Sub-Saharan women rally against HIV and abuse

A rally attended by hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans has been held to protest against the abuse of women and spread of HIV.

Held in Burkina Faso and attended by prime minister Tertius Zongo, around 500 women will take part in the four-day meeting to discuss the issues surrounding problems, such as rights and access to treatment, reports Agence France-Presse.

Bernice Heloo, president of the Society for Women and Aids in Africa, told the news agency: "There is no doubt that lots of human rights violations characterise the (HIV/Aids) pandemic.

"Women are the ones who most severely bear brunt of human rights abuse, have been prone to violences and other atrocities related to their gender and seropositive status.

"Many women have been driven from their marital homes, stripped of their hard-earned possessions and separated from their children and people they love."

Around 30 sub-Saharan countries will be represented at the event.

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