KEETCH CALLS FOR MORE HELP FOR WOMEN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS

8.21.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Apr 2008

Local MP Paul Keetch has signed a motion in Parliament calling on the UK Government to help women affected by HIV and AIDS in the developing world. The Women Matter campaign, which is spearheaded by leading international development charity VSO is asking the UK's Department for International Development to put women at the heart of its new global HIV and AIDS strategy and to use its influence to encourage other international agencies to do likewise.

Paul Keetch MP for Hereford said:

"When several of my constituents contacted me about VSO's Women Matter campaign, I was shocked at what I learnt. Because of violence, discrimination and inequality, women in Sub-Saharan Africa are more likely to become infected with HIV than men. I believe it is the responsibility of the UK to show leadership on this issue and make the world sit up and listen to what's happening. I will be working hard in parliament to ensure that this issue is given the attention it so urgently needs."

Judith Brodie, Director of VSO UK said:

"Until concrete action is taken to tackle women's inequality, HIV and AIDS will continue to claim the lives of millions of women in the developing world. We are pleased to see so many MPs are getting behind this issue and hope that the time has now come for real action."

To find out more about the campaign and how you can support it visit www.vso.org.uk/womenmatter