Washington, D.C. -- The Women's Collective (TWC) is excited to announce the release of the Advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Women living with HIV/AIDS toolkit. The toolkit aims to increase the dialogue around the sexual and reproductive health concerns of women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHA). It is informed by the experiences of 26 WLWHA in the District of Columbia who participated in a series of focus group dialogues hosted by TWC in Fall 2011.

Research indicates advocacy is required to address the lack of awareness, as well as policy and programmatic gaps, regarding the rights and health needs of women and girls living with HIV or AIDS. There is unevenness in health providers' understanding of the sexual and reproductive health of women living with HIV or AIDS. Additionally, more must be done to ensure that HIV-positive women and girls are aware of their rights so they can serve as their own self-advocates.

The toolkit emphasizes the socioeconomic needs of WLWHA, because the circumstances that arise from those needs remaining unfulfilled often bar access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. The four elements of the toolkit are each designed to reach a different audience. These are:

1. "Women Take Charge of Your Sexual & Reproductive Health" Brochure to educate WLWHA on their rights with regard to sexual and reproductive health
2. A factsheet for providers from the perspective of WLWHA
3. "Sexual and Reproductive Health: What it means for Women living with HIV/AIDS" PowerPoint presentation targeting SHR advocates and providers
4. "HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health in the District of Columbia" Policy Paper suitable for a general audience

Contact TWC for further information or guidance on using this resource. We also welcome individuals and organizations to contact us for institutional expertise.