This article makes suggestions for future improvement, to respond to the challenges facing Botswana women living with, and affected by, HIV/AIDS. After analysing the social and health factors, inequalities in economic access and dependency, and the cultural factors that impede on women’s ability to negotiate for safer sex, the article concludes by recommending for a gender perspective to be mainstreamed in all policies, programmes and activities for youth in order to strengthen existing responses to HIV/AIDS in Botswana.