Feature stories
December
- Innovative approaches at grassroots level in Zambia
- Slowing the high rate of new HIV infections among young girls in Zambia is being addressed with urgency by leadership on several levels across the country.
- Year in review: UNAIDS in 2007
- 2007 was pivotal in the AIDS response. The number of people living with HIV rose to new highs, but infection rates declined in some countries. Young people's sexual behaviours showed positive trends proving that prevention works, highlighting the need to scale up programmes to address the epidemics.
- UN special session follow-up: A World Fit for Children +5
- The United Nations Special Session on Children has ended with the adoption of a new Declaration on Children which reaffirms the commitments laid out five years ago at the assembly’s first Special Session on Children.
- Updated look and enhanced features for www.unaids.org
- Welcome to the refreshed UNAIDS web site! We are delighted to introduce a new-look design, restructured navigation for the site and a host of new features including a live newsfeed from UNAIDS Cosponsors, the new ‘Knowledge Centre’ and the new ‘Multimedia Centre’. We hope this enables you to find the information you need more easily. We invite you to browse the refreshed site and welcome your feedback.
- US Senate Committee discusses AIDS
- At a special hearing--'Meeting the Global Challenge of AIDS, TB and Malaria'--UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot addressed the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) about AIDS, the work of UNAIDS to address the epidemic, and the critical difference that the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has made in the AIDS response.
- Making HIV trials “work for women”
- At the end of a two-day consultation held in Geneva, health experts from international agencies, non-governmental and research organizations, universities and industry agreed on a series of steps aimed at ensuring HIV trials and interventions are designed and implemented to reflect more closely the needs of women.
- Women and HIV research
- Specialists on AIDS and women’s health meeting Geneva from December 10-11 to review the latest developments in research into preventing and treating HIV among women and adolescent girls agreed that a varied, multi-disciplined response is needed to get the best results for women and girls on AIDS issues.
- Human rights and universal access
- Human rights and its links to reaching the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support was central to the discussions of the eighth meeting of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights, an independent advisory body to UNAIDS, took place on 3-5 December 2007 in Geneva.
- Experts meet on women and HIV clinic trials
- Specialists on AIDS and women’s health will meet in Geneva from December 10-11 to review the latest developments in research into preventing and treating HIV among women and adolescent girls from HIV infection.
- Art as an inspiration
- In February 2006, internationally renown photographer Jonathan Torgovnik travelled to Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda for Newsweek magazine to cover the 25 years of AIDS through the eyes of UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot. During the Rwanda leg of the visit, Jonathan met Margaret, who not only became the subject for his pictures—and part of the Art for AIDS collection--but an inspiration for his life. In a special interview for the three-part series on Art for AIDS, Jonathan tells www.unaids.org
- President focuses on AIDS in Mexico
- As part of a six-day visit to Mexico, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot, met with Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, to discuss ways of increasing collaboration to strengthen the response to AIDS in the country.
- Art for AIDS: A sculptor’s voice
- In the second part of a special three part series on Art for AIDS. Zimbabwean sculptor Mike Munyaradzi shares his experiences as an artist and discusses the meaning of his Eradication sculpture and how artists have a role to play in the AIDS response.
- The role of women in HIV trials
- In the second of a three-part series on clinical trials and the search for effective HIV preventions and treatment, UNAIDS looks at why it is a scientific and ethical imperative that women and adolescent girls be adequately represented in testing and at the special issues that can surround their participation.
- Poland: Highlighting HIV and the family
- HIV was a major focus at this year’s World Family Summit, which took place in Warsaw, Poland, from November 26-29. While AIDS had been discussed at previous Summits, for the first time, the impact of HIV on families was incorporated into the declaration that resulted from the conference.
- More than words: ART for AIDS
- World AIDS day 2007 marked the first anniversary of the UNAIDS’ Art for AIDS collection—an art collection created to recognize the role art has played in the response to AIDS. In a special three-part series, www.unaids.org tells the story of the collection, and the artists who helped create it.
- Meeting ethical concerns over HIV trials
- In the first of a special three-part web series, www.unaids.org looks at the state of research into new HIV prevention technologies, the ethical debates around the issue, and the steps that have been taken to answer the concerns. The question of HIV trials, and in particular the involvement of women and adolescent girls in them, will be the subject of a two-day conference being hosted by UNAIDS in Geneva December 10-11.
- UN Secretary-General opens UNPlus exhibition
- In observance of World AIDS Day 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a photographic exhibition entitled "UN Plus" at the United Nations headquarters in New York with the members of UNPlus - the UN System HIV Positive Staff Group.
November
- World AIDS Day 2007
- This year's World AIDS Day theme – leadership – reminds us that, from government leaders to individuals, we all have a leadership role to play in the AIDS response and we are all accountable for the promises made. On 1 December UNAIDS participated in events around the globe to commemorate this special day of remembrance and hope.
- AIDS focus at U.S. Evangelical Summit
- UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot spoke today at the Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit in Lake Forest, California. Dr Piot noted the unique and important role in the global AIDS response of religious groups of all kinds, which provide HIV treatment, care and support in some of the remotest parts of the world.
- MTV launches ‘Staying Alive’ website
- MTV Networks International has re-launched www.staying-alive.org, the online portal for the company’s Staying Alive campaign. With the site, Staying Alive—the world’s biggest youth focused HIV prevention campaign—provides young people with a unique platform to exchange views on life, love and relationships while also accessing vital information on HIV prevention.
- AIDS, nutrition and food security
- In advance of World AIDS Day, UNAIDS cosponsor organizations the World Food Programme and the World Bank have released reports focusing on AIDS, nutrition, and food security.
