A version of this story was first published at UNHCR.org

Lucilda, a young mother of two, recently discovered that her husband had infected her with HIV. He recently died and the Colombian refugee finds herself alone in an area where people living with HIV are stigmatized.
Credit: UNAIDS/V. Rodas

Ten years ago, a teenager called Lucilda* ran away from her home in Colombia because she feared her mother's rage after going to a party without permission. At the age of 25 she got married and fled to Ecuador with her husband to escape the conflict in southern Colombia's Putumayo department. Her husband was violent to her and unfaithful. He has since died of an AIDS-related illness and Lucilda is struggling to raise two children alone as a refugee in Ecuador.

"He was very ill, but he didn't want to go to see a doctor. I took him and they told us what was going on. They also said that I was infected," she added. "He knew that he had AIDS, but he never told me."

Lucilda is receiving antiretroviral treatment and both her children are HIV negative. She is one of a small, but growing, number of people living with HIV in northern Ecuador's Sucumbios province and its capital, Lago Agrio, where some 20% of the population of 60,000 are Colombian refugees. At least 30 people here were known to be living with HIV as of the end of last year, double the number for 2009.

"This figure is certainly just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the number of people who are infected with HIV," said Paul Speigel, head of UNHCR's Geneva-based Public Health and HIV Section.

But the lack of openness about HIV is difficult to tackle in a conservative, male-dominated society, where those living with HIV, especially women, face stigmatization. With understanding key to preventing new infections, UNHCR and its partners are trying to counter this mindset and to spread awareness about the virus.

A special UNHCR programme to prevent HIV has been implemented by community health workers, and is helping to educate refugees and host communities in isolated areas of the jungle surrounding Lago Agrio. They also give lessons on sexual health, family planning and general health services, explaining the importance of safe sex and ensuring that people have the knowledge and freedom to keep themselves safe from HIV. Tackling gender-based violence is also a major concern in attempts to halt the spread of HIV.

Lucilda has firsthand experience of such violence. When she found out that her husband had been having sex with other women his reaction was harsh.

"I didn't want him to touch me, but he took a knife and forced me," she recalled. "I felt as if I had been raped."

The new UNAIDS strategy 2011-15, promotes zero tolerance of gender-based violence and discrimination. It recognizes that such violence is a human rights violation. It can also hamper people’s ability to adequately protect themselves from HIV infection and make healthy decisions about how, when and with whom they have sex. To successfully challenge the AIDS epidemic it is seen to be of paramount importance that Lucilda and other women live their lives free from the threat of violence.  

*Name has been changed to protect her identity

Participants of the ‘Mini Cricket World Cup’ schools tournament are presented with awards in Bangladesh

As the overs are bowled, the wickets fall and the crowds go crazy in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, host-country Bangladesh is giving the tournament an HIV spin. Through the Think Wise campaign the tournament is raising awareness among young people on HIV prevention and reducing stigma.

The Think Wise campaign, led by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF, harnesses the power of cricket to prevent HIV. Together with co- host countries—India and Sri Lanka—Bangladesh is organizing a number of “Think Wise” activities throughout the World Cup tournament that runs from 19 February – 2 April.

One such activity was the Schools Programme event where the World Cup was used as a platform to promote the sport, as well as to share information on HIV. Sixty of the country’s schools participated in the orientation which included the lively presence of “Stumpy the elephant”, the official mascot of the ICC event.

“I really appreciate this initiative! We don’t get to know this information about HIV usually and my perception about AIDS has changed,” said one of the young participants. A selection of the schools then took part in a ‘mini world cup’ cricket tournament, where HIV messages were shared with players and supporters through video, information and education materials in English and Bangla. “I’m now educated about HIV by coming here! It’s a great initiative for young people,” said one of the young men visiting the special UNAIDS booth.

The Bangladesh campaign received a high-profile boost from an announcement of the country’s team captain Sakib Al Hasan. “As Think Wise Champion, I’m happy to use my current popularity to raise awareness on AIDS,” said Mr Hasan at a press conference announcing his role. “We [cricketers] want to leave behind a legacy of social awareness of AIDS so young people will get to know more about HIV.”

“The involvement of cricketing heroes helps raise the profile among young people—and all cricketing fans,” said UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Bangladesh, Salil Panakadan. “Through the Think Wise campaign we have established important relationships with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, business partners, the media and we have sparked the interest and passion of young people. This gives us a tremendous opportunity to build on even after the last tournament over is bowled,” Dr Panakadan added.

A host of additional activities will take place in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka as the tournament continues including site visits and interaction between star players and key affected communities. Cricket teams will wear red ribbons on their shirts in key matches and HIV prevention messages will be promoted at venues on all match days.

