Our Mission Statement

For more information, see the links to the left for our full mission statement in three languages.

ATHENA’s mission is to:

Advance the recognition, protection, and fulfillment of women’s and girls’ human rights, comprehensively and inclusively, as a fundamental component of the response to HIV and AIDS.
Ensure gender equity in HIV-related research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and the development of interventions based on a gendered analysis.
Promote and facilitate the leadership of women and girls, especially those living with HIV, in all aspects of the response to HIV and AIDS.
Bridge the communities around the world that are addressing gender, human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and HIV.

Address neglected or contentious human rights issues such as the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV.
Link the global with the local in meaningful ways.
Link research, policy, advocacy, and practice.
Share information and experiences in order to develop common agendas.
Build alliances across movements, sectors, and regions.
Develop and support the leadership capacity of women and girls, especially those living with HIV.
Enable individuals and organizations to be agents of change.