Angola

Citation:

Strand, R. T., L. Fernandes Dias, S. Bergström, and S. Andersson. 2007. “Unexpected Low Prevalence of HIV Among Fertile Women in Luanda, Angola. Does War Prevent the Spread of HIV?” International Journal of STD & AIDS 18 (7): 467–71. doi:10.1258/095646207781147300.

Authors: R. T. Strand, L. Fernandes Dias, S. Bergström, S. Andersson

Abstract:

We studied HIV prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection among fertile women in Luanda for the purposes of obtaining background data for planning of interventions as well as to look into the association of armed conflicts and HIV prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa. The HIV-1 prevalence was 1.7% in an antenatal care group (n = 517) and 1.9% in a family planning group (n = 518). Socioeconomic and sexual background factors did not significantly differ HIV-positive from HIV-negative women. Data on armed conflict factors were matched with HIV prevalence figures among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. The level of armed conflicts was found to be inversely related to HIV prevalence. The low HIV seroprevalence in Luanda is in sharp contrast to the capitals of neighbouring countries. While the spread of HIV may have been hampered by the long armed conflict in the country, it is feared to increase rapidly with the return of soldiers and refugees in a post-war situation. The challenge for preventive actions is urgent. This example may be relevant to other areas with a recent end-of-war situation.

Topics: Armed Conflict, Gender, Women, Health, HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Reproductive Health Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Angola

Year: 2007

Citation:

Flechner, David. 2005. “A Human Rights Approach to Protecting People Living with HIV/AIDS in Angola.” International Social Science Journal 57 (186): 627-37.

Author: David Flechner

Abstract:

The official end of Angola's decades-long civil war in 2002 presented the government with an opportunity to channel its attention and resources into confronting the nation's profound social challenges. Principal among these is the need to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS while also supporting those already living with the virus. While the civil conflict hampered national and cross-border mobility, and consequently slowed the rate of HIV/AIDS transmission, the post-war situation could now lead to a rapid increase in infections, rising to the devastating proportions already decimating the populations in its neighbouring countries. A key strategy for mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS that has already yielded some positive results is the use of human rights mechanisms to protect those living with the virus. This article first analyses the context in which the epidemic has begun to spread at an increased rate since the end of Angola's civil war. It then explores how the existing international, regional, and domestic human rights instruments to which Angola has adhered guarantee to protect people living with HIV/AIDS and, if enforced more consistently and comprehensively, will prove to be powerful tools in confronting the epidemic.

Topics: Armed Conflict, Civil Wars, Health, HIV/AIDS, Post-Conflict, Rights, Human Rights Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Angola

Year: 2005

Citation:

Wessells, Michael, and Carlinda Monteiro. 2001. “Psychosocial Interventions and Post-War Reconstruction in Angola: Interweaving Western and Traditional Approaches.” In Peace, Conflict, and Violence: Peace Psychology for the 21st Century, edited by D. Christie, R. V. Wagner, and D. Winter, 262–75. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Authors: Michael Wessells, Carlinda Monteiro

Topics: Development, Health, Mental Health, Trauma, Humanitarian Assistance, Context-Appropriate Response to Trauma, Peacebuilding, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Angola

Year: 2001

Citation:

Wessells, Michael, and Carlinda Monteiro. 2004. “Healing the Wounds Following Protracted Conflict in Angola: A Community-Based Approach to Assisting War-Affected Children.” In Handbook of Culture, Therapy, and Healing, edited by Carlinda Monteiro, 321–41. Mahwah, NJ: Routledge.

Authors: Michael Wessells, Carlinda Monteiro

Topics: Armed Conflict, Civil Society, Gender, Girls, Boys, Health, Trauma, Humanitarian Assistance, Context-Appropriate Response to Trauma, Peacebuilding, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Angola

Year: 2004

Citation:

Wessells, Michael, and Carlinda Monteiro. 2006. “Psychosocial Assistance for Youth: Toward Reconstruction for Peace in Angola.” Journal of Social Issues 62 (1): 121–39.

Authors: Michael Wessells, Carlinda Monteiro

Abstract:

Following decades of war, Angolan youth are at risk of continuing cycles of violence and need support in developing positive behaviors and social roles. Accordingly, a community-based program, conducted in Angola 1998–2001, taught youth life skills, provided peer support and peace education, educated adults about youth, and engaged youth as workers on community development projects. The main results included increased adult awareness of the situation and needs of youth, improved youth-adult relations, reduced perceptions of youth as troublemakers, reduced fighting between youth, increased community planning, and increased perceptions that youth make a positive contribution to the community. The results suggest that a dual focus on youth and community development contributes to peacebuilding and the disruption of cycles of violence.

Topics: Age, Youth, Development, Education, Gender, Girls, Boys, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Peacebuilding Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Angola

Year: 2006

Citation:

Ducados, Henda. 2000. “An All Men’s Show? Angolan Women’s Survival in the 30-Year War.” Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity 16 (43): 11–22. doi:10.1080/10130950.2000.9675806.

Author: Henda Ducados

Topics: Armed Conflict, Civil Wars, National Liberation Wars, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Governance, Post-Conflict Governance, Peacebuilding, Peace Processes, Political Participation, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Rights, Women's Rights Regions: Africa, Southern Africa Countries: Angola

Year: 2000

Citation:

El-Bushra, Judy., Asha El-Karib, and Angela Hadjipateras. 2002. Gender-Sensitive Programme Designe and Planning in Conflict-Affected Situations. Nairobi: Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development.

Authors: Judy El-Bushra, Asha El-Karib, Angela Hadjipateras

Abstract:

The project’s goal was to contribute to the reduction of poverty and suffering through enhancing gender-awareness in the design and management of development projects in contexts affected directly or indirectly by conflict. It aimed to achieve this by increasing understanding of the gender dimension of conflict, both for the humanitarian community and for development practitioners. The project ran from April 2000 to December 2001: field research was carried out in Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Mali and Angola, with complementary desk studies for Eritrea and Rwanda. It builds on ACORD's experience of operating development programmes in conflict-affected areas, and on its research and policy development in the fields of gender analysis and conflict analysis.

Keywords: conflict, humanitarian aid, recovery

Annotation:

Quotes:

“This project sought to address two particular questions, namely how do gender relations change as a result of conflict? and how might conflict itself be fueled by aspects of gender identity? It also examined the strategic and research implications of these findings for project design.” (3)

“...in general, changes in gender roles at micro level have not been accompanied by corresponding changes in political or organisational influence.” (4)

“It could be argued that even where gender roles have changed, they have done so in line with existing gender ideologies. In this view, the increase in women’s economic responsibilities results from, rather than challenges, their role as family nurturers.” (5)

“Gender ideologies seem resistant to change even when their outward manifestations are re-ordered. Interventions aiming to take the opportunity of rapid change in conflict and post-conflict situations to encourage transformations in gender relations may therefore be unrealistic. Conflict may create space to make a redefinition of social relations possible, but in so doing it rearranges, adapts or reinforces patriarchal ideologies, rather than fundamentally changing them.” (5)

“...if gender analysis is to ‘dismantle patriarchy’, as one workshop participant put it, it needs to forego a narrow focus on women’s autonomy and instead adopt broader, more inclusive parameters. This would permit context-specific analysis of masculinity alongside femininity, and of the relationship of both to violence and militarisation.” (7)

Topics: Armed Conflict, Development, Economies, Poverty, Gender, Women, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations, NGOs, Post-Conflict Reconstruction Regions: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa Countries: Angola, Eritrea, Mali, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda

Year: 2002