A patient receiving his daily dose of methadone at the Minsk oblast clinic centre.

Twenty-eight-year-old Slava had injected heroin for 13 years. "I always thought I could quit. Just one more injection and quit. But in the end, I realized it was not possible to recover without external help."

So he signed up at the Minsk oblast clinic centre to be part of their methadone substitution therapy programme as soon as it opened in June 2010.

According to the UNAIDS, UNODC and WHO, opioid substitution therapy (OST), with methadone or buprenorphine, is highly effective in reducing injecting behaviours that put people who use drugs at risk for HIV. Also, people using OST have shown better access and adherence to antiretroviral treatment, meaning they are living longer and healthier lives.

"I waited for this programme for a long time,” said Slava. “The most important change in my life is that, thanks to the methadone treatment, I’ve returned to my normal life and I’ve resumed my studies.”

The rehabilitation center at the Minsk clinic which serves around 40 people needs no advertising. People tell friends about their progress and advise anyone who needs help to visit the centre. “Several HIV-positive injecting drug users who were not listed anywhere came to us voluntarily and received methadone as well as antiretroviral treatment here,” said Dr Golubitsky, chief of the substitution therapy cabinet at the clinic.

The clinic also provides information on HIV prevention and drug use rehabilitation and refers people to other relevant services like family planning and physiological support as well as information about vocational studies, training and employment.

Substitution therapy with methadone was introduced in Belarus three years ago and has since expanded from one pilot clinic to a network of centres within the state’s health system. Today, over 450 people in eight cities across the country are receiving treatment on a daily basis.

The methadone programme is funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and its implementation is coordinated by the UN Development Programme.

The country has shifted from zero capacity to provide methadone treatment to having a pool of treatment specialists as well as an established OST treatment protocol. Also the provision of OST services has expanded to provide comprehensive range of services covering different elements of a persons’ life.

Belarus had strict preconditions to joining an OST programme– a drug user either needed to demonstrate several unsuccessful attempts to give up heroin, be living with HIV, or have another infection like hepatitis C. Today, due to the success of the OST programme that policy has changed, and access to these services has been expanded. Under a new order of the Ministry of Health, every person who wants to stop injecting drugs can enter a substitution therapy programme.

Health professionals consider the change a very positive step because it gives an alternative to people who inject drugs. By making it easier for people to access substitution programmes it will in turn decrease the high personal cost of opioid dependence to individuals, their families and society at large by reducing heroin use, associated deaths, HIV risk behaviours and criminal activity.

Injecting drug use in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is the main mode of HIV transmission in the region. Drug users are the most HIV affected group in the population of Belarus with an HIV prevalence rate of 13.7%.

A wide view of the General Assembly as Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro (on screens) addresses the opening of the fifty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). 22 February 2011. United Nations, New York.
Credit: UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz

On 28 February 2011, UNAIDS delivered a  statement on behalf of its cosponsors as well as UN Women at the 55^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The joint statement addressed the linkages between HIV, education and employment of girls and women.

The statement highlighted some of the key elements needed to reduce the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection. These include women and girls’ access to quality formal and non-formal education; accurate HIV information and comprehensive gender-sensitive sexuality education. The promotion of women’s economic empowerment, including the protection of their property and inheritance rights; as well as equal access to employment are also included.

The UN bodies underscored how gender disparities increase the vulnerability of girls and women to HIV infection. Lack of legal rights, education and economic opportunities for women and girls limit their choices as well as their capacity to refuse sex, to negotiate safer sex or to resist sexual violence and coercion.

Women and girls are also faced with the responsibility to provide AIDS-related care to others, often missing out on education and employment opportunities for their own advancement.

The 55^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from Tuesday, 22 February to Friday, 4 March 2011. The priority theme of this year’s event is “Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work.”

Michele Bachelet, UN Women’s Executive Director speaks during the panel discussion on "Taking the Women and Girls Centred HIV Response to the Next Level - Advancing Gender Equality" at UN Headquarters, NYC on 25 February 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the AIDS epidemic. It is estimated that 51% of the people living with HIV worldwide are female, and in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean this figure is close to 60%. HIV is now the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age.

What can and must be done to challenge this stark situation? The 55^th meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), currently taking place in New York, provided a valuable forum for UNAIDS and UN Women to find answers and set strategic directions.

On 25 February a panel discussion, jointly moderated by Michele Bachelet, UN Women’s Executive Director and Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, examined how to capitalise on political commitment to accelerate HIV responses which place women and girls at their very centre. A key focus was the urgent need to increase the involvement of women and girls living with HIV in the AIDS response, to invest in them as agents of change.