- World AIDS Day 2007 - Statements
- On 1 December, people around the world celebrate World AIDS Day. This year, World AIDS Day focuses on ‘leadership’, the theme set by the World AIDS Campaign under the five-year slogan “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise”. Marking the day, the United Nations Secretary General, the Executive Director of UNAIDS and UNAIDS cosponsors and key partners speak out in special World AIDS Day statements.
- International consultation on Islam and AIDS
- Islamic Relief Worldwide is currently hosting a conference entitled ‘Islam and HIV/AIDS’ in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 to 30 November 2007. It will comprise of five days of consultations that aim to generate practical responses to HIV and AIDS. Elhadj As Sy, UNAIDS Director of Partnerships and External Relations gave a plenary address on 26th November 2007.
- First Global Parliamentary Meeting on AIDS
- The First Global Parliamentary Meeting on HIV/AIDS was opened on Wednesday 28 November in Manila by Mr Manny Villar, President of the Senate of the Philippines.
- UN Special Envoy speaks out on violence against women
- Marking International Day Against Violence Against Women and the start of the annual ’16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence’ (November 25), the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on AIDS for Africa, Elizabeth Makata, asks ‘when it comes to women, why are we so slow to act?’, in a special statement.
- AIDS on the agenda at Commonwealth Heads meeting
- UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Deborah Landey visited Kampala, Uganda from 16-17 November. In addition to meeting with various leaders in Uganda’s AIDS response from government and civil society, Dr Landey participated in a plenary session at the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting (GHOGM), which was taking place in Kampala during her visit.
- International consultation on AIDS estimates: Recommendations
- An International Consultation on AIDS Epidemiological Estimates, convened jointly by the UNAIDS Secretariat and WHO, was held on 14-15 November 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting brought together more than 30 technical experts and country epidemiologists from around the world to review the current processes and methodologies used by UNAIDS and WHO to produce HIV estimates at the country, regional and global level.
- International consultation on AIDS estimates
- Over the last eight years, estimates of HIV prevalence, incidence and mortality have been produced in close collaboration with countries, using methods developed by a reference group of internationally renowned scientists.
- Gearing up for World AIDS Day 2007
- With less than a month to go before this year’s World AIDS Day, events to commemorate the day are being organized all over the world. The 20th annual World AIDS Day—that takes place on December 1— will focus on leadership, the theme set by the World AIDS Campaign under the five-year slogan “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise”.
- News highlights from the 38th World Lung Health conference
- News highlights from the 38th World Lung Health conference provided by NAM
- Princess Stephanie of Monaco visits Madagascar
- UNAIDS Special Representative HSH Princess Stephanie of Monaco visited Madagascar to raise awareness around HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The visit was the first in her role as UNAIDS Special Representative and she met with a number of different groups and organisations working on AIDS issues in the country.
- 38 th Union World Conference on Lung Health
- More than 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the main annual conference on tuberculosis, which starts today in Cape Town , South Africa . This year’s theme for the 38 th Union World Conference on Lung Health is "Confronting the challenges of HIV and Multi-Drug Resistance in TB prevention and care”. In addition to the focus on HIV, the conference will also deal with other key international lung health-related issues, such as tobacco control, child lung health and asthma.
- Major TB Conference focuses on HIV
- More than 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the main annual conference on tuberculosis, which starts today in Cape Town, South Africa.
- HRH and UNAIDS Special Representative, the Crown Princess of Norway at CONCASIDA
- As part of an official visit to Nicaragua to learn more about the impact AIDS is having on women, UNAIDS Special Representative, HRH the Crown Princess of Norway visited a grassroots AIDS organisation working on issues of human rights and the sexual and reproductive rights of women and children.
- Princess of Norway visits grassroots AIDS organization
- As part of an official visit to Nicaragua to learn more about the impact AIDS is having on women, UNAIDS Special Representative, HRH the Crown Princess of Norway made time to pay a special visit to a grassroots AIDS organisation working on human rights and the sexual and reproductive rights of women and children.
- Second meeting of the Americas on AIDS, prisons and confinement
- Under discussion were the poor conditions many inmates are facing in prisons across Latin America, exacerbated by the lack of access to health services, dilapidated infrastructure, overcrowding and mistreatment. Another important issue discussed at the meeting was how to address the rapid spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases which occur in prisons with inadequate infrastructure and services
- Concern over Criminalization of HIV Transmission
- Several countries have recently introduced laws to criminalise HIV transmission, or exposing another person to the virus. A number of jurisdictions have used general laws against serious bodily harm in cases where someone is accused of knowingly transmitting HIV or willingly exposing others to HIV transmission.
- CONCASIDA 2007
- The 5th Central American Congress on HIV (CONCASIDA) is being held in Managua, Nicaragua, from 4-9 November.
- CONCASIDA 2007 in Nicaragua
- The 5th Central American Congress on HIV is being held in Managua, Nicaragua, from 4-9 November. Over 1,500 participants are expected to attend the Congress including representatives from governments, the United Nations, people living with HIV, women’s organizations, religious groups and the private sector.
October
- Translating AIDS knowledge
- It has been proven that people understand and retain information better when it is written in their own language. So when it comes to reaching as many people as possible with knowledge and information about AIDS making content available in a variety of languages is imperative.
- PANCAP: AIDS in the long-term
- AIDS has become the “greatest leadership challenge to nations and regions”, the UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director UNAIDS Michel Sidibe at the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), held in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados.
- AIDS, poverty and human development
- HIV strategies work best when there is a clear understanding of the relationship between AIDS, poverty and human development.
- President of India unites for children
- The Indian President, Pratibha Patil met representatives from UNAIDS, UNICEF, HIV positive networks and government officials in New Delhi to mark the second anniversary of the UNICEF/UNAIDS Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign. The President of India pledged her full support to the campaign and to addressing myths and misconceptions around HIV that are driving stigma and discrimination.
