General ­Recommendation Provisions related to Reproductive Rights 4. The enactment and effective enforcement of laws that prohibit female genital mutilation and marriage of girl children.” Paragraph 18 deals more specifically with reproductive rights issues: “The issues of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted ­diseases are central to the rights of women and adolescent girls to sexual health. Adolescent girls and women in many countries lack adequate access to information and services necessary to ensure sexual health. As a consequence of unequal power relations based on gender, women and adolescent girls are often unable to refuse sex or insist on safe and responsible sex practices. Harmful ­traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation, ­polygamy, as well as marital rape, may also expose girls and women to the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted ­diseases. Women in prostitution are also particularly vulnerable to these ­diseases. States parties should ensure, without prejudice and ­discrimination, the right to sexual health information, ­education and services for all women and girls, including those who have been traffi cked, even if they are not legally resident in the country. In p ­ articular, States parties should ensure the rights of female and male adolescents to sexual and reproductive health education by properly trained personnel in specially designed programmes that respect their rights to privacy and confi dentiality.” According to Paragraph 20, “Women have the right to be fully informed, by properly trained personnel, of their options in ­agreeing to treatment or research, including likely benefi ts and potential adverse effects of proposed procedures and available alternatives.” 144