The contribution of harmful traditional practices to HIV transmission among adolescent and adult females in Sub-Saharan Africa: a victimological approach. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Meini, Bruno; Bordogna, Mara Tognetti
• Is Part Of: International journal of gender studies in developing societies. Volume 3:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 59
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: females -- polygyny -- widow inheritance -- widow cleansing -- virginity testing -- virgin cleansing myth -- female genital mutilation -- HIV infection -- victimology of human rights -- health victimology -- Sub-Saharan Africa; Women in development -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Sex role -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Women -- Developing countries -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; Women -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Gender identity -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 305.4091724
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-0352

Abstract

Harmful traditional practices are manifestations of gender-based discrimination caused by rooted unequal power relations between females and males and also represent a serious human rights violation affecting the rights of girls and women to health and safety. Although they are as diverse as the culture in which they occur, a common attribute of these practices is that they are related to female sexuality and are often enforced as a way of strengthening male domination. This study analyses the potential association between the harmful aspects of widow inheritance, virginity testing, female genital mutilation, and HIV transmission in adolescent and adult females. The main results of this analysis show how harmful traditional practices are mostly carried out without the consent of the victims involved and thus constitute a violation of international human rights laws. In general, this article significantly contributes to the multifaceted field of the victimology of human rights.