E/2005/27 E/CN.6/2005/11 “Recognizing that populations destabilized by armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters, including refugees, internally displaced persons and, in particular, women and children, are at an increased risk of exposure to HIV infection, “Deeply concerned that the global HIV/AIDS pandemic disproportionately affects women and girls and that the majority of new HIV infections occurs among young people, “Concerned that women’s unequal legal, economic and social status and violence against women and girls as well as other cultural and physiological factors increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, “Also concerned that women and girls have different and unequal access to and use of health resources for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, “1. Stresses with deep concern that the HIV/AIDS emergency, with its devastating scale and impact, requires urgent actions in all fields and at all levels; “2. Also stresses that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are fundamental elements in the reduction of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and emphasizes that the advancement of women and girls is key to reversing the pandemic; “3. Reaffirms the need for Governments, supported by relevant actors, including civil society, to intensify national efforts and international cooperation in the implementation of the commitments on HIV/AIDS contained in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and to work towards effectively reflecting in their national policies and strategies the gender dimension of the pandemic, in line with the time-bound goals of the Declaration; “4. Urges Governments to take all necessary measures to empower women and strengthen their economic independence and to protect and promote their full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in order to enable them to protect themselves from HIV infection; “5. Also urges Governments to strengthen initiatives that would increase the capacities of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the provision of health care and health services, including for sexual and reproductive health and through prevention education that promotes gender equality within a culturally and gender sensitive framework; “6. Further urges Governments to expand access to treatment, in a progressive and sustainable manner, including the prevention and treatment of opportunistic diseases and effective use of antiretroviral medication and to promote access to low-cost effective drugs and related pharmaceutical products; “7. Calls upon Governments to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls in relation to HIV/AIDS, including through challenging stereotypes, stigmatization, discriminatory attitudes and gender inequalities and to encourage the active involvement of men and boys in this regard; 42