UNAIDS Engages Indonesian Writers in AIDS Response for Women
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Jakarta, 3 October 2005 - Around twenty leading Indonesian writers,
including Ayu Utami, Dewi Lestari & Djenar Maesa Ayu, will be participating in a
half-day AIDS session during the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival on Sunday, 9
October 2005 at Alila Hotel, Ubud, Bali.

Under the theme of "Living with HIV/AIDS: A Woman's Perspective", the
session is inviting a selected number of Indonesian writers to provide them with
a learning experience about the challenges women face because of the epidemic in
Indonesia. The session also aims to engage these writers in a discussion about
the power of creative writing to help fight stigma & discrimination against
HIV/AIDS.

Other participating writers include; Mommar Emka, Joko Pinurbo, Joko
Anwar,Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Putu Oka Sukanta, Eka Kurniawan, Azhari Sitok
Srengenge, Nia Dinata, Marianne Katoppo, Oka Rusmini, Nukila Amal, Cok Sawitri,
Wayan Juniartha, Sugi Lanus Kaleran, Maliana and Kadek Sonia Piscayanti.

At the end of the session, media and public at large are invited to join the
writers in a public discussion on the role of creative in fighting HIV/AIDS, in
particular their possible contribution in supporting women to protect themselves
from HIV/AIDS and countering stigma & discrimination against people living with
HIV/AIDS. The discussion will be facilitated by Putu Oka Sukanta, an Indonesian
writer who has published numerous writings on HIV/AIDS.

Following the public discussion, Putu Oka Sukanta will also lead the launch of
"Simple Passion", a collection of poems by the late Suzana Murni, a woman, an
HIV/AIDS activist and founder of Spiritia Foundation, a national secretariat of
people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia.

This event is largely funded through UNAIDS by the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum
(APLF) on HIV/AIDS and jointly organized with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival,
Indonesia HIV/AIDS Prevention & Care Project (AusAid), Bali Provincial AIDS
Commission, Bali Plus support group, Tunjung Putih women-support group and Taman
Sringanis foundation. In the near future, follow-ups of this session may
include a creative writing workshop on HIV/AIDS and short stories competition on
HIV/AIDS.

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Women and AIDS -meeting the challenge
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The epidemic affects men and women in different ways. Every day 7,000 women
become infected world-wide. Of the almost 40 million people living with HIV,
half are now women and girls. Over the past two years, the number of women and
girls infected with HIV has increased in every region of the world.

Rates have risen particularly rapidly in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin
America. In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls make up almost 60% of people
living with HIV.

Most women and girls do not knowingly take risks. They are vulnerable to HIV
largely due to the behaviour of others. Women may be forced into sex through
peer pressure, by sexually-experienced older men, or because they have no
alternative means of earning an income. Abstaining from sex until marriage and
being faithful only works if both partners follow the same principles.

This means that new approaches are required to raise the status of women and
make it easier for them to access essential resources such as land and income.

The estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia is between
90,000 - 130,000 people. Major modes of HIV transmission are mostly through
injecting drugs followed by unprotected sex. Though initially HIV infections
occur in men, but increasingly more girls and women are getting vulnerable to
HIV/AIDS in Indonesia. Together with the National AIDS Commission, UNAIDS is
spearheading the initiative to catalyze changes to make the AIDS response
work better for women.

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For more information: Elis Widen (UNAIDS): +62 21 314 1885 / 314 1308 - Mobile:
+62 812 1970 449

UNAIDS in Indonesia: Menara Thamrin Lt. 10 - Jl. MH Thamrin Kav. 3, Jakarta
10250 - Phone: +62 21 3141885 / 3141308 - Fax: +62 21 3907569 - Silahkan
kunjungi website UNAIDS di www.unaids.org