- Women join forces in Latin America
- Over 100 women leaders from Latin America met in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on 26 October for the third meeting of the Coalition of Latin American First Ladies and Women Leaders.
- 11th European AIDS Conference opens in Madrid
- The 11th European AIDS Conference runs from 24-27 October in Madrid, Spain. The conference, held every other year and attended by several thousand delegates, focuses on issues related to HIV clinical research and care in Europe.
- UNAIDS staff ‘stand up and speak out’ on International Poverty Day
- UNAIDS staff ‘stand up and speak out’ on International Poverty Day
- Global Staff Meeting 2007 in Geneva
- The agenda of the meeting included among others, skills building workshops, group discussions, panelists' reflections, conferences as well as feedback and evaluation of all the activities.
- Progress and challenges for Botswana
- In a joint mission, UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot and Dr Tadatakai Yamada, President of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Health Programme visited Botswana to gain a shared perspective of the progress and challenges facing the country in its AIDS response.
- Invest in Women – It Pays
- At the Women Deliver conference in London (18 – 20 Oct 2007), UNAIDS Executive Director called for renewed political support and increased funding to make sure that women’s health become a national priority across the world. He stressed that “healthy mothers and children are key to slowing down the AIDS epidemic”
- Stand up and speak out
- UNAIDS Secretariat staff in Geneva joined the STAND UP and SPEAK OUT events taking place across the globe, calling for leaders to take action against poverty and inequality and to achieve and exceed the Millennium Development Goals.
- European meeting discusses migration, TB and HIV
- Migration, mobile populations and tuberculosis were priority focus areas at the meeting of EU national AIDS Coordinators, organized by the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union. UNAIDS Deputy Director Michel Sidibe stressed that increased action in these areas as vital in the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- Sport and HIV prevention
- With the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games less than a year away, sporting fever is gripping China and the surrounding countries.
- “Overwhelming and Inspiring”
- Rupert Everett, the film and theatre actor (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Another Country), and Special Representative of UNAIDS visited Moscow and St Petersburg 23 – 26 September, to learn more about AIDS and tuberculosis in Russia and to help raise awareness about these two important, inter-linked diseases.
- Business and AIDS
- The role of business in the AIDS response was discussed at a special symposium on ‘International visions on the future of health care in resource-poor settings’ organized by Heineken international in Amsterdam.
September
- UNAIDS pledges to help ‘make the money work’ for Global Fund
- World Leaders joined in Berlin, Germany on Thursday 27 September to announce their financial pledges to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria for the next three years.
- Financial resource requirements for AIDS
- UNAIDS has released a new report on the estimated financial resources required for the AIDS response. The report, entitled Financial Resources required to Achieve Universal Access to HIV, Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support* puts forward three different approaches to financing the AIDS response including:
- Global Fund Replenishment meeting opens in Berlin
- Delegates from donor countries and international organizations gathered in Berlin on Wednesday 26 September to begin the second of the Global Fund’s biennial meetings to raise funds for its programmes to provide essential HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services in developing countries.
- Resource needs for AIDS in low- and middle-income countries: estimation process and methods
- Resource needs for AIDS in low- and middle-income countries: estimation process and methods
- Latin America countries discuss AIDS spending
- Understanding the magnitude of spending on AIDS programmes, the sources of such funding, and the activities supported by such expenditures is critically important to policymakers, programme planners, and international donors.
- One year on: UNITAID celebrates achievements
- One year on since its establishment, the international drug purchase facility – UNITAID – is celebrating a number of key achievements including price reductions and increased delivery of AIDS treatment.
- Improving partnership and harmonization on AIDS
- To help countries ensure inclusive, participatory national responses to AIDS, UNAIDS with the World Bank has developed the ‘Country Harmonization and Alignment Tool (CHAT) to help map stakeholders in countries and assess the strengths and weaknesses of their engagement with the national AIDS response.
- UNAIDS Executive Director addresses US academia on AIDS
- UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot today participated in a forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, D.C., discussing the United States’ important role in the global AIDS response and the upcoming reauthorization of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In addition to Dr. Piot, U.S. Representative Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Kent R. Hill of the U.S. Agency for International Development also spoke at the forum.
- The role of academia in the global AIDS response
- The important role of academic organizations in the global AIDS response was underlined on Tuesday 18 September in a special lecture given at Washington D.C.’s Howard University by UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.
- Positive response to AIDS in Ukraine
- Experience and evidence show that for an effective response to AIDS, it is essential to involve people living with HIV at all levels. Networks of people living with HIV are uniquely well qualified to help unify the response and maximize efforts to reach out to communities as well as influence national policy.
- Promoting sport and HIV prevention
- 'What do you want to do when you grow up?' 'Play cricket for South Africa!' the six boys cried out in unison when asked about their future aspirations
- McCullum backs HIV and AIDS campaign
- Neil McCullum wears two caps – star cricketer for Scotland on the pitch as well as a physical education teacher.
- “Cricket can help combat HIV and AIDS”, says Graeme Smith
- The Proteas skipper Graeme Smith is not only upbeat about victory in the ICC 2007 World Twenty20 but also optimistic about how cricket can add to combating HIV among children and young people.
- Aussie stars support loveLife project
- Nathan Bracken and Brad Hodge took time out of their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 2007 to visit a project as part of the ICC’s work with UNAIDS and UNICEF to raise awareness on AIDS.
- AIDS: everybody’s business
- Finding innovative solutions to key health challenges to ensure the long-term economic development and well being of nations worldwide was the focus for business leaders attending the three-day meeting of New Champions, which took place in Dalian in the People’s Republic of China from 6 to 8 September 2007.
