Positive Female Network (POFEN): A Feminist Force for Change in Pakistan’s HIV Response
Established in 2015 under the visionary leadership of the Association of People Living with HIV (APLHIV), the Positive Female Network (POFEN) stands as Pakistan’s first and only national platform led by and for women and girls living with HIV.
In a country where gender inequality intersects with HIV-related stigma and discrimination, POFEN has emerged as a transformative movement, championing dignity, rights, and leadership for women and girls living with HIV (WLHIV).
Women and girls living with HIV in Pakistan face a compounded burden: navigating the health challenges of HIV alongside entrenched gender-based discrimination, social exclusion, and economic marginalization. POFEN directly addresses these injustices by amplifying the voices of those most affected and equipping them with the skills, platforms, and networks necessary to lead change from their communities to national policy arenas.
Through structured leadership programs, peer support mechanisms, and skill-building workshops, POFEN has supported hundreds of women in stepping into roles of influence—many now serving as advocates, community organizers, trainers, and decision-makers within provincial and national HIV and gender spaces.
POFEN’s vocational training has helped WLHIV attain financial independence and reclaim agency. These efforts are reinforced by nationwide advocacy campaigns and community-led research highlighting the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of WLHIV. Its SRHR position paper remains a cornerstone in national discourse.
In 2019, POFEN organized Pakistan’s first National Conference for Women Living with HIV, marking a milestone in visibility and policy engagement.
POFEN collaborates with women parliamentarians and contributes to national efforts like the PLHIV Stigma Index 2.0. It is also an active member of national and global networks such as the Pakistan CSO Partnership Forum, aligning its work with global feminist principles.
POFEN is not just advocating for WLHIV—it’s advancing a bold, intersectional feminist agenda, confronting overlapping systems of discrimination. In doing so, it has become a transformative force, linking personal struggle to political change and promoting inclusive, unapologetic leadership.
Pakistan ranks among the lowest globally on gender equality indicators. In this context, POFEN’s work is revolutionary—offering radical hope and feminist solidarity where it’s most needed.
Mission
Mobilize women and girls’ leadership to influence policies, laws, programs, and funds, and promote actions that empower those living with or affected by HIV and from marginalized communities.
Vision
POFEN envisions a platform where women/girls living with or affected by HIV and from marginalized communities can live dignified, respectful lives, free of stigma, discrimination, and violence—and lead in addressing their needs and rights.
Goal
Build capacity and foster the engagement of women/girls living with or affected by HIV and from marginalized communities to influence policy and decision-making, while upholding their rights and providing them a unified platform.
Objectives
- Mobilize women/girls living with or affected by HIV across Pakistan to speak in unison about their issues and seek solutions.
- Empower them to effectively contribute to policy and decision-making processes.
- Enable advocacy and leadership for their issues through capacity building.
- Enhance communication and solidarity to improve shared knowledge and experiences.
- Improve access to HIV medication, treatment literacy, and positive women’s SRHR education.
- Strengthen the SRHR movement in Pakistan.
- Gather and utilize local evidence to inform action and advocacy.
