Gender Based Violence and HIV/AIDS in Cambodia: Links, Opportunities and Potential Responses

There is growing evidence from different countries that gender based violence can increase the risk of HIV/AIDS as well as be an outcome of HIV/AIDS. Researchers, focusing on understanding the explosion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic among women and girls, have highlighted how sexual coercion and fear of violence limit women's ability to negotiate safe sex behaviors such as condom use and reduced number of partners, access services, and/or adopt practices to prevent mother to child transmission. Forced sex or rape directly increases the risk of HIV through physical trauma, especially for young girls. This discussion focuses on linkages between gender based violence and HIV/AIDS and promote further research and joint programming in Cambodia.