Monaco

GENEVA/MONACO, 11 April 2024— Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS—the organization leading the global fight against AIDS—met with HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and government officials to strengthen Monaco’s collaboration with UNAIDS.

“Monaco is a long-standing and valued partner of UNAIDS. We continue to work together on our broad programme and also in key countries,” said Ms Byanyima. “What we particularly value is how Monaco shows such innovation in fighting HIV, and we learn from each other.”

During a visit to the Fight AIDS Monaco Association, Ms Byanyima and HSH Princess Stéphanie and Ms Byanyima met with volunteers, staff and members of the Association. Fight AIDS Monaco, founded in 2004 by Princess Stéphanie, supports people living with and affected by HIV in Monaco and the neighbouring area. They also fund projects in Madagascar, Burundi, South Africa, Mauritius, and more exceptionally Ukraine, Lebanon and Morocco.

“My heartfelt congratulations to the Fight AIDS Monaco team, celebrating your 20^th year – an important milestone- and one that shows your sustained commitment to ending AIDS,” said Ms Byanyima. “It is organizations like yours that make a difference for people’s overall well-being: a safe space to share, kindness and compassion when it is most needed.”

As they gathered around an AIDS memorial quilt, Princess Stéphanie said, “We are a small country, but we can achieve great things.” She then added, “Our foundation is a place where everyone is treated with dignity and without judgement. Fight AIDS Monaco is about giving life.”

Ms Byanyima also thanked Princess Stéphanie for her unwavering engagement as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador and expressed her appreciation for the Princess’s work to address HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Despite huge progress in the HIV response, globally AIDS still claimed a life every minute in 2022. Monaco’s Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Christophe Robino, stressed that his government’s low cases of new HIV infections was a victory but one not to be taken for granted.

“This is a cause that we need to tackle daily and one day we will be able to end AIDS but we must keep talking about it while it still exists,” Mr Robino said.

Since 1988, Monaco has been implementing an integrated policy on ending HIV as a public health threat. The policy has resulted in free, anonymous HIV screening centres as well as prevention and testing campaigns in schools and businesses. 

Earlier during her visit, Ms Byanyima had a working meeting with representatives from the Monegasque government and Fight AIDS Monaco.

Isabelle Berro Amedei, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation said, “Health is one of Monaco’s priorities and that includes the fight against HIV in partner countries. We lead cooperation efforts to support countries where HIV prevalence is high like South Africa, Madagascar and Mozambique.”

Monaco signed a framework agreement with UNAIDS in 2007 and has provided support for UNAIDS work in Haiti (2010-2013), Burundi (2014-2016) and South Africa since 2017. The government of Monaco, Fight AIDS Monaco and UNAIDS vowed to continue their close collaboration on ending AIDS and reiterated their commitment to the Global AIDS Strategy 2021-2026 focusing on ending inequalities to end AIDS.  

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

FIGHT AIDS MONACO

Founded in 2004 by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Fight AIDS Monaco is a non-profit organization that helps people living with HIV. It also raises awareness about HIV prevention in schools and supports access to treatment and services in countries like Madagascar, Burundi, Mauritius and Ukraine. 

Monaco has joined a network of more than 250 cities worldwide by signing the Paris Declaration, making a commitment to Fast-Track its response to the HIV epidemic and adopt the 90–90–90 targets.

The 90-90-90 targets are that, by 2020, 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of all people living with HIV will have access to antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people on antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression.     

At a ceremony attended by Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who is also the President of Fight AIDS Monaco and a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador, the Mayor of the Principality, Georges Marsan, stressed the importance of testing as the entry point to getting people on treatment and keeping them healthy.   

Twice a year since 2012, Monaco has taken its HIV testing campaign to the streets of the principality through its Test in the City campaign. In his speech, the mayor also underlined the importance of preventing new HIV infections.   

In his remarks at the event, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé recalled visiting South Africa with Princess Stephanie in 2009, when just several hundred thousand people in the country had access to antiretroviral therapy to keep them alive and healthy. Today, he said, that number has expanded to 4.3 million people.

Mr Sidibé added that cities had a vital role to play as hubs of innovation and research and that they could help reach forgotten groups of people at risk of HIV infection.  

Also present at the event were Monaco’s Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Didier Gamerdinger, and the Vice-President of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Bertrand Audoin.

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco (right) awards UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé the Order of Saint Charles. Monaco, 18 November 2009.
Copyright: G. Luci-Palais Monaco

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé was awarded the Order of Saint Charles along with UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in the Principality of Monaco during the country’s National Day.

The order rewards merit and service to the state or Prince of Monaco and is one of the country’s most prestigious distinctions.

The medal was awarded in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover and Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie.

