BOX 6. COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION: PROMOTING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY (CONT.) Sexuality education is especially important in ensuring the enjoyment of women’s right to live free of violence and gender discrimination, given the historically unequal relations between men and women. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women has called upon state parties to implement sexuality education programmes and has recommended the expansion of sexual and reproductive health programmes as a necessary means for preventing high abortion and maternal mortality rates. Additionally, comprehensive sexuality education is a basic tool for achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals, such as promoting gender equality and empowering women (Goal 3), reducing child mortality (Goal 4), improving maternal health (Goal 5), and combating HIV/AIDS (Goal 6). 68