UN official cites violence against Latin women in spread of HIV

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The virus that causes AIDS is spreading among women and homosexuals in Latin America, due largely to the violence and discrimination that afflict both groups, according to a United Nations official.

"The rise in the number of infections is occurring among young women and homosexual men, both of whom live in situations of discrimination," Luiz Loures, deputy director of the UNAIDS program, told AFP.

Because they are discriminated against, he added, people in these groups sometimes shun society and do not take part in prevention programs.

Across Latin America, the overall number of infections of the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been stagnating, a worrying phenomenon when compared to other regions, like Africa, where it is in decline.

Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director, Program, UNAIDS /UNAIDS Photo

Loures, who holds the rank of UN undersecretary general, was in San Jose this week to take part in a forum organized by ICW Latina, which brings together women living with HIV. At the forum, he drew a clear link between high rates of violence among young Latin women and high HIV rates.

"Our statistics clearly show that where there is violence there is HIV," he said, adding that "women who suffer violence may have an HIV risk 30 to 50 percent higher than those who do not."

He added that more than 30 percent of young women in Latin America say they have suffered physical or sexual violence, a rate he called "very high, and very concerning."

Source(s): AFP