The Hydra Hath but One Head: The Socio-Cultural Dimension of the AIDS Epidemic and Women's Rights to Health

This article examines the social dimensions of HIV/AIDS and its impact on international women's human rights, particularly the right to health. The author argues that efforts to minimize the spread of the pandemic should employ a multidimensional approach, dealing with all traditional and cultural practices that render women vulnerable to AIDS. In Part I, the article discusses the social impact of HIV/AIDS with specific reference to women in developing countries. Part II examines the right to health in light of international law. Part III recommends the adoption of a holistic approach, both to strengthen human rights protection and to reduce the impact of socio-cultural factors on the spread of the disease. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - HIV/AIDS, International]