on abortion and unintended pregnancies among HIV+ women. In the slow movement to recognize the integration of reproductive rights and health in the fight against the epidemic, the conference took its first step in accepting the need for discourse over abortion and family planning.

In a panel session facilitated by Sofia Gruskin of the Harvard School of Public Health, presentations by panelists and conversations with the audience, via question and comment cards, spanned geography, ideals and culture. From Namibia, Jennifer Gatsi, spoke of forced sterilizations, sometimes known, sometimes not, of HIV+ women. She described the results of unintended pregnancies in a community lacking in abortion services, compelling women to "baby dumping." Ms. Gatsi ended with the recognition that advocacy to bring a stop to these violations is met with opposition by conservative religious forces, stating "The views of particular religions and religious leaders should not be imposed on the conscience of women."

Fellow panelists Promise Mthembu and Eugenia Lopez Uribe of South Africa and Mexico, respectively, went on to paint equally upsetting pictures HIV+ women face in their home countries, where a positive test result for HIV often means relinquishing control over your body and sexuality. In all cases, it is quite clear that women's rights are continuously compromised for the sake of religious and cultural rights.

Additionally, the combined stigmas of abortion and HIV is forcing women to attempt deadly means of terminating their pregnancies. Sadly, the stigma also means would-be advocates for change avoid addressing either issue for fear of being politically associated with abortion.

The session naturally raised more concerns than solutions and everyone appreciated the power there, even Ms. Gruskin. In closing our facilitator, stack of audience comment cards in hand, all but challenged the IAC to not convene more sessions on abortion in 2012.

-Kyle