Expressing his appreciation for the award, Mr Sidibé emphasized the importance of Monaco’s efforts in the response to the AIDS epidemic, noting Monaco’s financial contribution to the response in priority countries Madagascar and Burundi and the personal commitment of the royal family.

Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie, Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, has been working with the organization since 2006 focusing on HIV prevention and raising awareness on the impact of discrimination against people living with HIV.

Mr Sidibé praised the leadership of Her Serene Highness in her work to increase the visibility of issues related to AIDS.

During his last visit to the country in May 2009, Mr Sidibé renewed the existing funding agreement between UNAIDS and Monaco until 2011.

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco; Her Serene Highness Princesse Stéphanie; UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. Monaco 29 May 2009.
Credit: Gaëtan Luci/Palais Princier

Strengthened cooperation between UNAIDS and Monaco was the aim of Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, on his first official visit to the Principality.

Mr Sidibé met with representatives of the government and civil society and had a private audience with His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and his sister, Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.

This visit was an opportunity to renew the existing funding agreement between UNAIDS and Monaco for another two years until 2011. Mr Sidibé met with senior government officials including Mireille Pettiti, Directeur Général, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Monaco and Mr Frédéric Platini, Director of the International Cooperation Directorate of Monaco.

Cooperation between UNAIDS and Monaco has grown in recent years as has the country’s financial contribution to AIDS response in priority countries including Madagascar and Burundi. The role played by Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie as Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS has also reinforced this partnership.

Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie (centre) and Jean-Jacques Campana, Conseiller de Gouvernement des Affaires Sociales et de la Santé (Minister of Health, Monaco) (right) met Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, 29 May 2009. Credit: Charly Gallo (Cdp) and Nicolas Saussier (Fight AIDS Monaco).

In his audience with the Prince Albert and Princess Stéphanie, his first in his role as UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Sidibé emphasized the importance of their respective leadership in environmental protection and the response to the AIDS epidemic. Although Monaco is a country small in size, through their worldwide advocacy outreach, the leadership of the Prince and the Princess reach beyond its borders.

The Executive Director’s visit included a meeting with the association “Fight AIDS Monaco” of which HSH Princess Stéphanie is the founder and president. She introduced Mr Sidibé to the Board members as well as some of its members. Mr Sidibé emphasized the importance of having people living with HIV at the centre of the initiative in order to carry forward the movement they have created. He also explained the necessity of implementing the principle of greater involvement of people living with HIV, or GIPA.

Princess Stéphanie has been working with UNAIDS since 2006, focusing on HIV prevention and raising awareness on the negative impact of discrimination against people living with HIV. Through her personal engagement and work, she has become an important role model and significant UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador.

The princess represented Monaco at the High Level Meeting on AIDS in New York in June 2006 where she expressed her personal commitment to the AIDS response.

She has twice visited Madagascar in 2007 and 2008 in order to raise awareness around HIV-related stigma and to support the local authorities and associations actively engaged in the AIDS response in their country. In 2008 HSH Princess Stéphanie renewed her commitment as UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for another two years.

The press conference which closed the visit was an opportunity to raise visibility for Monaco’s activities at national and international level with regard to HIV and show a strong sign of renewed commitment towards UNAIDS and the response to the epidemic.

Princess Stephanie is the
President of Fight AIDS
Monaco which she helped to
found in 2004.
Photo credit: C.Luci

UNAIDS Special Representative Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie inaugurated the new premises of Fight AIDS Monaco (FAM) on 13 June 2008.

Princess Stephanie is the President of Fight AIDS Monaco which she helped to found in 2004. As well as offering psychological and material support to people living with HIV and their families in Monaco, FAM also funds projects in Madagascar and Burundi. The organization regularly runs HIV information campaigns in local and regional media and prevention campaigns in schools and night clubs in Monaco.

The inauguration was attended by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco as well as Government and Parliamentary representatives. Also in attendance were volunteers and staff from Fight AIDS Monaco, people living with HIV and representatives from UNAIDS.

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot sent a message of support saying that the new premises will give a space for constructive dialogue that is framed by tolerance and respect. Dr Piot also praised HSH Princess Stephanie for her committed work on the AIDS response and support of people living with HIV.

L to R: Mariangela Bavicchi Lerner,
UNAIDS Chief of Resource Mobilization,
Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie
of Monaco and His Serene Highness
Prince Albert II of Monaco during the
inauguration of the new premises.
Photo credit: C.Luci 

The new premises will enable volunteers and staff of Fight AIDS Monaco to offer a range of services to some 150 people living with or affected by HIV. The space will allow the facilitation of group activities such as computer courses, yoga sessions and theatre courses. The organization also plans to offer more community events and outings to sporting events and concerts.