- Pakistan cricket team talks about HIV prevention
- Bats flashing. Balls flying. The three young boys, their fingers intertwined in the links
- AIDS focus at ICC South Africa cricket championship
- International cricketers will highlight the situation of children and yound people living with HIV as part of a far-reaching AIDS awareness campaign during the 2007 World Twenty20 cricket championship in South Africa.
- International Health Partnership launch
- Leaders from donor countries, funding organizations, developing nations, and international agencies are coming together in London today (Wednesday 5 September) to launch a new international partnership aimed at improving healthcare systems in the developing world.
- Faith leaders join in Nigeria on AIDS
- Over 150 leaders from all denominations of Christian and Islamic faith communities came together in Abuja, Nigeria to take stock of faith-based organizations’ achievements and good practices within the AIDS response in the country and to examine challenges faced for the future.
- Cricket chief and star show AIDS solidarity in India
- Cricket stars joined UNICEF in a visit to an ART hospital in India.
- Stars back AIDS awareness campaign at ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa
- Cricket stars from across the world will support the International Cricket Council's (ICC) partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF at the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 2007, which takes place in South Africa from 11 to 24 September, to highlight the situation of children and young people living with and affected by HIV.
August
- The process behind AIDS estimates
- As part of continuning efforts to gain a better understanding of the AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS and WHO have taken a series of measures to improve the estimation process. Countries have been encouraged to expand their data collection methods, methodology used to analyse this new data has been improved and a series of workshops have been held to train people in countries in the complex process of estimating the AIDS epidemic. This process is resulting in more concise estimations and a better understan
- Funding estimates for AIDS research and development
- For a comprehensive response to AIDS, developing additional HIV prevention methods and tools to prevent HIV – such as HIV vaccines and microbicides -- is a key component.
- UNAIDS Special Representative Mary Fisher visits Zambia
- As part of her work as UNAIDS Special Representative, AIDS activist, public speaker, author and artist Mary Fisher visited Lusaka, Zambia in August to promote AIDS awareness and increase support for various AIDS initiatives within the country.
- First association for people living with HIV in Pakistan
- A new national initiative from UNAIDS in Pakistan aims to ensure that communities and the government listen to the experts - people living with HIV - when making decisions about treatment, care, support and prevention
- Myanmar: Towards universal access
- What will it take to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in Myanmar? This was the central discussion of a satellite meeting held as part of the 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) on Monday 20 August.
- 8th International congress on AIDS in ASIA and the Pacific
- The 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) takes place in Colombo, Sri Lanka on from 19 - 24 August. The conference brings together more than 3,000 delegates from some 60 countries to discuss critical issues on AIDS in the region such as stigma and discrimination, access to HIV prevention and treatment and the importance of sustained political commitment on AIDS.
- 8th International congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
- The 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) takes place in Colombo, Sri Lanka on from 19 - 24 August. The conference brings together more than 3,000 delegates from some 60 countries to discuss critical issues on AIDS in the region such as stigma and discrimination, access to HIV prevention and treatment and the importance of sustained political commitment on AIDS
- Perspectives on Asia Pacific AIDS conference
- In the run up to the 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) which takes place in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 19-23 August 2007., UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Deborah Landey and UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Prasada Rao, share their hopes and expectations for the conference.
- Scouts get the HIV message
- As part of the international scout jamboree held in Britain over the summer, UNAIDS ran workshops on HIV prevention, personal responsibility in HIV transmission and respect for the human rights of positive people.
- New Blog gets HIV science online
- For the latest news, views and reviews on HIV coverage in the scientific literature – log on to http://hivthisweek.unaids.org !
- Gender and AIDS in the Middle East and North Africa
- Empowerment of women and promotion of gender equality were underlined as critical to reducing vulnerability to HIV in the Middle East and North Africa [MENA] at a recent gathering of experts in the region.
- HIV prevention wins gold with African athletes
- As the flags were hoisted, national anthems sung and medals presented, HIV prevention emerged as a new champion at the 2007 All Africa games held in Algeria in July.
- UNAIDS and Indian business giant to link up for AIDS
- UNAIDS and India’s largest private company, Reliance Industries Limited, are working to strengthen collaboration on AIDS issues with the aim of promoting greater access to HIV information, prevention and treatment services across India
July
- Caribbean faith leaders respond to AIDS
- The two-day forum, held in Barbados, brought together more than 130 religious leaders in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to discuss inclusion and human sexuality in the context of AIDS. The Forum was organised by the Barbados Evangelical Association (BEA) with the National HIV/AIDS Commission and UNAIDS.
- Sydney AIDS Conference reports on scientific advances in HIV treatment and prevention
- The 4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention came to a close in Sydney today. Over 5,000 delegates from 133 countries came together for the four-day conference to examine the latest developments in HIV-related research.
- 4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Sydney
- UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director of Programmes, Michel Sibide at the 4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Sydney, Australia from 22-25 July 2007
- Global initiative to stop the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men
- In a bid to scale up action and stop the spread of HIV among men who have sex with men, the Foundation for AIDS Research, amFAR has launched an initiative to support grassroots MSM organizations at the International AIDS Conference in Sydney.
- Third Asia Pacific Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS
- In efforts to further strengthen the response to the epidemic in the region, the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID, and the Asia Pacific Business Coalition Against AIDS, APBCA, brought together business and government representatives and Ministers for the Third Asia Pacific Ministerial Meeting on HIV/AIDS.
- 4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, Sydney 2007
- The fourth conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, will be taking place in Sydney Australia from 22-25 July 2007. The conference will be focusing on treatment and pathogenesis, while building upon the biomedical prevention agenda introduced in Rio de Janeiro in 2005.
- 4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention opens in Sydney
- The Australian Society for HIV Medicine and the International AIDS Society are hosting the 4th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Sydney, Australia from 22-25 July 2007.
