Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

Research, political incidence and solidarity among women:

body mapping violence and HIV in Bolivia

GraciaVioleta Rossgraciavioleta@gmail.com

Sunday 22nd, July 2012

Pre-Conference Satellite SessionWomen and girls turning the tide

Washington, DC

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

Research included• A survey with 322 women of the 3 populations.• 9 focus groups: 3 with each population.• Body mapping of violence and HIV. We mapped the marks of

violence in: the body, the feelings and the identity.• Individual in-depth interviews with women of the 3 populations.• Nine field-work researchers, three of each population. We worked

together as WOMEN.• The principles of the research included: EQUAL PARTICIPATION,

RESEARCH, LEADERSHIP IN THE POLITICAL INCIDENCE PROCESS.

• The research project was implemented by The Bolivian Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (REDBOL) with funding of UNAIDS.

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

Concepts

Gender roles/norms(social and cultural background of women of the 3 populations)

Gender based violence

Resilience

Identity

Deteriorated identity

Interconnections between GBV and

HIV

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

WOMEN LIVING

WITHHIV:

• “In my childhood I suffered sexual violence and every time I remember it is painful”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

WOMENLIVING

WITH HIV:

• “Because of so much violence, our feelings are destroyed”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

WOMENLIVING

WITHHIV:

• “They take away our right to be mothers”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

TRANSGENDER WOMEN:

• “Even myself, I tried to kill me because of the bad treatment of people, of the society”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

TRANSGENDER WOMEN

• “They tell me I am good to be a slut, nothing else”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

TRANSGENDER WOMEN:

• “Bleeding because of anal rape”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

SEX WORKERS:

• “The bar owner and the pimp, force me to work when I am with my menses”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

SEX WORKERS:

• “I must paint my face to look ok to others, but I am not ok, my soul is destroyed”

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

SEX WORKERS:* Abortion

caused by the beating of a preganant sex worker, by her partner

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

In conclusion• These 3 groups of women suffer all forms of violence, more than the

average of women in Bolivia. This might be related to their authomatic association with inmoral behaviors and with HIV/AIDS epidemic.

• It seems like these women deserve to be punished because they broke the norms of patriarchal societies.

• In the survey, some of the women identified as part of three groups simultaneously but not openly (stigma asocciated to HIV+ sex workers and transgender women living with HIV).

• But, the issue of violence has the potential of getting together in the same table different stakeholders, even those who disagree with HIV.

• Focusing on our similarities (e.g. GBV) rather than our differences is a good pathtofollow. SOLIDARITY AMONG WOMEN WAS THE OUTCOME of this research project.

• Women of the 3 populations need urgent support to adress GBV, if we don’t support them, some might be killed in the next months.

• If women unite, there is no limit to what WE can accomplish TOGETHER!

Washington D.C., USA, 22-27 July 2012www.aids2012.org

Our research team

Ximena Salazar (UPCH), Yolanda Cachicatari (IC MVVS La Paz), Laura Lara (IC Trans Santa Cruz), Chantal Cuellar (IC Trans Cochabamba), Martha Banzer (IC MVVS Santa Cruz), Pamela Valenzuela (IC Trans La Paz), Gracia Violeta Ross (Investigadora Principal), Lily Cortez (IC TS La Paz), Marcela Cabezas (IC MVVS Cochabamba), Rosa Sosa (IC TS Cochabamba), Patricia Robles (IC TS Santa Cruz)