The Role of Grassroots Women's Groups in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Response: Examples of Practice in Post-Conflict Settings

The unique experiences of women and girls in conflict situations have been highlighted in key research over the past two decades, warranting the need for a gendered approach in post-conflict reconstruction processes. This article focuses on the emergence of HIV in such settings and highlights the contributions of women's groups to HIV interventions and policy formulation, using case studies from Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The article argues for the need for a much deeper gender analysis in HIV intervention strategies, and concludes with recommendations to ensure access to justice and health services for women.