Launched by the Office on Women’s Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (#NWGHAAD) is a nationwide observance that encourages people to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls. Join the NRCDV in raising awareness of this vitally important issue—the intersection of HIV/AIDS and violence against women:

Abusive partners can use survivor’s HIV-status as a tool to maintain power and control by withholding or threatening to withhold medication as a tactic of power and control, interfere with HIV-related medical appointments, increase physical violence when HIV-positive survivors are physically-ill, and inflict HIV-related emotional abuse such as threatening to ‘out’ an HIV-positive survivor’s status or trying to shame them because of having HIV. These abusive tactics can substantially reduce the physical and mental health for HIV-affected survivors.” (National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, 2012.)

Increase Your Knowledge

Structural Drivers of HIV (video):
Globally, women and girls between the ages of 15-24 are the population most vulnerable to HIV—double the infection rates among young men. This 4-minute video by the International Center for Research on Women and STRIVE outlines the four primary structural drivers of this epidemic: alcohol and drinking norms, gender inequality and violence, poverty and livelihood options, and stigma and criminalization, and presents interventions to mitigate these factors.

Giving Voice to Cicely Bolden (webinar):
Friday, March 1^st from 3:00pm – 4:30pm EST
Hosted by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and Organized Roots, this webinar focused on the intersections of race, HIV/AIDS, and intimate partner violence.
Access the webinar recording.

Be a Voice for Action! (TwitChat):
Monday, March 4^th from 3:00pm – 4:00pm EST
Hosted by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and the Red Pump Project, learn about Red Pump Ambassadors and practical ways you can build awareness in your community. Follow @NationalDVAM and @redpumpproj, as well as hash tags #NWGHAAD and #RocktheRedPump to participate.

Rock the Red Pump!

The Red Pump Project (#RocktheRedPump) uses red shoes to get the attention of women everywhere. While they have your attention, wearers of the red shoe talk about HIV/AIDS and its impact on women and girls. As part of its 5^th Annual Rock the Red Pump Campaign, #NWGHAAD events include custom web badges for bloggers that write about this issue on March 10, a photo campaign for those that #RocktheRedPump to upload pictures to be posted on the Red Pump Facebook and Instagram pages, Twitter discussions, and many other in-person events. Visit their website for more details.

Spread the Word: Download Resource Materials

More than one third (38.8%) of adolescent girls tested for STD or HIV and more than half (51.6%) of girls diagnosed with STD/HIV reported experiencing dating violence.
(Decker, M. R, Silverman, J. G, & Raj, A. (2005). Dating violence and sexually transmitted disease/HIV testing and diagnosis among adolescent females. Pediatrics, 116(2), 272-276.)

Victim advocates can play an important role in raising awareness of this key intersection with young girls in their community or that come into shelter. Use your voice to help spread the word. Many resources are available for FREE download or for purchase. Materials include a fact-filled infographic; posters and flyers to hang in your shelter or crisis center; awareness bracelets, fans, and buttons; postcards; social media banners; and other novelty items.

Enter Our Contest!

Leading up to #NWGHAAD, the NRCDV will host a friendly contest with three categories for prizes:

1. Most creative #NWGHAAD awareness event.
2. Best collaboration between domestic violence/sexual assault program AND an organization primarily focused on HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and/or treatment.
3. Greatest impact using social media to raise awareness.

Anyone can enter, either as an individual or as a program. All activities must be completed by the end of the day on Sunday, March 10. Submissions will be accepted through the close of business on Friday, March 15, and winners will be announced on Monday, March 25. To enter the contest here’s what you do:

Use Social Media

On Facebook