The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) is leading an initiative to establish a Code for the SADC region on Gender and HIV/AIDS. This Code is similar to the ‘Code on HIV/AIDS and Employment’ that was adopted by SADC 1997, but focuses specifically on the gendered dimensions of the AIDS epidemic. ARASA, in consultation with a number of human rights, gender and AIDS-services, has drawn up a draft Code entitled “Urgent Measures needed to Promote the Equality of Women and the Reduction of Women’s Risk of HIV infection”.