The first Regional Meeting on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa

Amman, Jordan, 21-23 February 2005

The first Regional Meeting on Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa (Amman, Jordan, 21-23 February) highlighted the situation of women and girls relative to HIV and AIDS, and the factors determining risk and vulnerability in the region. Participants noted that 540,000 people are known to be living with HIV and AIDS in the region. In 2004, 92,000 people were newly infected with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa while 28,000 died as a result of AIDS.

In the final session, delegates reiterated their concern about the lack of information on the sociocultural behaviours that increase the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection and stressed the need to collect, analyze and utilize data to inform evidence-based programmes, advocacy and interventions.

Meanwhile, 11 NGOs concerned with women's welfare in the region committed themselves to forming a network to address women's, girls' and HIV and AIDS issues. In doing so they requested technical assistnce from UNAIDS and UNIFEM.