A Call to Act - Health Policy Initiative

• Marriage—some religions call on women to obey their husbands, which often means they cannot
refuse sex with an HIV-positive husband.
• Authority of male religious leaders—some religious leaders abuse their power.
With such links between GBV and HIV, it is important that in areas where there are generalized HIV
epidemics, such as sub-Saharan Africa, GBV initiatives include attention to HIV. This is particularly
relevant to the growing interest in discordant couples (couples in which one partner is HIV infected and
the other is not), and the recognition of these couples as a source of new infections. In addition, since
some religious beliefs and practices are often forms of GBV themselves, it is crucial for religious leaders
and communities to critically examine their own beliefs and practices so as to begin to address GBV and
its relation to HIV. This examination can be done across faiths, with leaders working together to reflect
on their beliefs and the messages they send, along with the impact they have on women’s and families’
lives.
12