The stigma surrounding HIV contributes to women's vulnerability within the home and community. Furthermore, the stigma surrounding sex, sexuality, and condom use undermines the acceptability of using condoms, one of the major tools available in preventing the spread of HIV.

Gender disparities generally give men more power to decide on the timing and conditions of sex and the means of preventing infection, and limit women's ability to negotiate protection with their partners. The socialization of girls and women often curtails their autonomy and undermines their ability to negotiate with men. Gender disparities also have consequences on the burden of care, and the role women and girls must assume as caretakers.

Key themes of interest to the IGWG:

• Stigma and HIV/AIDS.
• Dual protection and condom promotion.
• Sexuality and risk taking.
• HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality and the implications for gender relations, caregiving, and childbearing.
• Increasing women's access to income and productive resources, including education.

Resources:

• AIDSTAR: Addressing gender inequality and harmful gender norms is essential to reducing the risk of the vulnerability to HIV infection, to mitigating the impact of the epidemic, and to improving health outcomes. PEPFAR proactively promotes the integration of five gender strategies into all its programs. AIDSTAR-One provides technical assistance resources to programs to increase their capacity to integrate gender strategies into their activities and disseminates evidence on how gender strategies are being implemented and replicated by programs around the world.