She said that unequal gender relations drive the spread of HIV. Byanyima wondered how else would it be explained that the rate of infection in girls between 15-19 years are five to six times higher than their male counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa. She said that this is because older men infect the girls. She said that violence against women is a global issue that cuts across all levels. She said the issue affects all countries whether rich or poor. She asserted that gender based violence erodes the self-esteem of females. It has a direct cost to an economy when the victim is taken for medical care and indirectly as the woman could have been working instead of seeking treatment.
Byanyima said gender based violence is a serious problem in Africa and people should own up and address it. She asserted that more needs to be done in a continent that tacitly condones female genital mutilation, wife battering and trafficking of women for prostitution. Although she would not reveal much, she said that while in Darfur, Sudan for two and a half months to investigate the peacekeepers, she left with a heavy heart because of the atrocities perpetuated against women and children.
