Human rights have been central to the international community's response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This approach initially emphasized the inclusion of, and non-discrimination against, particular risk groups. However, as the epicenter of the epidemic has moved from the first to the third world and from (gay white) men to (poor black) women, the rights emphasis has begun to shift from a focus on individual rights of privacy and non-discrimination to embrace more global social and economic concerns of poverty and inequality. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between gender inequality and HIV/AIDS. It examines the intersection of human rights with gender and HIV/AIDS and presents recommendations for action by international agencies, states and civil society.