R a t i o n a l e

R a t i o n a l e
In the 25 years that we have been confronted
by the AIDS crisis, infection rates among women have
accelerated signifi cantly. While this is in part because
of the greater biological vulnerability of women, to a
large extent it is also due to traditional gender roles that
reinforce the subordinate role for women in all matters
– including in sexual relations – and to the lower social
and economic status of women, which increases
their dependence on men. In many cultures, men are
expected to demonstrate masculine behaviour such
as having frequent and multiple sexual relations and
engaging in violence. Such behaviour not only makes
women vulnerable but also puts men at a greater risk
of HIV infection.
Gender inequality is thus a key contributor to
vulnerability to HIV infection. The social and economic
consequences of HIV in turn create greater genderbased
disparities, since girls and women often bear a disproportionate burden of the disease. Promoting
gender equality and ensuring that sexual and reproductive health becomes the business and the right of
women and men should therefore be part of comprehensive HIV prevention and care strategies. Education has
a key role to play in this respect because of its capacity to reach and infl uence attitudes and norms of children
and young people, and because of its often infl uential role within communities.