Program on International Health and Human Rights, Harvard School of Public Health, August 2006. This is a review of publications addressing aspects of the intersection between gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV. A large body of literature exists on the negative impacts of societies’ stringent ascription of
gender roles on vulnerability to HIV infection and, once infected, to receiving appropriate or quality care and treatment. Gender based expectations as well as increased rates of poverty and persistent forms of discrimination against vulnerable groups (including discrimination based on gender) are well known economic, social and cultural sources providing fuel for the HIV epidemic. Much has been written on the intersections between the promotion and protection of
human rights and vulnerability in the context of HIV prevention and care.
Writings on gender-based violence is rich and varied.

In this context, gender based violence is understood as any type of violence directed at groups or individuals on the basis of their gender. It encompasses, but is not limited to, violence against women (VAW). This is an important
distinction as GBV and VAW are often, erroneously, used synonymously. Research, policy and programmatic literature with a focus on GBV often encompass attention to human rights and to sexuality within their conceptual approach.