Annotation:
This General Comment aims to strengthen the understanding of the rights of children in the context of HIV/AIDS and to identify means through which states can increase the protection of these rights. The Comment identifies key rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which are threatened by HIV/AIDS. The Committee notes a particular concern over gender-based discrimination and urges states to recognize the impact this discrimination has upon girls. The Comment concludes with specific recommendations for state parties to the Convention, including the incorporation of policies on HIV/AIDS which recognize the particular challenges facing children in this epidemic. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - HIV/AIDS, International]