SANYA, China, Dec 1 (AFP) - Miss World contestants Wednesday called for better awareness and education among women in the battle against AIDS, as they prepared to strut their stuff on China's tropical Hainan island.
The main reason that Africa was the worst hit continent in the world by the deadly scourge was because women were denied education and basic rights, said Miss Tanzania, Faraja Kotta.
"Why Africa, why not other continents? The main reason is discrimination," she said.
"From the day we are born, we have no right to decide. Girls cannot decide whether they want to go to school, cannot decide who they will marry, cannot decide when they will be sexually active," said the 19-year-old law student.
"Girls have no right to education, they are always second place."
Miss Philippines, Ma Karla Bautista, said awareness and acceptance were key to help the world overcome the condition that is at crisis point in many countries.
"We should all be more open. AIDS patients should not be outcasts in society," said the 20-year-old student. "We should promote awareness among youths and women to help prevent the disease.
"AIDS really is a great challenge to humanity but as long as we join hands to do our best, it should not be impossible to prevent, if not eliminate the disease."
Miss America, Nancy Randall, called on her government to better use its influence to persuade pharmaceutical companies to distribute cheap drugs to poor countries that cannot afford the medication.
"America should use its influence and power to influence the world," she said.
China, which is hosting the beauty contest for a second year running, is fighting its own battle against HIV/AIDS with the United Nations predicting it could have 10 million cases by 2010 if action is not taken.
Ignorance about the disease and discrimination are two of the main reasons it is facing an uphill struggle to combat AIDS, experts say.
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