The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, September 1994) established the effective prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as an integral component of reproductive health services. There is a key programmatic linkage between family planning and the prevention of HIV in women and children.This was the focus of a high-level consultation convened by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Glion, Switzerland, in May 2004.

The aim of this guide is to equip its users with key messages, evidence and actions that can be used to advocate effectively to prevent HIV in girls and young women. It focuses on three goals that the global community increasingly recognizes as important components of the response to the epidemic: improving the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services for girls and young women; expanding socio-economic opportunities; and ending child marriage. In turn, collectively the goals are divided into a total of 10 key messages.

Although the female condom has been on the market for more than ten years, the supply and adoption of this device, which protects against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, is still too low to have an impact on the AIDS epidemic. This publication, a follow up to the 2005 Global Consultation on the Female Condom, answers key questions about the female condom. It presents evidence about its effectiveness and impact, identifies challenges to wider use and suggests steps to strengthen condom programming worldwide.