Within the UN system, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has a special responsibility for education.

Since ignorance is a major factor in the AIDS epidemic, prevention education is at the top of UNESCO’s agenda. Education is needed to make people aware that they are at risk or vulnerable, as well as to generate skills and motivation necessary for adopting behaviour to reduce risk and vulnerability and to protect human rights. UNESCO works with governments and civil society organizations to implement policies and programmes for prevention education, and to mitigate the impact of AIDS on education systems.