My world was full of possibilities, another human being to bring into the world, to love, to enrich my life.

‘Shortly after my appointment, I had a phone call from the hospital telling me to come in. I sensed that something was wrong. When I arrived it was confirmed that I was pregnant. I was overjoyed. Then I was told that I was HIV positive. I knew that I had taken a number of tests, but I wasn’t aware that one of them was an HIV test.

‘I was heartbroken. I believed that I would die. The doctor comforted me and told me that I would not die. There were drugs that I could take which would allow me to lead a normal life. I could also take drugs that would help to prevent my unborn baby from catching the HIV virus.

‘The first thing that I did was to tell my husband, believing that it was his right to know. He beat me and threatened to leave me. I was ashamed and afraid although I did not think that I had done anything wrong. After all, he was the only man I had been with.

‘He told me that I should tell no one of my condition, as it would disgrace his family. The doctor had told me of a local support group that I should join. I was too frightened to disobey my husband even though the doctor said that my husband was the one that most probably infected me and that he should have a test for HIV too. He seemed oblivious to my pain. I felt isolated and scared.’ * * * * * As World AIDS Day on 1 December approaches, Sandra Bernklau, Project Manager of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Regional Rights Resource Team, analyses a typical domestic case study to illustrate women’s vulnerability to HIV.

‘This woman’s story is not unusual,’ she says. ‘We have here a scenario of a number of human rights being violated – and in different ways.’

‘As in most parts of the world, women have less power – and that extends into the household,’ says Ms Bernklau. ‘In addition, women are not equal in terms of making decisions about whether or not to have children, whether or not to have sex or whether to use contraceptives – including condoms, which can protect against the spread of HIV. Can you imagine the average wife asking her husband to use a condom?’

‘Faithful women in marriage are very vulnerable to the spread of HIV. There is an acceptance in some places that it is okay for husbands to have affairs outside of the home – but not their wives. Women’s lack of equality in decision-making and their economic dependence on their husbands and family often make it difficult to confront infidelity in marriage. Husbands may not be aware of their HIV status, and because women are often the first ones tested during antenatal exams, they get the blame.’

‘Another right being violated is the right to privacy. Women are often the first in a couple to have an HIV test – usually at antenatal check-ups. Many women do not understand clearly what they are being tested for – and afterwards go home scared and vulnerable to the reaction of their husband, partner and family.’

‘So there are a number of rights to be considered here: the right to information, the right to privacy and the right to freedom from cruel and degrading treatment such as abuse from their partners or husbands. The challenge is to provide women with the best possible support and to ensure their safety when disclosing their status to their partners and family.’

‘If governments and leaders wish to see change in this area, they need to promote the rights of both women and men,’ Ms Bernklau says. ‘To promote equality in women’s decision-making over their reproductive health, husbands and wives should sit together and discuss these issues as equals. Both partners’ rights must be respected. This should also be covered in our legislation – for example by making marital rape an offence. Equality breeds trust whereas inequality exacerbates the spread of HIV.’

To access information on the SPC World AIDS Day campaign click here.

For more information please contact Tione Chinula, SPC Human Development Programme Advocacy and Communications Officer, tel: +687 26 01 57 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Sandra Bernklau, Project Manager, Pacific Regional Rights Resource Team, tel: + 679 330 5582 ext. 101 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .