Failing Women, Withholding Protection
15 lost years in making the female condom accessible
Policy makers lament women’s vulnerablity to HIV infection, yet for 15 years they have failed to utilise a technology which can help women to protect and empower themselves. The female condom is the only female-initiated method which provides protection from HIV infection; it also prevents unwanted pregnancy.
Studies have shown it is acceptable to users, increases the proportion of protected sex acts, and is cost-effective when provided in addition to male condoms. Yet most women cannot access female condoms. New female-initiated technologies such as microbicides will not be available for many years.
Female condoms exist now; the push for universal access to them should begin now.
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Four years and 17 billion dollars have been spent since the Afghanistan Compact was signed and Afghanistan is still one of the poorest places on Earth. While international support is appreciated, it has not been doing a good enough job helping Afghans improve their lives and meet their basic needs.