In October 2006 Princess Stephanie became a UNAIDS Special Representative choosing to focus on raising awareness on prevention and discrimination issues. Her Serene Highness is very active in a range of ways including organizing fundraising events such as a Gala dinner and concert in March this year, convening conferences and meetings to empower networks of people living with HIV, and highlighting the issue of stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV.

UNAIDS Special Representative Her
Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of
Monaco during the opening of the HIV+
Monaco meeting that takes place from
24-26 January in Monaco.
Photo credit: UNAIDS/G.Luci

UNAIDS Special Representative Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco has convened a meeting of HIV positive leaders in her home town of Monaco. The meeting, entitled ‘HIV+ Monaco’ which is taking place from 24-26 January has been organized in collaboration with The Government of Monaco, UNAIDS, Fight AIDS Monaco and The Living with HIV Partnership.

Key leaders from networks of people living with HIV met to reflect on how they can improve knowledge and information exchange on key issues, as well as improve collaboration among groups of people living with HIV at country, regional and global levels.

"The HIV+ Monaco Conference is an important opportunity for people living with HIV to develop their advocacy agenda," said Kate Thomson, UNAIDS' Acting Chief of Civil Society Partnerships. "The meeting will be critical in ensuring that the voices of women and men from all over the world have the possibility to shape the advocacy agenda as an essential component of the global AIDS response."

The outcomes of the conference will then feed into the International ‘Living with HIV Leadership Summit’ due to take place in Mexico on 31 July to 1 August 2008 (LIVING 2008) ahead of the 2008 International AIDS Conference. “We are proud that the HIV+ Monaco Conference offers HIV positive leaders the opportunity to meet and discuss key issues affecting their lives in preparation for the Mexico Summit,” said UNAIDS Special Representative HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco.

The HIV+ Monaco meeting will be followed by a 6-month global e-consultation to further develop thinking around issues which have been identified and gather evidence of best practice and lessons learnt for discussion at LIVING 2008.

"The road to LIVING 2008: Positive Leadership Summit begins in Monaco," said Kevin Moody from the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) representing the LIVING with HIV Partnership. "The participants at the HIV+ Monaco Conference are leaders with years of experience who are committed to improving and coordinating their advocacy work through an extended consultative process that will reignite the passion within the people living with HIV movement by setting the advocacy agenda for the next couple of years."

Photo credit : Palace of Monaco

Bringing together musicians, artists and other famous faces, UNAIDS Special Representative HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco continues her creative efforts to raise awareness and resources for the AIDS response.

The Princess is teaming up with the artists from the acclaimed musical Le Roi Soleil, as well as other famous international performers, to host two shows early next year at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Audiences attending the performances will be treated to an extraordinary “medley” show featuring selected songs from the musical accompanied by the Monaco Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to raising funds, as with all her AIDS activities, Princess Stephanie also hopes the event will bring the issues of AIDS and stigma and discrimination to the forefront.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Fight AIDS Monaco organization and the building of a special house – the ‘Maison la Vie’ - in Provence, France which will be a centre for dialogue for people living with HIV and will offer care and support services. The house is planned for opening by 2008 and Princess Stephanie hopes people living with HIV will come and “recharge their batteries”,gain self-confidence and build skills to face the challenges posed by AIDS.

The planned musical event is one of a several activities organized by the Princess for the benefit of people living with HIV. On World AIDS Day she hosted a charity auction in Monaco and earlier this year Princess Stephanie again showed her creative fundraising skills by launching a charity pop single “L'Or De Nos Vies” (The Gold of Our Lives).

Geneva, 19 November 2009 – The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé has been awarded one of Monaco’s most prestigious awards, the Order of Saint Charles, for services rendered to the state or the Prince. The award was presented jointly to Mr Sidibé and to the Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura at a high profile event in Monaco which took place during the country’s National Day.

Expressing his appreciation for the award, Mr Sidibé emphasized the importance of Monaco’s efforts in the response to the AIDS epidemic. “I am honoured to receive such an award. UNAIDS has been working very closely with Monaco to respond to the AIDS epidemic and it has been encouraging to see such commitment and dedication from Monaco and the Monegasque people. I look forward to continuing this important collaboration.”

Under Mr Sidibé’s leadership, cooperation between UNAIDS and Monaco in the AIDS response has strengthened since he took on the role of Executive Director of UNAIDS in January this year.

Monaco has increased their commitment to priority countries, in particular Madagascar and Burundi and Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who has been working with UNAIDS as a Goodwill Ambassador since 2006, has been actively raising awareness on HIV prevention and on the negative impact of discrimination against people living with HIV both in her role as Goodwill Ambassador and through her Association Fight AIDS Monaco.

Mr Sidibé was awarded the medal in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover and Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco.