The new book and documentary Diamonds tells the stories of ten women and one girl who are all HIV-positive.
Globally, the incidence of HIV/AIDS among women is rising at an astounding rate. In 1997, 41 per cent of HIV infected adults were women and this figure rose to 50 per cent at the end of 2002.
The feminization of HIV/AIDS is a worrying trend and UNIFEM is committed to addressing the inequalities that lie behind it. But recently UNIFEM partnered with APN+ to take a different look at the impact of the epidemic.
Diamonds: Stories of Women from the Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV, a book and documentary, tells the stories of ten women and one girl who are all HIV-positive. The stories plot key moments in their lives, from diagnosis to the realization that they could be part of the change, documenting the journey each woman went through to emerge as an advocate for individuals living with HIV and a powerful voice in the global dialogue on AIDS.
The documentary made in debut at the Bangkok World Film Festival, November, 2009.
The stories within Diamonds are honest and passionate, providing a deep insight into the personal struggles and victories of women and girl children living with HIV.
I will admit to shedding more than a few tears while I read these stories. They are bravely honest and a genuinely good read.
Statistics taken from the very useful Gender and HIV/AIDS web portal
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About
Sarah Fortuna is a communications specialist at the East and South East Asia Regional Office of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Sarah's interests include communication for social change, the elimination of violence against women, and identity politics. She has lived and worked in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey.
Thank you Sarah for posting this!
@Ida - We are sending the documentary to film festivals around the world at the moment, so hopefully it will be shown at a festival near you! Otherwise we will eventually make the movie available in other media as well. Keep an eye on www.backyardfilm.se or www.apnplus.org for updates.
You can see the trailer at www.vimeo.com/7391512
I'm glad that you are interested in seeing the film!
Oh, and I'm the director of the documentary :)
Thanks Mikael for sharing the information. I've read the book but yet to see the documentary - can't wait for the opportunity to see it.
I have not seen this documentary here yet, but I hope it's coming.
Thank you Sarah. The ramifications of HIV/Aids are of course vast for all - internationally, nationally, on a community level and for individuals. But women are disproportionately affected - often robbed of the resources - either physical or emotional - to either prevent catching the disease or push for treatment once infected. Treatment is so vitally important, and of course good drugs, and the capacity to produce them, do exist. The gap between need and provision (with 5 million people who could benefit from access without drugs) is wholly unnecessary and shameful.
Annie Lennox has written a blog for world AIDs day about the work of the Treatment Action Campaign in pressing for wider drug availability:
Good stuff. http://blogs.oxfam.org/en/blog/09-12-01-demanding-aids-justice
Women in war torn countries also have a story to tell. Why is it that men choose to violate women sexually as a form of punishment? Infact, any form of social unrest if a good opportunity for rapes to happen. The men know they are abusing the women, and they do not even bother to use protection. The problem gets bigger especially because in such cases it is difficult for the women to seek medical attention immediately and so reduce their chances of infection. Ultimately many of them get infected and also have children who are infected. After that the women are at the mercy of their family members who may choose to treat them as outcasts without listening to their side of the story. Oh the curse of being a woman!
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Ida Jeng
Thursday 19th November, 2009, 12:16am
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for sharing. Where can you watch the movie?