aidsfocus.ch – Swiss platform on HIV/AIDS and international cooperation AIDS and Livelihoods. Securing property and inheritance rights Conference of aidsfocus.ch 10 April 2008, Bern Welcome and introduction by Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch

aidsfocus.ch Conference: AIDS and livelihoods. 10 April 2008, Bern 1.Why did we choose the issue of HIV/AIDS and property and inheritance rights?

“Whatever happens, my husband or in-laws cannot throw me out of my home. This is my house, registered in my name”. (Sunita)

aidsfocus.ch Conference: AIDS and livelihoods. 10 April 2008, Bern Uganda: When their father died of AIDS in the year 2003, like their mother a year before, James (15) and his brother Edward (12), were chased out to their family house by their oldest brother Gerald. (CO-OPERAID)

aidsfocus.ch Conference: AIDS and livelihoods. 10 April 2008, Bern The vicious cycle of HIV/AIDS and poverty crystallise in the issue of property and inheritance rights of women, children, and older people, the most vulnerable section of society

aidsfocus.ch Conference: AIDS and livelihoods. 10 April 2008, Bern 2. Potential pathways between secure property and inheritance rights and consequences of HIV/AIDS

Women’s secure property and inheritance rights - Secure place to live/shelter - Site for economic activity and means of livelihood - Collateral for credit - Decision-making and negotiating power, social status - Less vulnerable to social and- Secure resource base to deal with economic shocks care, continuing medical - Greater livelihood security treatment, other expenditures - Reduced exposure to - Better able to deal with social and risky behaviour and HIV infection economic shocks Prevention outcome Mitigation outcome

Women’s insecure property and inheritance rights - Insecure tenure of home /shelter - Access to site for economic activity and means of livelihood endangered, property grabbing Risk of violence and harassment Little decision-making and negotiating power - More vulnerable to social and- Higher medical and funeral cost, economic shocks interruption of medical - Loss of livelihood security treatment, threats to health - Increase in risky behaviour- Asset depletion or seizure - Heightened risk of HIV infection- Loss of livelihood options - Further risky behaviour, HIV Socioeconomic decline, poverty Prevention outcome Mitigation outcome

aidsfocus.ch Conference: AIDS and livelihoods. 10 April 2008, Bern 3. Objectives of the conference Create awareness and knowledge on the complex issue and inter-relationship of HIV/AIDS and property and inheritance rights Encourage collaboration between organisations at all levels Share innovate approaches and encourage implementation in own field of work