A/RES/S-21/2
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D. Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted disease, including human immunodeficiency
virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
67. Governments, from the highest political levels, should take urgent action to provide education and services
to prevent the transmission of all forms of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV and, with the assistance, where
appropriate, of the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency
Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, develop and implement national HIV/AIDS policies and action
plans, ensure and promote respect for the human rights and dignity of persons living with HIV/AIDS, improve
care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, including support services for home-based care, and take steps
to mitigate the impact of the AIDS epidemic by mobilizing all sectors and segments of society to address the
social and economic factors contributing to HIV risk and vulnerability. Governments should enact legislation and
adopt measures to ensure non-discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable populations,
including women and young people, so that they are not denied the information needed to prevent further
transmission and are able to access treatment and care services without fear of stigmatization, discrimination or
violence.
68. Governments should ensure that prevention of and services for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS
are an integral component of reproductive and sexual health programmes at the primary health-care level. Gender,
age-based and other differences in vulnerability to HIV infection should be addressed in prevention and education
programmes and services. Governments should develop guidelines for HIV treatment and care, emphasizing
equitable access, and for wide provision of and access to voluntary HIV testing and counselling services, and
should ensure wide provision of and access to female and male condoms, including through social marketing.
Advocacy and information, education and communication campaigns developed with communities and supported
from the highest levels of Government should promote informed, responsible and safer sexual behaviour and
practices, mutual respect and gender equity in sexual relationships. Special attention needs to be given to
preventing sexual exploitation of young women and children. Given the enhanced susceptibility to HIV/AIDS of
individuals infected by conventional and treatable sexually transmitted diseases and the high prevalence of such
diseases among young people, priority must be given to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of such
infections. Governments should immediately develop, in full partnership with youth, parents, families, educators
and health-care providers, youth-specific HIV education and treatment projects, with special emphasis on
developing peer-education programmes.
69. While one of the most important interventions to reduce HIV infections in infants is primary prevention of
infection, Governments should also scale up, where appropriate, education and treatment projects aimed at
preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Anti-retroviral drugs, where feasible, should be made available
to women living with HIV/AIDS during and after pregnancy as part of their ongoing treatment of HIV/AIDS and
provide infant-feeding counselling for mothers living with HIV/AIDS so that they can make free and informed
decisions.
70. Governments, with assistance from the Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on Human
Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and donors, should, by 2005, ensure that at least
90 per cent, and by 2010 at least 95 per cent, of young men and women aged 15 to 24 have access to the
information, education and services necessary to develop the life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to
HIV infection. Services should include access to preventive methods such as female and male condoms, voluntary
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