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Women in many cultures have used lemon- or lime-juice for contraception and vaginal hygiene purposes for centuries. Studies in Nigeria and elsewhere show that some women also believe that lemon- and lime-juice might help protect them from HIV infection. New research findings, however, demonstrate that rather than helping, these juices can cause damage that could make it easier for HIV to enter the body. Washing out the vagina with either 100 percent or diluted lime- or lemon-juice may increase a woman's risk of being infected with HIV if her partner is HIV positive.

The Global Campaign for Microbicides has released a fact sheet on 'Why women should NOT use Lemon or Lime Juice as a microbicide'.

Word Version: www.global-campaign.org

PDF Version: www.global-campaign.org

Visit the Global Campaign's Download Centre for this and other useful fact sheets: www.global-campaign.org

The Coalition for a Blueprint for Action on Women and Girls and HIV, International Community of Women Living with HIV, and Voices of Positive Women are co-hosting the Women's Networking Zone, located in the Global Village at the Conference site, for all people attending the International AIDS Conference in Toronto this August.

What is the Women's Networking Zone (WNZ)?

This year, the Global Village coordinators created designated spaces for different affinity groups to gather and hold activities outside of the official conference space. Lead agencies were selected to orchestrate activities within each zone. The Women's Networking Zone is one of these spaces, and will be a place for networking, structured dialogue, presentations, interactive sessions, or just relaxing in a comfortable environment while taking a break.

The coordinators of the WNZ are hoping to host activities that represent a range of regions and issues, from alternative healing demonstrations to briefings on the latest scientific updates, creative body-mapping and discussions about sexuality and women's pleasure.

WNZ has developed a proposal guidelines document to help people determine whether their proposed activity will fit within the spirit and structure of The Zone. The document provides more information about topics, presentation formats and the logistical details regarding the space itself. It also includes instructions for submitting proposals and an application form. Due to the extensive length of the document, please contact if you would like to request the proposal guidelines document.

Internews Network's Local Voices Programme and the Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) are conducting an international survey on People Living with HIV and the Media.

This survey will analyse how HIV-positive people view the news media on community and national levels. What do they think and feel about how they are portrayed in the media? What do they say about the media's coverage of pertinent HIV/AIDS issues?

Results of the survey will be made publicly available, and will feed into the Internews programme, Local Voices and GNP+ project planning. They will be disseminated widely for other organisations to use in their activities planning and communication with donor groups.

The survey will give people working in and with the media a special view of whether the media is doing its job well. To provide HIV-positive people with guidance on how to interact best with the media, Internews will develop a resource sheet of handbooks, toolkits or other materials.

You can fill the survey online in English at: www.surveymonkey.com

Alternatively, you can download the survey in French or Spanish from the GNP+ website at: www.gnpplus.net

Please return the survey to the survey team at: