Building an advocacy coalition to respond to reproductive rights violations experienced by women with HIV in mesoamerica

Background: Reproductive rights are internationally recognized human rights but women with HIV experience violations related to health-status. This presentation will describe lessons learned from coalition building with HIV-positive women (including sex workers and transgender women), women's health advocates, and feminist lawyers from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico. The objective of the coalition is to document and respond to reproductive rights violations though advocacy and legal action. Methods: The first project phase (2008-2010) analyzed national policies on HIV and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and trained women activists with HIV on national laws and international commitments such as CEDAW, ICPD, and the Millennium Development Goals. The second phase (2011-2012) brought together 45 HIV-positive women leaders and feminist lawyers from three regional networks and 35 civil society organizations to adapt and implement a questionnaire for documenting reproductive rights violations. Data was gathered through participant observation and 72 in-depth interviews. Results: 337 cases of reproductive rights violations of women with HIV were documented. The coalition launched a regional manifesto and organizations strengthened their national and international advocacy efforts on HIV and reproductive rights. For example, Mexico's 2011 shadow report to CSW mentioned women and HIV for the first time. Women with HIV and feminists also pursued justice in national forums. Diversity in women's education, socioeconomic status, and stigma present persistent challenges to coalition building. Conclusions: Coalition building around the reproductive rights of women with HIV has resulted in increased awareness and action in Mesoamerica. HIV-stigma and social inequalities are on-going challenges.