Today marks PWN’s 10th annual Day of Action to End Violence Against Women Living with HIV, and we invite our community, accomplices, and partners to raise their voices in support of women, trans and cis, who face violence and say ENOUGH!!!
We demand not only the acknowledgement of the ongoing challenges to women living with HIV, we demand solutions to address the systemic oppression, violence, and stigma which are often deadlier than living with HIV.
On October 23, 2014, during Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month, PWN-USA spearheaded the first-ever National Day of Action to End Violence Against Women Living with HIV (Day of Action) to draw attention to the high rates of interpersonal violence, abuse, and systemic brutality faced by women living with HIV – including the high-profile brutal murders of women following disclosure of their HIV status. To honor two of these women from Texas, Cicely Bolden and Elisha Henson, community members Venita Ray and Morénike Giwa Onaiw, organized to ensure they and too many others were not forgotten.
One way to show solidarity is to listen to women’s stories, and acknowledge their experiences. We encourage everyone to watch our Facebook Live series, led by our chapters, to hear how violence manifests in our communities. You can also watch the #PWNCares video series here.
- If you or someone you know is experiencing partner abuse, there is help available 24/7 – call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
- #PWNCares video series: www.pwn-usa.org/pwncares
- Learn more from our partners at National Network to End Domestic Violence: NNEDV.org
- Find a Safe space online: DomesticShelters.org
- The Well Project: Violence Against Women and HIV
- PWN-USA: Ending Violence Against Women Living with HIV
