AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Worldwide, there are more than 17 million women and girls living with HIV.

The problem of HIV is a big issue among women is in the post-Soviet countries. According to Svetlana Moroz, Chairman of the EWAN Board, “in many countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), HIV has a female face”. At the same time, the majority of HIV prevention programs in these countries are not targeted at women.

AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Worldwide, there are more than 17 million women and girls living with HIV.

The problem of HIV is a big issue among women is in the post-Soviet countries. According to Svetlana Moroz, Chairman of the EWAN Board, “in many countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), HIV has a female face”. At the same time, the majority of HIV prevention programs in these countries are not targeted at women.

“Eurasian Women’s AIDS Network was created in order to make the political declarations on fight against HIV / AIDS and human rights reality for women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, – says Svetlana Moroz. – These rights are related to access to health services, including reproductive health, the elimination of violence against women, the right to be involved in the political and public debate on which our life and health depend”.

According to Elena Strizhak, establishment of EWAN is another big step towards the big future of our community, as well as an indicator of women’s strength and solidarity. Elena also emphasizes that although the members of the Eurasian Women’s AIDS Network live in different countries, they are “united by enormous power and desire to change the lives of women and girls in our region for the better. It is only by uniting together we can do those things that are impossible to do alone”.

The main strategic goals of EWAN for 2015-2020 are:

1. To develop the capacity of EWAN for strengthening the cooperation with key stakeholders in order to ensure equal access to services for sexual and reproductive health for women affected by HIV in the EECA region

2. To strengthen counteraction to violence against women affected by HIV in the EECA region.

The members of the network may be both individuals and legal entities.

Later EWAN will inform partners about the procedures and structure of the organization.