Tahmina Khaidarova got married in accordance with the cultural traditions of her family — her parents chose her cousin as her husband. She rarely saw her husband, who worked in another country and returned home to Tajikistan for short visits once a year. When her little daughter became seriously ill and died, she hoped to get pregnant again to ease the pain of loss. During a medical examination, she was diagnosed with HIV infection. Her husband died soon after due to AIDS. Today, Ms. Khaidarova is the Director of the Network of Women Living with HIV in Tajikistan (TNW Plus), which trains women on HIV-related issues, fights for their rights and tries to break the vicious circle of stigma against women living with HIV. She overcame self-stigma and became a leader in the fight for the rights of women living with HIV in Tajikistan.

Ms. Khaidarova explains that women, even knowing about the risk of HIV infection from their migrant husbands, often cannot talk to them about using a condom. "I understand how serious the problem is, but I can't ask my husband to use a condom, he won't understand," one woman told Ms. Khaidarova. Women living with HIV in Tajikistan tell their stories of discrimination. About how they can be expelled from their home by their in-laws, and they may be prohibited from seeking medical services, including antiretroviral therapy and treatment for tuberculosis. They are also often subjected to domestic violence by their husband, who may kick them out of the house with their children. In the event of the death of their husband, they may be subjected to violence and ill-treatment by his family, especially in rural areas. When women living with HIV seek help, they may face a new problem - stigma and discrimination from health workers. Go women

"I told my story to help women who are facing the same problems today. I firmly believe that together we can break the vicious cycle of stigma against women living with HIV in Tajikistan. We have to cope with our own fear in order to fight stigma and discrimination in society," Khaidarova said.

Read more: https://www.unaids.org/ru/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2020/march/20200303_tajikistan