A/HRC/7/14 Page 27 scrutiny from the press. Governments should also make sure that the right to privacy, especially in relation to family life and minors, is sufficiently protected without curtailing the right to access to information, which contributes to transparency and democratic control of public affairs. On freedom of expression and HIV/AIDS 80. The Special Rapporteur underlines that the level of protection of human rights in a country has a direct impact on the spread of the AIDS epidemic. In this regard, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in particular the right to receive information concerning HIV/AIDS, is a central aspect of efforts to tackle the problem. 81. The Special Rapporteur urges Governments to rely on preventive education and information strategies as one of the main defences, alongside care and treatment, against the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The extensive use of the mass media is necessary to ensure the widest coverage of information campaigns. More generally, information and education should be provided through all available and accessible means. The Special Rapporteur encourages States to cooperate with the media, NGOs and community-based organizations in this endeavour. 82. The Special Rapporteur strongly believes that general respect for and protection of freedom of opinion and expression have a direct impact on the effectiveness of education and information policies, programmes and campaigns for the purpose of HIV/AIDS prevention. He therefore urges Governments to set a framework for the better protection of freedom of opinion and expression and for free flow of information and communications vis-à-vis the general public, as well as specific groups and communities. On the ‘digital divide’ 83. The Special Rapporteur urges Governments to take measures to increase the affordability and availability of new communication and information technologies, particularly the Internet, to poor and vulnerable communities (to bridge the “digital divide”). Furthermore, apart from technical efforts to increase access, computer literacy programmes should be devised and widely disseminated in order to prepare the