Our partners

Since its inception, MENARosa has been able to develop and reach where it is now with the
commitment and strength of its members as well as the faith and continuous support of ICW,
Ford Foundation, the UNAIDS MENA RST, and recently the Regional Arab Network Against
AIDS (RANAA). MENARosa is currently opening up and looking to forge more partnerships
for integration in the development Post 2015 agenda, the response to humanitarian and
conflict situations as well as human rights agenda

How you can get involved

MENARosa network is governed by a Regional Coordinator supported by three sub regional

focal points to cover 13 Arab countries as well as Iran.
You may make a difference and contact us: menarosa696@gmail.com

HIV is often painful in excruciating ways. The symptoms are undeniable.

Women living with HIV may dread being seen in a compromised state. So they
need to feel strong and to shift from negative thinking to positive love - to move
from guilt and shame and to transform those feelings from negative to positive.
Are they going to learn all this by themselves? Support groups can help turn that
frustration into a constructive forceby networking together, raising our voices,
knocking on all doors and getting empathetic people to listen to us and act with
us. Our motto should be: you can live in spite of [HIV], not die because of [it].
MENARosa Regional Coordinator

I feel like the others in MENARosa are my sisters. We speak on email or Facebook.
We talk about projects, and the problems we face. When I have doubts about what
I am doing, this gives me confidence that I am on the right trackwe are all in the
same boat.
MENARosa Focal Point, Libya

Who we are
MENA-Rosa, is the first regional network dedicated to women touched by HIV in the Middle
East and North Africa. Launched in 2010, MENA-Rosas mandate is ambitious, as are its
members, in their own words:
We are a group of women who works for the rights of women for dignity and love. The name
of the network originates from MENA [Middle East and North Africa], and Rosa as the first
black woman on a bus in the USA who refused to give up her seat to a white man, starting
the civil rights [movement] for black Americans. Rosa is also a feminine symbol. Our friend
Zouheira started this process in Algeria seven years ago, as the first woman living with HIV
to raise her voice in the region. She demonstrated to us, by her courageous actions, that we
are able to have a network and to raise our voices as well. Our objectives are numerous, but
with one outcome to impact the health and quality of life of women touched by HIV and their
families in the MENA region
Standing up - Speaking out Women and HIV in the Middle East and North Africa @
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2012/ This report launched mid 2012,
is the first report with the collective effort of many people, women and men, who generously
shared their knowledge and experience with MENARosa focal points from 10 countries in
MENA: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen.
Their voices offer unique insight into the experiences and aspirations of all WLHIV in the
region. They also depicted the main challenges Women and Girls living with HIV face in a
region burdened with stigma and discrimination constraining their ability to access services
or disclose their status, compounded by economic dependence, high illiteracy levels, sexual
coercion and violence which hinder their socioeconomic, cultural and political potentials
while increasing considerably their vulnerability to get infected with HIV.

In a region that is witnessing the fastest growing epidemic, lowest access to ARVs for PLHIV
and lowest PMTCT, with infections increasing among women and especially partners of
key populations, MENARosa strives to highlight the needs of women touched by HIV which
ranges from sustained quality treatment including access to ARVs and systematic obstetric
care and psychosocial support to collection and analysis of information to guide future
interventions and promote gender equality at the highest level of policy making
Yet, the shifting political order in MENA presents new challenges to, and new opportunities
for, a better life for all citizens. For women living with HIV, the changes they want to see
cannot come soon enough.
Hence, the MENARosas contribution to soften this challenging environment for WLHIV has
been catalytic and is looked upon as a courageous initiative that promotes leadership and
empowerment of women infected and affected by the virus not only within their communities
through national campaigns but also at the global level through representation and advocacy
messages in regional and global forums.

Our Vision

Women Living with HIV and their children and families enjoy a positive life full of equity and
dignity, in an environment without stigma and discrimination and ensure reduced new HIV
infections in the Middle East and North Africa

Our Mission

MENARosa empowers and supports Women Living With and Affected by HIV, and those at
risk, and their families and children, through development of leadership at the national and
regional levels in the MENA region, and their meaningful involvement in the HIV response
to influence decision making and policy development and universal and equitable access to
care, treatment, prevention and support services to live in dignity

Our 5 Year Strategic Directions

To strengthen the governance of MENARosa for a better functioning mechanism,
more accountability and efficiency.
To reinforce the capacities for MENARosa Members in Leadership, advocacy,
treatment literacy, M&E and documentation of intervention.
To scale up and expanding services of care, treatment, support and prevention
to reach women living with and affected by HIV, and women at risk, their families
and children, and
To reinforce the involvement of MENARosa members in the national and regional
HIV/AIDS response to influence decision making and development of policies