- Improving national and regional HIV estimates
- Between March and June 2007, national epidemiologists, analysts and heads of AIDS programmes from 124 countries have taken part in specialist UNAIDS training to improve and refine country HIV estimates.
- Lesotho’s church leaders step up AIDS response
- Fifteen prominent church leaders in Lesotho have signed a statement of commitment on AIDS, pledging to confront the epidemic and to support people living with HIV in a united front.
- China: UNAIDS awards leadership excellence
- UNAIDS today acknowledged good progress that has been made in China’s response to AIDS, presenting special awards to China’s Vice Minister of Health, Dr Wang Longde and Professor Zhang Beichuan from Qingdao University, for their leadership on AIDS issues.
- Partnership central to China’s AIDS response
- Leadership, commitment and ensuring the involvement of a wide range of partners in the AIDS response– including people living with HIV –have been underlined as critical to progress on AIDS in China, during a week-long UNAIDS mission to the country (15 – 20 July)
- Love, live, dream: women against AIDS in Armenia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine
- During a nine day tour of five countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a group of HIV advocates met with policy makers and civil society organizations to raise awareness on women and AIDS in this part of the world.
- Results of recent population-based surveys
- By mid 2007 a total of 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa had conducted surveys. In addition the two countries in the Caribbean with the largest HIV burden, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, as well as India and Cambodia in Asia had also conducted population-based surveys
- 2.5 million people living with HIV in India
- As part of its continuous efforts to know its epidemic better, India’s National AIDS Control Organisation, supported by UNAIDS, is using data from the expanded surveillance system and a new population-based survey to produce more accurate estimates of the AIDS epidemic in India.
- African First Ladies determined to speed up AIDS response
- Representatives from more than 20 countries gathered in Accra, Ghana on the occasion of the 5th General Assembly of the Organization of African First Ladies Against AIDS (OAFLA) held on the margins of the 9th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.
- Does it work for women?
- Members of the Leadership Council of the Global Coalition of Women on AIDS are meeting prior to the International Women’s Summit to exchange information and experience on strategies that are working for women and areas where increased action is needed.
- Changing lives, changing communities: International Women's Summit, Kenya 2007
- Hosted by the World YWCA, the International Women’s Summit on Women’s Leadership on HIV, brings together over 1500 people, including global leaders, high level policy makers, celebrities, community health workers and AIDS activists from 4 to 7 July to develop strategies, skills and partnerships in response to the impact of AIDS on women and girls.
- Call to intensify HIV prevention
- In a new report released on HIV prevention, AIDS experts estimate that expanded HIV prevention could avert 30 million HIV infections by 2015
June
- Brazil shares best AIDS practice with parliamentarians
- International politicians seeking guidance on how to better prevent and treat HIV joined community health workers in Brazil as they made their house calls.
- Planting trees for AIDS in China
- Two issues of global importance, AIDS and the environment, were highlighted during a symbolic tree planting event led by organisations of people living with HIV in China.
- Implementers' meeting
- Donors, AIDS experts and implementers from around the world are gathering in Kigali, Rwanda to attend the 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting.
- India: Driving forward an effective AIDS response
- As India launches its National AIDS Control Plan III-widely recognized as being the most effective AIDS plan India has had - UNAIDS underlines India’s potential to ‘set an example for the rest of the world’
- What about the Children?
- A panel chaired by UNICEF’s Director of Programmes Alan Court discussed the missing faces of children in planning AIDS treatment programmes.
- TB/HIV - Interlinking epidemics
- With HIV-related tuberculosis (TB) cases increasing in many parts of Africa, Dr Chakaya Muhwa highlighted the work of the Kenyan government to establish clear policy guidelines and effective organizational structures.
- Mothers as mentors
- As part of efforts to prevent transmission of HIV from new mothers to their babies, South Africa has set up a programme called “Mothers to Mothers” (m2m).
- Improving confidentiality and security of HIV information
- Keeping patient confidentially a priority while collecting data is a key issue raised in new guidelines on security and HIV information.
- Focus on: HIV and refugees
- As UNHCR announces that the number of refugees has increased for the first time since 2002, AIDS remains a key challenge for growing displaced populations.
- Women's Tour to five countries of the Commonwealth Independent States - photo gallery
- Photo gallery of the tour of women against AIDS in Armenia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine. Women against AIDS tour was conceived in the midst of a growing concern that women are increasingly at risk of HIV infection in many parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The percentage of adults living with HIV who are women has risen from 11% in 1990 to 28% in 2006.
- Scaling up through partnerships
- Donors, AIDS experts and implementers from around the world are gathering in Kigali, Rwanda to attend the 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting.
- Prevention programming for young people
- Following the official opening of the HIV/AIDS Implementers Meeting in Kigali, presenters from Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uzbekistan, Namibia and Haiti shared their experiences in HIV prevention programming for young people.
- HIV Implementers meeting opens in Kigali
- Representatives from over 50 countries came together in Kigali on 16 June for the opening session of the HIV/AIDS Implementer’s Meeting. The opening remarks highlighted the importance of leadership and of scaling up partnerships to improve the quality and impact of the response to the AIDS epidemic.
- Breaking the silence in Mozambique
- In 2005 a four-year Joint UN Gender programme was established in Mozambique to support the growing number of women affected by the AIDS epidemic in the country.
- AIDS responses in post-conflict Sierra Leone
- In 2005, HIV prevalence in Sierra Leone was at 1.6%, but in the post-conflict reconstruction of Sierra Leone, the response to the AIDS epidemic came far down the list of priorities. In a bid to strengthen the response to AIDS in the country UNAIDS established an office in Freetown in January of 2005 which helped pave the way for HIV to be mainstreamed into development instruments and forums such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, the Development Partners’ Committee and Donors’ Consultative Group meetings.
