E/2001/27 E/CN.6/2001/14 12. However, it was also stressed that drugs were not a panacea and had to be complemented by good health services in such a manner that the issue of access to drugs was treated in a broad framework, encompassing both health care and developmental assistance, as well as the formation of effective systems of distribution and basic infrastructure. It was noted that access to reproductive health services for all women, not only for HIV infected women, would enable them to have control of their bodies and make informed choices. 13. Some participants stressed the need to explore the use of alternative therapies, such as traditional medicine, which would be cheaper and more womenfriendly. Others stressed the need for developing countries, particularly for African countries, to intensify their own research, including in herbal medicine. A link between gender-sensitive research and the implementation of policies and programmes should be made. The need to respect the human rights of people in the context of research was also stressed. 14. Some participants stated that in many countries, the main form of HIV/AIDS transmission was through substance use, thus emphasizing the need to combat the drug problem. However, others stressed that substance abuse was only one of the entry points for a pandemic which, once inside a community, could be spread through various means. Therefore, the strategy to combat HIV/AIDS should have a multi-pronged approach. The involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS in sensitizing community members was considered crucial, although problematic unless the stigmatization associated with HIV/AIDS was eliminated. considered as being a possible contribution to combat HIV/AIDS. 16. It was noted that States should acknowledge that the threat to their security came from both within and across national borders. Concerted action among States, intergovernmental organizations, transnational corporations and civil society was needed as an effective way to maximize the use of resources, coordinate programmes and apply and share knowledge to combat the spread of the disease and alleviate the sufferings of HIV-infected people. Action should be taken at the national, regional and international levels. In particular, the need for action at the regional level was stressed, and it was suggested that Governments establish mechanisms for joint regional plans and collaborate to creatively develop new culturally sensitive programmes and new ways of addressing the pandemic within a human rights framework. United Nations entities, including the World Bank, and other international institutions should review economic and trade policies and practices that resulted in increased unemployment and cuts in social services, and thus made people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, particularly in developing countries. 15. Participants emphasized the importance of political commitment at the highest level in order to combat HIV/AIDS. The significant role of political leaders was emphasized. It was further stated that the decision makers at the national level should make every effort to provide the necessary financial resources. In fact, while it was recognized that more resources should be allocated to the fight against HIV/AIDS by the donor community, countries affected by HIV/AIDS should also be responsible for mobilizing more resources. Armed conflicts were also seen as a major impediment to the fight against HIV/AIDS due to the high costs involved in the purchase of armaments and increased vulnerability to violence of women and girls. Thus, peace was 63