It's almost a failing grade.
Canada scored a D in a report card on its HIV strategy for women and girls issued yesterday.
"It's shocking that a country so rich in resources should score so poorly in all strategic areas that would make a profound difference to fighting this epidemic in Canada," Louise Binder, co-founder of a coalition of women's advocacy groups, said following an International AIDS press conference on the report card.
Binder, Canada's most outspoken HIV-positive woman, said "we have a long way to go to receive a passing grade."
In December 2005, the Coalition for a Blueprint for Action on Women and Girls and HIV/AIDS launched a manifesto of demands to turn the tide on the AIDS epidemic.
In 2005, 25% of new HIV infections were women, with young women aged 15 to 20 accounting for about 40% of those infections.
Stemming the spread rests on a desperate need for a national "targeted education and awareness" campaign "Canada has never had," said Linda Capperauld of the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.
Because violence against women fuels the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Canada needs a nationwide program to end this violence and to specifically address young people.
"Youth in Canada know less about the transmission of AIDS today than they did 10 years ago," Capperauld said.
Aboriginal women, historically subjected to "deplorable systemic racism," comprise about 47% of new infection rate in that population. Many are only girls.
"We are a visibly ignored and statistically insignificant people in this society," said LaVerne Monette of the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy.