- Involving communities in national AIDS responses
- UNAIDS in collaboration with the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO), the African Council of AIDS Service Organizations (AfriCASO) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance are launching Coordinating with Communities – Guidelines on the Involvement of the Community Sector in the Coordination of National AIDS Responses.
- South Africa AIDS Conference
- At the opening of the third South African AIDS Conference, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot congratulated South Africa on its five-year National Strategic Plan for AIDS and said the country is now well placed to lead Africa into a “new phase in the AIDS response.”
- New report shows increase in AIDS financing but funding still falls short
- Financing the response to the global AIDS epidemic has emerged as one of the world’s greatest health and development challenges.
- Keeping Score: AIDS responses in the Caribbean
- To demonstrate commitments and progress made by countries in the Caribbean to addressing AIDS, and to highlight programming challenges , the CARICOM based Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have launched a comprehensive report on national AIDS responses in the region.
- Grameenphone telecommunications joins forces with UNAIDS
- Bangladesh’s leading telecommunications service provider, Grameenphone Ltd has joined forces with UNAIDS to drive forward advocacy and awareness raising on AIDS issues, as part of the work of the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on AIDS (APLF) in Bangladesh.
May
- HIV testing and counseling: new guidance
- WHO and UNAIDS issued new guidance on informed, voluntary HIV testing and counselling in the world's health facilities on Wednesday 30 May, with a view to significantly increasing access to needed HIV treatment, care support and prevention services.
- Asian media unites against AIDS
- Top Asian broadcasters, producers, journalists and media executives have pledged to step up their response to AIDS and form the Asia Pacific Media AIDS initiative to ensure increased and improved media coverage of AIDS issues in the region.
- Zackie Achmat: “Uniting for HIV prevention”
- Founder and chairman of the Treatment Action Campaign, renowned activist Zackie Achmat shares his thoughts on why “uniting for HIV prevention” is critical for the sustainability of the AIDS response as well as healthcare systems, communities and society in general.
- UN General Assembly meets on AIDS
- At the 61st session of the General Assembly, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon confirmed his support to the AIDS response promising to ensure that the international community remains united against the epidemic.
- UN Plus meets UN Secretary General - Photo Gallery
- As part of the 61st session of the General Assembly, UN Plus– the UN system-wide group of staff living with HIV– met with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to brief him on the key achievements of the group since its inception in March 2005 and to discuss the opportunities and challenges that UN positive staff face at work.
- UN Plus meets UN Secretary General
- UN Plus– the UN system-wide group of staff living with HIV– met with the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to brief him on the key achievements of the group since its inception in March 2005 and to discuss the opportunities and challenges and limitations that UN positive staff face at work.
- International Day Against Homophobia
- Homophobia is one of the key drivers behind HIV epidemics and poses a critical challenge to moving forward with an effective AIDS response.
- Haiti: UNAIDS strengthening partnerships to ‘make the money work’
- In Haiti, UNAIDS and the Fondation SOGEBANK – the Global Fund’s principal recipient in the country – kick off a series of initiatives to help develop a multi-sectoral AIDS response in the country with an event to encourage action from the business sector.
- Reducing drug related harm
- After 20 years of harm reduction research and programming, many challenging questions remain.
- AIDS: agent for change
- “AIDS is forcing us to adopt new approaches, look at things differently, and transform the way we do things,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot as he gave the 2007 Payne Lecture at America’s prestigious Stanford University on May 9
- Injecting drug use: focused HIV prevention works
- Drug users not only face physical risks of HIV infection, they are also vulnerable to HIV because of their social and legal status. Illegal in many countries, drug use is punishable by incarceration and is highly stigmatized, which further marginalizes people with drug dependence problems. As a consequence, injecting drug users are often not able or willing to access HIV services for fear of recrimination.
- Drive for AIDS funding in Côte d’Ivoire
- The President of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Laurent Gbagbo, is leading the drive to mobilize resources for the implementation of the county’s national AIDS plan.
- South Africa marks key AIDS milestones
- The AIDS response in South Africa has been given a boost with the successful endorsement of two key processes: the restructured South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and a new national AIDS plan which will guide South Africa’s response to AIDS over the next five years.
- First global consultation on HIV and internally displaced people
- The first global consultation on HIV and internally displaced people took place in Geneva from 24 to 25 April, bringing together some 45 experts from governments, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations and the academic world.
- Swaziland: community involvement key
- The involvement and participation of communities in providing care and support to people living with HIV and orphans in Swaziland has been heralded as a prime example of ‘best practice’
April
- E-forum gets HIV prevention online
- A new electronic discussion forum (e-form) on ‘accelerating HIV prevention’, launched by UNAIDS and partners in southern and eastern Africa, encourages people to get online to debate, share knowledge and build partnerships on HIV prevention issues.
- The UN: Delivering as One
- UNAIDS’ Deputy Executive Director Deborah Landey was in Brazzaville recently to participate in a meeting on ‘Africa’s agenda in a reforming UN system’.
- FORO 2007 closes in Buenos Aires
- The IV Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STD’s came to a close on 20 April 2007 in Buenos Aires.
- Supporting people living with HIV in China
- In 2005 UNAIDS estimated that there were close to 650,000 people living with HIV in China, a country which has many factors that could lead to a rapid spread of the epidemic; high mobility, large-scale labour migration, high numbers of sex workers, low condom use, a large number of people who inject drugs, low overall awareness of AIDS as well as severe stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV.
- Rwanda ready for Implementers Meeting
- Despite many challenges in the country, Rwanda is demonstrating an exceptional commitment to bring together a successful 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementer’s Meeting in Kigali.
- UNAIDS’ Executive Director signs the Call to Stop TB
- Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot has joined the list of high-ranking officials and celebrities who have signed the ‘Call to Stop TB’.
- FORO 2007 opens in Buenos Aires
- The IV Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STD’s opened in Buenos Aires on 17 April under the theme "Latin America and the Caribbean: United in diversity towards universal access".
- Treatment figures reach 2 million
- WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF have launched a new report on scaling up priority AIDS interventions in the health sector.
- Intensifying HIV prevention: country guidance critical
- Guidance for countries on the definitions, core components and quality standards for HIV prevention activities is critical for future action to intensify prevention, world experts said at the recent meeting of the UNAIDS HIV Prevention Reference Group.
- Securing the future – advocating for children
- Children still remain largely the missing face from national and international political responses to AIDS. In response, the UNAIDS Secretariat and cosponsor UNICEF recently joined a group of advocates and activists from around the world.
- Harm reduction to be scaled up in Ukraine
- Unsafe injecting drug use is the main driver of the AIDS epidemic in Ukraine. As part of efforts to address injecting drug use and its relationship with HIV, Ukraine recently held a national conference on harm reduction which attracted over 400 participants.
- Not any different from you!
- These testimonials are part of a recently launched national campaign to promote solidarity with people living with HIV in Moldova.
- AIDS events continue at World Cricket Cup
- As the remaining eight teams battle it out in the ICC Cricket World Cup, UNAIDS and partners continue to highlight the situation of children living with HIV in events in and around the championship.
- Be Smart winners!
- Prizes have been given out for the “Be smart protect yourself” competition with winners receiving sweatshirts signed by UNAIDS Special Representative Michael Ballack.
- Thailand’s condom chain World Record
- Guinness World Records™ have confirmed that Thailand has officially set the world record for the longest chain of condoms: 2,715 metres.
March
- HIV/TB features in World TB Day events
- Events linked to World TB Day in Ghana and Malawi highlight the importance of greater collaboration between the HIV and TB communities in order to reduce the burden of these leading causes of death.
- UNAIDS acts to strengthen ‘GIPA’ with new policy
- Supporting the active engagement of people living with HIV in the AIDS response is one of UNAIDS’ most important goals.
- Burkina Faso: 'Exceptional leadership' on AIDS
- At the 6th annual session of Burkina Faso’s National AIDS Commission, President Blaise Compaoré underlined his personal commitment to AIDS issues, chairing the 10-hour session and calling for a scaling-up of the AIDS response towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the country.
- Launch of the 2007 Global Tuberculosis Control Report
- The lethal combination of TB and HIV will be highlighted on this year’s World TB Day 24th March. TB is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV––and the weakened immune system caused by HIV makes people living with HIV at greatly increased risk of developing TB disease. UNAIDS, WHO and the Stop TB Partnership have pledged to work together to fight against these deadly viruses.
- Together against TB and HIV
- The lethal combination of TB and HIV will be highlighted on this year’s World TB Day 24th March. TB is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV––and the weakened immune system caused by HIV makes people living with HIV at greatly increased risk of developing TB disease. UNAIDS, WHO and the Stop TB Partnership have pledged to work together to fight against these deadly viruses.
- Focused AIDS programmes in Asia and the Pacific
- This month’s review of the UNAIDS Best Practice collection looks at the issue of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Asia and the Pacific region and the focused programmes implemented in six countries that are showing progress.
- UNAIDS interviews UN Special Envoy to Stop TB
- Ahead of World TB Day, UNAIDS asks the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Stop TB and former President of Portugal, Dr Jorge Sampaio about his involvement in the fight against TB, its links with HIV and what he sees are the top priorities for HIV/TB collaboration in the future.
- TB Anywhere is TB Everywhere
- TB ANYWHERE IS TB EVERYWHERE is the theme of this year’s World TB Day (24 March). The 2007 theme emphasizes that TB remains a global emergency, despite the fact that it is a preventable and curable disease.
- “Leadership”: theme for World AIDS Day 2007-2008
- "Leadership" has been chosen by the World AIDS Campaign as the theme for World AIDS Day 2007 and 2008.
- One woman’s fight against AIDS in Ukraine
- As Ministers from across Europe gather in Bremen, Germany for the European AIDS Conference, one woman tells her story about how she is tackling the epidemic in the most affected country in the region, Ukraine.
- Cricket World Cup raises AIDS awareness
- Cricket’s biggest and most prestigious event will highlight the situation of children and young people living with and affected by HIV.
- European AIDS Conference 2007
- Representatives of 27 European Union and neighbouring countries met in Bremen, Germany to discuss ways of strengthening political leadership in the response to AIDS. Over 600 people attended the conference which was organised by the German Federal Government as part of its 2007 European Union Presidency. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot spoke on the opening day about the epidemic in the region and actions necessary to curb the epidemic. The second day of the Conference included workshops
- Responsibility and Partnership – Together against HIV/AIDS
- Representatives of 25 European Union and neighbouring countries are meeting in Bremen, Germany to discuss ways of strengthening political leadership in the response to AIDS.
- International Women's Day: Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women
- During a visit to Bangkok, Thailand, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot met with the Prime Minister of Thailand and celebrated the International Women’s Day with the Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and with Ms. Joana Merlin-Scholtes, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand.
- International Women’s Day: an interview with Purnima Mane
- On International Women’s Day, Purnima Mane, UNAIDS Director of Policy, Evidence and Partnerships and a renowned expert in gender issues tells us about women and AIDS and how violence against women increases women’s risk to HIV.
- International experts review male circumcision
- The first ever International Consultation on Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention: Implications for Policy and Programming is taking place this week in Montreux, Switzerland.
- UNAIDS releases 'Practical Guidelines for Intensifying HIV Prevention'
- UNAIDS today released Practical Guidelines for Intensifying HIV Prevention: Towards Universal Access to assist policy makers and planners in countries to strengthen their national HIV prevention response.
- Moving forwards: UN policy and action on male circumcision (Part 3)
- In the final part of a special series on the issue of male circumcision and its links to the reduction of HIV acquisition, www.unaids.org discusses expected upcoming action and developments from the United Nations on male circumcision through a special interview with UNAIDS Chief Scientific Adviser, Dr Catherine Hankins.
- Rock star’s legacy helps children living with HIV
- Cazuza, one of Brazil's best-known solo artists, died in 1990 of an AIDS-related illness in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 32.
February
- Male Circumcision and HIV: the here and now (Part 2)
- In the second of a special three-part series on the issue of male circumcision and its links to the reduction of HIV acquisition, www.unaids.org considers current research findings.
- Male Circumcision: context, criteria and culture (Part 1)
- Male circumcision is one of the oldest and most common surgical procedures known, traditionally undertaken as a mark of cultural identity or religious importance.
- Male circumcision and HIV: a web special series
- Male circumcision is one of the world’s oldest surgical practices; carvings depicting circumcisions have been found in ancient Egyptian temples dating as far back as 2300 BC.
- HIV and refugees
- Conflict, persecution and violence affect millions of people worldwide, forcing them to uproot their lives. Refugees are those who flee their country of origin across national borders, often to a neighbouring country. UNAIDS in collaboration with UNHCR have developed a policy brief that focuses specifically on actions required to prevent and mitigate the effect of HIV on refugees and their host communities.
- UNAIDS at country level
- UNAIDS has released a new report examining the country-level work of UNAIDS in 2005 and early 2006 within the context of regional and global efforts to move towards universal access.
- Be smart – protect yourself
- German football star and UNAIDS Special Representative Michael Ballack is featuring in a new public service announcement on AIDS, speaking out on HIV prevention and urging young people to make the smart choices.
- Strengthening collaboration on AIDS
- UNAIDS Executive Director was in Spain from 9-12 February to further collaboration efforts with Spain in the response to AIDS.
- Contemporary African art and AIDS
- Tradition, nature, myths and day-to-day life are sources of inspiration that shape the works of contemporary African artists.
- Traditional healers join the AIDS response
- Traditional healers are respected members of communities and play a critical role in the health-care delivery system, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Fashionable jobs for people living with HIV
- The Algerian association of people living with HIV, El Hayet, has launched a pilot project to help people living with HIV get back into the workplace.
January
- AIDS focus at ASEAN Summit
- Asia has the second largest number of people living with HIV in the world and its share of the global epidemic is increasing. Faced with such challenges, countries across the region are stepping up commitment to fight AIDS and putting AIDS and its effects at the centre of many political and socio-economic discussions.
- Hope for street children
- Street children in Cairo, are at a far higher risk of exposure to HIV than children who have a stable homelife. Workers at the Hope Village Society, an organisation looking after Cairo’s street children, have been working with UNICEF and UNAIDS to incorporate AIDS awareness in their educational programmes.
- UNAIDS Executive Director visits Ireland
- UNAIDS Executive Director was in Dublin, Ireland on Tuesday 30th January to sign with Conor Lenihan TD, Minister of State for Irish Aid, a new €30 million, five year partnership between Ireland and UNAIDS.
- Ireland to Stamp out Stigma
- Ireland is pledging to “Stamp out” AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in Ireland as part of a national campaign launched by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on 1 December 2006.
- World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2007
- Some 2,400 people from 90 countries are attending the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The meeting, taking place from 24-28 January, has attracted global leaders from government, business, religious, media and civil society sectors. The overarching theme this year is “Shaping the Global Agenda, The Shifting Power Equation,” focusing in particular on political and socio-economic issues.
- UN film festival: call for entries
- In celebration of the Millennium Development Goals, the Media Communications Association International, the United Nations Department of Public Information and the New School are calling for entries for the Third Annual United Nations Documentary Film Festival. The Festival, entitled ‘Stories from the Field’ will take place on Friday, April 20 through Sunday, April 22, 2007, and feature film screenings, panel discussions, and award presentations.
- Getting involved is good for business
- Bill Roedy, President of MTV Networks International and UNAIDS Special Representative talks to the Executive Director of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria John Tedstrom about media's involvement in the AIDS response.
- Learning from experience
- To help drive the knowledge-sharing process, in 1997 UNAIDS began the production of its ‘Best Practice Collection’— a series of publications ranging from guidelines, updates and policy papers to case studies, handbooks, and examinations of particular challenges and responses, all designed to promote learning, share experience and empower people and partners engaged in the AIDS response.
- AIDS: getting the message
- The Pan American Health Organization has produced a DVD anthology of nearly 200 television spots about HIV that have been shown around the Americas region over the last ten years. The disc set “VIHdeo America” was compiled to share information and experiences and help encourage new approaches to AIDS communications and messaging.
- Signs of progress in global response to Children and AIDS
- At the end of 2005, UNICEF, UNAIDS and other partners launched Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS initiative to highlight the missing face of the child in the AIDS response. On Tuesday 16 January, just over a year into the initiative, UNICEF released the “Children and AIDS: A Stocktaking” report which highlights progress and breakthroughs in the global response to Children and AIDS since the campaign launch.
- ASEAN Summit Special Session on AIDS
- Heads of State from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) held an extraordinary session on AIDS at their 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines on Saturday 13 January. A UNAIDS report considered by the Heads of State at the Session called for decisive leadership on the long-term response to AIDS in the region.
- Words are not neutral against HIV
- Words such as ‘HIV positive’ and ‘People living with HIV’ are gradually replacing other terms, such as ‘AIDS sufferers’ and ‘disease victims' , which used to flourish. Why are we witnessing such a change? How does it come about? And most important, what does it mean?
