E/2001/27 E/CN.6/2001/14 Annex I Summary submitted by the Moderator of the panel discussion on women, the girl child and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (Ellen Margrethe Loej) (agenda item 4 (a)) 1. At its 6th meeting, on 8 March 2001, the Commission held a panel discussion followed by a dialogue on women, the girl child and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), one of the thematic issues of the Commission’s forty-fifth session. The panellists were Mabel Bianco (Argentina), Expert on Women and HIV/AIDS; Sharifah H. Shahabudin (Malaysia), Professor of Medical Education and Director of the Academic Development Centre on Women, AIDS and Health; Sheila Dinotshe Tlou (Botswana), Associate Professor, Department of Nursing Education, Faculty of Education, University of Botswana; and Elhadj Sy, Representative of the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Liaison Office in New York. The panel was moderated by Ellen Margrethe Loej (Denmark), State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2. Many participants stressed that the vulnerability to and impact of HIV/AIDS could not be ameliorated unless the fundamental gender inequalities were addressed by fostering an enabling environment that transformed relationships and promoted true partnerships, respect for human rights and equal opportunities for both women and men. Since women’s empowerment was a complex issue, participants stressed that in order to be addressed effectively it required a holistic approach. Gender mainstreaming should be pursued and be put into a context of human rights, survival, safety and all other factors related to human security. Participants also stressed that, since the mandate of the Commission on the Status of Women was to mainstream a gender perspective in United Nations policies and programmes, the Commission could provide added value to the preparation process of the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS to be held from 25 to 27 June 2001 and to the special session itself by sending to the special session a clear message on the importance of addressing the gender impact of the AIDS epidemic. 3. Participants emphasized the gender dimensions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. They identified the imbalance of power between women and men, often promoted by cultural, social and religious norms, as being one of the main causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS. Women often did not have the power to decide about their lives, especially as regards sexual relations. In particular, young women and girls were often victims of gender-based violence, including sexual abuse and domestic violence, which besides violating their human rights also significantly exposed them to the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. 4. Participants emphasized that violence could be eliminated through formal and informal sexual education for children and adolescents, particularly before they started engaging in sexual relationships, and through programmes which promoted equality and autonomy in sexual relations, mutual respect and protection. It could furthermore be eliminated through the modification of a number of laws which contributed to sexual violence, such as those that did not punish rape inside marriage or condoned a girl’s rape if the violator married her. The need to address the issue of the mass media and its role in fuelling gender violence and perpetuating gender stereotyping was also pinpointed. Participants also discussed the need to carefully analyse the complexities of the relations between women and men in order to correct the disfunctionalities of such relationships and thus contribute towards achieving respect for the human rights of women and girls and more equal gender relations. 5. Many participants recognized that HIV/AIDS was a human security issue. The depletion of the skilled workforce, the decline in national food security resulting in malnutrition and starvation and increased illiteracy as children, particularly girls, dropped out of school in order to become breadwinners or care for the sick and dying, jeopardized national development and threatened the security of countries affected by the pandemic. The increase of child orphans, often cared for by elderly grandmothers, was also stressed. The poverty and violent 61