Women’s rights, and their health, are entwined.

A girl not educated;

A sex worker raped;

A teen forced to marry;

A woman living with HIV denied work;

A young woman without access to sexual health services;

A woman criminalized for her HIV status;

An abused woman…

All these people are more likely to have poor health.

The risk of contracting HIV increases. So too the chance of AIDS-related death.

But this is not just about HIV. Rising inequalities, discrimination and human rights protection gaps worsen everything from NCDs to COVID-19.

This International Women’s Day we recommit to securing the social, civil and political rights of all women and girls.

To protect women’s health, protect their rights.

Eamonn Murphy

Regional Director, UNAIDS Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe Central Asia