E/2000/27 E/CN.6/2000/9 Resolution 44/2. Women, the girl child and human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome* The Commission on the Status of Women, Recognizing that women play a vital role in the social and economic development of their countries and, therefore, profoundly concerned by the fact that out of 33.6 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) today, women now represent 46 per cent of all people over the age of 15 living with HIV and AIDS, Noting with great concern that the proportion of women becoming infected with HIV is growing in every region, that in sub-Saharan Africa 55 per cent of those living with HIV are women and that, in the younger age brackets (15-24 years), girls are at higher risk of HIV infection and that more girls than boys are now infected and, in this context, welcoming the newly launched international partnership against AIDS in Africa, Recognizing that gender inequalities begin early in life and can render women and the girl child unable to protect their sexual and reproductive health, thus increasing their risk and vulnerability to HIV infection, Mindful that the majority of women and the girl child in most developing countries do not enjoy full social and economic rights, such as education, health care and welfare, and therefore suffer disproportionately from the consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly in the economic and social spheres, Recognizing that women, who constitute the majority of the poor, are especially vulnerable to HIV infection because of their subordinate status in society, in the household and in communities and because of their restricted access to education, gainful employment and health and information services, Also recognizing that women, in particular young girls, are physiologically and biologically more vulnerable than men to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and yet receive minimal health care and support when infected, __________________ * 6 For the discussion, see chap. II. Noting with concern that approximately 80 per cent of the infected women have been infected through unprotected sex with an infected male partner, and acknowledging therefore that men have a shared responsibility towards protecting their own and women’s sexual health, Acknowledging that millions of women do not have access to means that have proved effective in preventing and lowering infection rates, such as male and female condoms, anti-retroviral drugs, relevant preventive education, acceptable counselling and testing services, Noting with appreciation the efforts of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and its cosponsoring organizations, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, to empower women through capacity development programmes, as well as programmes that provide women with access to development resources and strengthen their networks which offer care and support to women affected by HIV/AIDS, 1. Reaffirms the rights of women and the girl child infected and affected by HIV/AIDS to have access to health, education and social services and to be protected from all forms of discrimination, stigma, abuse and neglect; 2. Also reaffirms the human rights of girls and women to equal access to education, skills training and employment opportunities as a means to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection; 3. Urges Governments to take all necessary measures to strengthen women’s economic independence and to protect and promote their human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to allow them to better protect themselves from HIV infection; 4. Emphasizes that the advancement and empowerment of women is critical to increasing the ability of women and young girls to protect themselves from HIV infection; 5. Stresses that every effort should be made by Governments, relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, individually and collectively, to place combating HIV/AIDS as a