United Nations ( CNN ) -- Suksma Ratri separated from her husband after suffering ongoing domestic violence . But four years ago , the young mother from Indonesia found out her ex-husband had become extremely ill , and possibly had AIDS . Ratri immediately went to her doctor to be tested . The results were what she says she largely expected at that point -- she was HIV-positive . Ratri told her story to a gathering of journalists at the United Nations Tuesday , in a press conference to announce the launch of a new campaign by UNAIDS , the U.N. 's joint program on HIV/AIDS . The organization is launching a five-year program to help fight the growing number of issues surrounding women becoming infected with HIV/AIDS . Their initiatives include curbing violence against women , increasing available preventative care and treatment , and better enforcing human rights on an international scale . By focusing on those issues , the campaign hopes to effectively battle to the high rate of HIV infection among females around the world . Like many women , Ratri became a victim in a global epidemic that is the leading cause of death and disease among those between the ages of 15 to 49 worldwide . The disease has been disproportionately affecting women for several years , a change in the trend that once applied to men when the virus became well-known in the early 1980s . Now separated from her husband , Ratri serves as an activist for the rights of migrants in Asia to reduce their vulnerabilities to HIV . She lives openly with her disease , a decision she says allows her to overcome the stigma concerning people who are HIV-positive . Ratri says she was lucky to be able to accept her status as HIV-positive as quickly as she did . `` I needed to fight the stigma , '' she said . `` I needed to be open . '' She is well aware that people are taken aback when they find out she has HIV . She often hears people comment on the fact that she seems `` normal '' despite the presence of infection . `` It 's just I have the virus and you do n't , '' said Ratri . `` That 's the only difference between us . '' UNAIDS is also receiving some star-studded support for the program . Internationally renowned singer Annie Lennox was on hand at the United Nations to voice her support . At the invitation of former President Nelson Mandela , she visited South Africa , where HIV prevalence among women ages 15 to 24 years is three times higher than that of men of the same age . The high rate of sexual violence against women in that country is believed to contribute to the growing number of HIV/AIDS cases . Every ten minutes , a woman is raped in the country , totaling more than 54,000 attacks per year , according to authorities . After witnessing the effects of HIV/AIDS on South African women for herself , Lennox says she was moved to help the dire situation . `` There were not enough things being done to address a very urgent chronic endemic situation , '' said Lennox . `` Many mothers who could have been alive to take care of their children were not there anymore . '' Lennox released her fourth solo album , `` Songs of Mass Destruction , '' in October 2007 , including a song that launched a campaign to raise awareness and support South African women affected by the HIV virus and AIDS pandemic . `` Women are the face ( of HIV/AIDS ) now . Stigma runs from the very top echelons of society , all the way down to the poor , '' said Lennox . `` ( The women ) have to be able to come out of the shadows , and we must represent them , '' she said .
UNAIDS launched a five-year program to battle the high rate of HIV infection among women . Initiatives include increasing available preventative care and treatment . Singer Annie Lennox is supporting the new women-focused campaign .