Legal Empowerment of Women in the Context of HIV/AIDS

Results achieved as of May 2012 include: Approximately 1 270 property and inheritance related cases were reported to or handled by community paralegals or community dispute resolution mechanisms as a result of increased availability and accessibility of legal services for women living with HIV. In Tanzania more than 400 land plots were awarded to women in six villages. In Zimbabwe 312 women living with HIV obtained land allocations. In Kenya over 470 women and 5 100 children at risk of disinheritance registered and obtained the necessary legal documents (such as birth certificates death certificates and identification cards) to secure their property rights through local registration drives. More than 3 700 duty bearers at national and local levels and over 29 000 community members gained enhanced knowledge and awareness of the need to protect women’s property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV/AIDS. More than 16 200 women living with or affected by HIV/AIDS increased their legal literacy and rights awareness through community sensitization information dissemination and radio programmes. In addition 900 new and existing community justice and legal services providers including traditional rulers and law enforcement actors gained enhanced knowledge and skills to support women’s access to property and inheritance rights in the context of HIV.