In order to promote equality between men and women, biological as well as socially and culturally constructed differences must be taken into account. Under certain circumstances, such differences will require non-identical treatment. This is an important principle to keep in mind when dealing with sexual and reproductive health.5 On a few occasions, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Rights of the Child have mentioned that inequality between women and men often makes women unable to secure safe sexual practices, leading to increased exposure to HIV, and the need to empower girls and women in general.6 Unequal power relations based on gender are a core concern for reproductive rights, as inequality makes it difficult or impossible for women and adolescent girls to refuse sex or insist on safe and responsible sex practices. Inequality also influences the occurrence of harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, polygamy and marital rape, increasing women’s risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS and other STIs.7 5 Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 25 from, 2004. 6 Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Papua New Guinea, 2010, Committee on the Rights of the Child Angola 2010, Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Burkina Faso 2010, Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Uganda 2010. 7 Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 24, from 1999 on women and health. 92 Regarding HIV/AIDS, states should: 1. Intensify information dissemination to increase public awareness of HIV and AIDS, especially with respect to women and children; 2. Ensure that programmes to combat AIDS give special attention to the rights and needs of women and children and the factors relating to the reproductive role of women and their subordinate position in some societies; and 3. Ensure the active participation of women in primary health care and as care providers, health workers and educators in the prevention of infection with HIV.8 In relation to the girl-child, states should address the issue of gender-based discrimination. In combination with judgmental views on the sexual activities of girls, discrimination limits girls’ access to preventive measures and other services. States should also take steps to protect the lives of children by paying attention to sexuality and behaviour even if it is outside of what is considered socially acceptable. Moreover, states must protect girls against harmful practices, such as early and forced marriages, which not only violate girls’ rights but also increase the risk of contracting HIV. States are further obliged to put in place prevention programmes taking into account the reality of adolescent lives and ensuring equal access to appropriate information, life skills, and to preventive measures. Children, including 8 Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, General Recommendation No. 15, from 1990 concerns discrimination against women in national strategies for the prevention and control of AIDS.