Eminent panellists included, HE Thokozani Khupe, Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe; HE Commissioner Bience Gawanas, the African Union’s Commissioner for Social Affairs and Anandi Yuvraj of the International Community of Women Living with HIV.  

This interactive session used the Agenda for Women and Girls [1] as a basis for the discussions and built on the conclusions from an earlier High Level Consultation on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls living with HIV which took place on 24 February.

The UNAIDS Agenda for Women and Girls, launched in March 2010 at the 54th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, was developed through a highly consultative process with representatives from governments, women living with HIV, women’s groups and the United Nations family including UNIFEM (now part of UN Women). Since then 56 countries have rolled-out the Agenda with partners from these same diverse constituencies.

The Agenda has given legitimacy to women and girl-related issues, including gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health services, previously downplayed and neglected in national HIV platforms. The panel emphasized the fact that the call to action has already prompted many countries to implement strategic interventions, such ’know your rights/know your laws’ programmes.

Participants also explored exactly how the newly established organization UN Women presents a major opportunity to promote greater gender equality and empower women and girls to make free and informed decisions about their lives and their health. 

[1] UNAIDS Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women and Girls, Gender Equality and HIV

Credit: UNICEF

Investing now in the world’s 1.2 billion adolescents aged 10 to 19[i]  can break entrenched cycles of poverty and inequity, says UNICEF in its flagship 2011 State of the World’s Children report, called ‘Adolescence: An Age of Opportunity’.

The publication, launched on 25 February, argues that although greater investment over the last two decades has lead to enormous gains for younger children, as shown by the 33% drop in the global under-five mortality rate[ii], fewer gains have been made among older adolescents who are at a critical crossroads in their lives. Many have benefited from higher child survival rates, primary school attendance and access to safe water but all these gains are at risk if investment in their future does not continue as they grow up.

“Adolescence is a pivot point – an opportunity to consolidate the gains we have made in early childhood or risk seeing those gains wiped out,” said Anthony Lake, UNICEF’s Executive Director. “We need to focus more attention now on reaching adolescents, particularly adolescent girls, investing in education, health and other measures to engage them in the process of improving their own lives.”

Insufficient attention to the general needs of young people carries with it social, economic, political and health consequences. Governments, international policy makers and civil society must meaningfully invest in adolescents to benefit society as a whole, the report argues. 

Education provides a telling example; more than seventy million young people of lower secondary age are currently out of school[iii]. Nearly 40% of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are in this position[iv]. On a global level girls still lag behind boys in secondary school attendance. Without education, adolescents are more likely to be poor and marginalized. They also find it more difficult to develop the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the risks of exploitation, abuse and violence which, the report says, are highest during the second decade of life. When adolescents are reached successfully, they can be at the forefront of changes that benefit themselves and society as a whole.

Other challenges facing adolescents are many and varied. On the economic front, in 2009 81 million of the world’s young people were unemployed[v] and the current global financial crisis is having a devastating effect. Around a third of young girls in the developing world (excluding China) marry before the age of 18 and in a few countries nearly 30% of girls under 15 have husbands[vi]. This can lead to a negative cycle of premature child-bearing and high rates of maternal mortality.

To enable adolescents and children to deal effectively with myriad obstacles, specific investments are needed, the report contends. These include:   

• Mainstreaming child welfare
• Investing in education and training
• Promoting laws, policies and programmes that protect the rights of adolescents and protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse
• Enabling adolescents to overcome barriers to essential services, such as quality health care, and stepping up the challenge to poverty and inequity.

If these investments are made a new generation of young adults will emerge and lead healthier and more productive lives.

UNICEF dedicates 'The State of the World's Children 2011' to adolescents. Watch the video below:

[i] United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2008 revision, , accessed October 2010; and UNICEF global databases, accessed October 2010.

[ii] Achieving the MDGs with equity, no. 9, UNICEF, New York, 2010; and Statistical Tables 1–10, pp. 88–129.

[iii] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Institute of Statistics, Out-of-School Adolescents, UIS, Montreal, 2010, p. 10.

[iv] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010: Reaching the marginalized, UNESCO, Paris, 2010, p. 74.

[v] International Labour Office, Global Employment Trends for Youth August 2010: Special issue on the impact of the global economic crisis on youth, International Labour Organization, Geneva, 2010, pp. 3–6.

[vi] United Nations Children’s Fund, Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, no. 8, UNICEF, New York, 2009, pp. 46–47; and Statistical Table 9, p. 120.

Young people working to demand the implementation of programmes that put young people’s leadership at the centre of national HIV responses

From Brazil to Mexico young people in Latin America are busily coordinating their inputs to communicate a unified message in the upcoming regional universal access consultation to be held 1-2 March 2011 in Mexico.

