Summary

The heavy impact of HIV and AIDS in South and East Africa is examined in this collection of narratives from the region which aim to raise awareness not only about the vulnerability of widows and orphans, but also about the active steps being taken by many grassroots organizations to respond to the crisis. While the pandemic is biting deeply into the social fabric of communities, it is also galvanizing ordinary women and men to respond with compassion and conviction and to find innovative ways of defending and promoting the rights of HIV-affected women and children. These stories expose the immense human cost of discriminatory laws and practices and point to the social, policy, and legislative changes that are necessary to combat the pandemic effectively.