In March 2012, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum creating an interagency Federal Working Group (Working Group) to explore the intersection of HIV/AIDS, violence against women and girls, and gender-related health disparities. The report uncovered an alarming number of women and girls who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and that over one in five women living with HIV reported physical harm since HIV diagnosis, with half of these events attributed to being HIV-positive.(please read the full report to become fully informed about the connection between IPV and HIV and women).
HOCC made this connection almost 20 years ago with HIV positive women’s stories of intimate partner violence, nearly life-threatening condom negotiation, and/or how they became HIV positive through heterosexual unprotected sex. Each year, HOCC dedicates programming towards raising awareness about domestic violence in our community of women and provides support, connections, and referrals to services to support their journey forward to empowered health and wellness.