The main recommendation young people in Latin America are proposing is the need to strengthen HIV prevention programmes for young people. Ricardo Baruch from GYCA Mexico, who has been assisting with the consultations says, “HIV prevention continues to be our main challenge. We want evidence-based strategies that respond to all youth, particularly gays, lesbians, trans and intersex youth, youth using drugs and youth doing sex work and others in extreme vulnerability.”   

The regional focal point for Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS  (GYCA) in Latin America, Manuella Donato from Brazil, explained how they have been collecting input from coalition members, Youth RISE, Advocates for Youth, The Global Network of people living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and Positive Youth. Participating in the regional consultation is an important part of their strategy for youth engagement in the HIV response in Latin America. It is also part of a broader strategy to place young people at the centre of the upcoming United Nations High-level Meeting on AIDS.

The 2010 data from UNAIDS shows clear evidence that young people are leading the HIV prevention revolution by adopting safer sexual practices. However young people still face challenges in accessing youth friendly sexual and reproductive health services relating to HIV.

“The homophobia and machismo in Latin America is a major barrier to improve access to HIV prevention services and information for all,” notes Mr Baruch.

Young people in Latin America are also demanding the implementation of a comprehensive set of programmes that put young people’s leadership at the centre of national responses. They argue that such programmes should provide rights-based sexual and reproductive health education and services to empower young people to prevent sexual transmission of HIV among their peers.

They are working to achieve access to HIV testing and prevention efforts with and for young people in the context of sexuality education.  They are also advocating for the establishment of enabling legal environments, education and employment opportunities to reduce vulnerability to HIV.

Since the World Youth Conference in 2010 and the HIV and youth empowerment event organised on the side-lines of the conference, young people have participated in a series of national universal access consultations. Now they will voice their joint recommendations through Ms Donato as she delivers the opening statement during the Latin American regional universal access consultation in Mexico.

In line with the strategic direction to revolutionize HIV prevention within the UNAIDS Strategy, the UNAIDS Cosponsor agencies in Latin America have chosen the work with young people as one of their main priorities for 2010-12. Following the Mexico Declaration of sexual education for all, signed on 01 August 2008 by Ministers of Education and Health, the UN response in the region will focus on the development of HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health policies and programmes for all young people.

UNAIDS Regional Director for Latin America, César A. Núñez emphasizes the importance of engaging young people in the response at all levels. “A partnership between young people, the national AIDS programmes, the UN family and bilateral partners will be crucial to respond to the vision of zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.”

Manuella Donato and her colleagues from Latin America are coming to the consultation ready to move the prevention revolution ahead. “We will mobilize our peers and motivate them to demand that their rights be fulfilled so that we can achieve universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support by 2015”.

(From left): Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director; Irene Khan, human rights activist; Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Executive Director; Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA Executive Director. 24 February 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

HIV is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age worldwide. For this to change, the global HIV response must fully recognize the significant role that gender inequality plays in increasing women and girls’ vulnerability to HIV.

At a high-level consultation, jointly organized by UNAIDS, UNFPA and UN Women, influential experts, leaders and advocates came together to discuss how sexual and reproductive health, and the rights of women and girls living with HIV can be enhanced and protected.

The event which took place on 24 February, was co-hosted by Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michelle Bachelet, UN Women’s Executive Director, and UNFPA’s Executive Director, Babatunde Osotimehin.

Concerns were expressed about the reported violations of the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls living with HIV, which impact on their desire to have children, as well as their access to prevention, treatment, care and support. Participants described the experience of some young women living with HIV who face stigma and discrimination when accessing HIV and sexual and reproductive health services. Examples were shared of HIV positive women who were advised not to engage in sexual relationships and scolded when seeking health care when pregnant, which presented a barrier to them accessing prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission and safe delivery services.

Participants identified strategic opportunities to protect and promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, including through improved and sustained investment in women and girls living with HIV. There was consensus that a gender-sensitive AIDS response can help countries move towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and the Millennium Development Goals. This approach is that recommended by UNAIDS and in line with the UNAIDS Agenda for Women and Girls , and the UNAIDS Strategy 2011-2015 .

Arguing for the better integration of HIV in development plans, Dr Nafsiah Mboi, Secretary of the National AIDS Commission, Indonesia emphasized, “HIV is not a health issue, it’s a development issue.”

