A Rapid Assessment of Nutritional Status and Food Security for Victims of Gender-Based Violence Living with HIV/AIDS

When gender-based violence is compounded by HIV/AIDS and poverty, the impact on
the lives of women, their families, communities and on the nation at large, is
devastating. In this report, African Rights looks at the inter-connections between
women’s human rights, violence against women and women’s health in the context of
Rwanda. The findings highlight the extent to which food security is an essential
weapon in fighting this assault upon the health and human rights of women. It makes
a strong argument for greater attention to nutrition and food security as the most
basic tools in helping those HIV positive women, who have endured violence, in
regaining their health, dignity and autonomy. This research paper was supported by
UNIFEM as an integral part of its 2005 campaign to End Violence Against Women.
The 2005 theme, “For the Health of Women, for the Health of the World” is a timely
reminder of the grievous toll that violence against women inflicts on society as a
whole. The findings were discussed at a meeting in Kigali on 2 March organized
jointly by UNIFEM and the Ministry of Health. It was attended by government
officials working in the health sector, international agencies and NGOs and women’s
organizations. The recommendations which emerged from the meeting have been
incorporated in the paper.