Diamonds: Stories of Women from the Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV

As the world witnesses a sharp increase in the number of women living with HIV, women leaders like
those telling their stories in this publication need to be heard. Coming from different socio-economic and personal contexts in the Asia Pacific region, these women speak of the power dynamic in their relationship with men, weighted in favour of the latter. They speak of discrimination and violence that they endure, rendering them vulnerable to HIV – a lack of information about HIV, a lack of knowledge about a partner’s HIV status, an inability to negotiate sex or safe sex, because they fear violence. They speak about the stigma and discrimination they face and the burden of secrecy that weighs down on them (and women do face disproportionate discrimination when compared to men), unaffordable healthcare services and the burden of care-giving responsibilities.

Emerging from the shock of testing HIV positive and the implications this has for their lives and relationships, transcending the trauma of stigma and discrimination - these women demonstrate remarkable courage in breaking the culture of silence enveloping their HIV status. They show intense resilience in picking up the pieces of their lives and deciding to LIVE, and in inspiring other HIV positive women with similar concerns, to LIVE.