During the consultation’s opening session, Michel Sidibé spoke of the UNAIDS Strategy and the Agenda for Women and Girls, reinforcing UNAIDS commitment to making gender equality and women’s health and rights a core part of the global AIDS response. He encouraged women and girls living with HIV to raise their voices for social change, despite the risk of stigma, discrimination and social exclusion:

"We must take AIDS out of isolation and provide young girls with opportunities to negotiate their sexual relationships and receive sexuality education so that they can protect themselves from infection,” said Mr Sidibé. “If we don't do this, our vision of zero new infections will remain a dream."

Sharing UN Women’s response to these fundamental issues of gender inequality, Michelle Bachelet contended, "we need to integrate not only services provided but also ongoing political and social movements, including the HIV and women's empowerment movements."

Ms Bachelet also argued that human rights alone is not a sufficient argument for investing in women and HIV, rather, “what is needed is a political, economic and social case.” She also stressed the importance of all involved working together in a coordinated way.

Dr Osotimehin commented on the importance of strengthening the rights of women and girls. “Empowering young people, particularly girls and women, living with HIV to defend their rights and have access to education, information, and services would be a major revolution,” he said.

The outcomes of the discussion will serve as input for the 55^th meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women as well as the 2011 High-Level Meeting on AIDS in June.

Commission on the Status of Women

The 55^th session of the CSW runs until 4 March 2011. Representatives from Member States, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations from all regions of the world are gathered to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.

(From left) UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and the President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly Mr Joseph Deiss. 25 February 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

The President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly Mr Joseph Deiss convened the first formal meeting on the preparations for the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and the event co-facilitators.

The General Assembly President recently appointed Ambassador Gary Francis Quinlan, Permanent Representative of Australia and Ambassador Charles Thembani Ntwaagae, Permanent Representative of Botswana as co-facilitators of the high level review which will take place 8-10 June 2011. They are tasked to hold timely, open, transparent and inclusive consultations with all Member States, with a view to adopting a concise and action-oriented declaration as an outcome of the high level review.

Mr Sidibé thanked the General Assembly President for his personal leadership to ensure the success of the forthcoming 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS.

Mr Deiss has urged countries to participate in the event. “I call on all nations to unite at the High Level Meeting on AIDS. Together we can chart the future of the AIDS response,” wrote Mr Joseph Deiss.

Remembering the 33.3 million people living with HIV, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé is aware of the significance of June’s gathering: “The decisions made at this High Level Meeting on AIDS will change lives today and for future generations.”

Friday’s high level discussion included exploration of the themes of the roundtable sessions as well as high level representation from all regions and member states.

As part of the preparatory process for the June gathering, the President of the General Assembly will hold an informal interactive civil society hearing on 8 April 2011. To discuss this process and the hearing, the President and Mr Sidibé also met with members of civil society.

The cause of promoting gender equality and meeting the needs of women and girls has taken an historic step forward. A new organization—UN Women—was officially launched yesterday at the UN General Assembly Hall in the presence of leaders from the worlds of politics, entertainment, business and the media.  

The new body aims to provide a dynamic and powerful voice at national, regional and global levels for women’s rights and equality. It is also tasked with ensuring that the UN system lives up to its own commitments to gender equality, making new opportunities for women and girls central to UN programmes.

The launch event, called Honouring the Past – Envisioning the Future for Women and Girls, was hosted by Michelle Bachelet, UN Women’s Executive Director and former President of Chile.

Speakers included UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss; the President of the UN Women Executive Board and former Foreign Minister of Nigeria, Ambassador Joy Ogwu; Nepalese activist Bandana Rana, and former Commander of the all-female Formed Police Unit in Liberia Rakhi Sahi.

Ms Bachelet told the gathering that the importance of UN Women could not be underestimated as “the neglect of women’s rights means the social and economic potential of half the population is underused.”

“It is no longer acceptable to live in a world where young girls are taken out of school and forced into early marriage, where women’s employment opportunities are limited, and where the threat of gender-based violence is a daily reality—at home, in the street, at school and at work,” she said.

“I look forward to working with UN Women which will be a powerful voice for women and girls and help move the AIDS response forward,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé who attended the event. “By teaming up and working on common goals the AIDS movement and the women’s movement can dramatically reduce the impact of HIV on women and their families.”

Ensuring that women’s needs are met is not only beneficial to women themselves but to society as a whole as untapped potential can be unleashed. However, widespread gender inequality persists as women often face discrimination, are sometimes denied access to education and health services and generally have fewer resources than men. Many women also suffer from violence which can leave them vulnerable to HIV if their ability to make healthy decisions about how to protect themselves against the virus is hampered.

It is hoped that UN Women, with its wide-reaching mandate, will have a dramatic impact on improving the lives of the world’s women.

The following video documentary The journey of women’s rights 1911-2011 was shown at last night’s event.