Adequate research does not yet exist. Government practices should include gathering of data by age and gender and governments should seek such data from NGOs. To fulfill the promise of Beijing to the girl child, we must all take our commitments seriously. We must value the girl child. Women who smoke have markedly increased risks of cancer, particularly lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and other fatal diseases.
Women also experience gender specific risks from tobacco and environmental tobacco smoke.
There is a need for comprehensive solutions to address the epidemic among women and girls, particularly prevention and cessation strategies. Women and girls infected with HIV often suffer from discrimination and stigma. 44 Achieving gender equality and equity requires redressing inequalities between women and men, and girls and boys, and ensuring equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for the full diversity of women and men, girls and boys . Take legislative and financial measures to eliminate gender inequality in access to tertiary education and adult education, including entrepreneurship training, and promote by affirmative action and scholarships the participation of women and girls in fields where they are under-represented, such as science, engineering, diplomacy, technology and information technology. Introduce effective legislation and other measures to combat the trafficking, sexual and economic exploitation of all women, especially young women and girls.