A/HRC/21/42 positive self-perception can motivate others to also change their attitudes. Empowering people supports them in confronting, challenging and educating people who stigmatize them, as well as in holding the State and other actors accountable for discrimination and other human rights violations. 63. Networks of stigmatized people have proven to be well-placed to understand the challenges, and often provide vital community support. Many stigmatized groups are well organized, make claims on their rights, and educate society at large and policymakers. In that regard, further fostering such interactions, networks and organizations is critical to combatting stigma. B. Awareness-raising to break taboos and challenge stereotypes 64. Silence is a major component of stigma. The first step is to speak openly about what seems ―unpleasant‖ or ―unmentionable‖ or deviates from dominant public opinion, and to recognize the stigma attached—be it obstetric fistula, homelessness, intersexuality, menstrual hygiene or another issue. Stigma is often based on ignorance, fears and misconceptions that can be tackled through awareness-raising. The voice of the stigmatized must be amplified, and their space must be broadened to clearly articulate their needs and rights. 65. Probably the greatest challenge in combatting stigma is the fact that it is deeply entrenched in sociocultural norms and attitudes. Tackling it requires raising awareness of stigmatizing practices that are pursued under the umbrella of culture, religion and tradition. The interpretations of culture on which such practices are based are neither immutable nor homogenous and must therefore be challenged, including by questioning the legitimacy of those who perpetuate stigmatizing practices in the name of culture and uncovering the underlying power dynamics (E/CN.4/2006/61, para. 85). 66. Broad-based awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns on various issues are essential to achieve visibility. This can include posters, booklets, radio, television, magazines, websites and other media. The stigma index developed in the context of HIV/AIDS44 is an innovative tool aimed at measuring stigma and using the data for raising awareness, empowering the stigmatized, and advocating for change. In the context of menstrual hygiene, UNICEF Bangladesh aims to contribute to developing better menstrual hygiene in rural areas through the training of community hygiene promoters targeting 30 million rural Bangladeshis.45 67. The attitudes, stereotypes and prejudices that make up stigma must be uncovered and challenged. In that context, article 5 (a) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women requires States parties to take all appropriate measures ―to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women‖. Similar provisions requiring States to combat stereotypes and prejudices are included in article 8, paragraph 1 (b) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and article 7 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The rationale of these provisions can be 44 45 The People living with HIV Stigma Index, available from www.stigmaindex.org. UNICEF, ―Bloody secrets: teaching menstrual hygiene‖, UNICEF Bangladesh, issue No. 8 (2007), p. 12. 17