Feature stories
December
- UNAIDS in 2008: A year of progress, challenge, debate, and change
- 2008 has been a year of progress, challenge, debate, and change. In this year end review, UNAIDS provides a snapshot of key issues, events, and initiatives that shaped the global AIDS response in the past 12 months.
- Supporting young learners living with HIV in Namibia and Tanzania
- According to a new UNESCO report the learning needs of HIV-positive children in Namibia and Tanzania are currently not being met by their education sectors whose AIDS responses are described as wanting in many respects.
- More prevention focus needed for the Caribbean to sharpen its response to HIV
- Those at highest risk of being infected by HIV in the Caribbean are not generally included at the heart of HIV prevention strategies. This is one of the conclusions of Keeping Score II, a publication launched by UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team recently in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
- Love in a Time of HIV
- “It is possible to love someone with HIV. It is not different from loving anybody else,” says Christina Rodriguez in one of the five episodes of a new documentary series exploring how young people living with HIV are navigating the transition to adulthood and their sexual and reproductive lives.
- Guyana launches national ‘faith-and-HIV’ coalition
- The National AIDS Programme Secretariat of the Ministry of Health in Guyana (NAPS/MOH) convened a National Conference on “faith-and-HIV,” supported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on 11 December 2008. The aim of the conference was to establish a national coalition of faith leaders of all denominations in Guyana to address HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
- Dr Peter Piot delivers final report to UNAIDS’ governing board as Executive Director
- The 23rd Meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland on 15 - 17 December 2008. UNAIDS is guided by the PCB with representatives of 22 governments from all geographic regions, the UNAIDS Cosponsors, and five representatives of nongovernmental organizations, including associations of people living with HIV.
- New UNAIDS Web Survey
- “UNAIDS is trying to gain insight into our audience and better understand how users of our website feel about the site and the types of content that we have available. The information you provide will help us to assess what additional features are needed and how to improve our web site to make it even more useful in the future. Your opinions are important to us, so we would be very grateful if you would help us by completing the survey. It should take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete, an
- Advocating for HIV trials that work for women
- Women and girls, who constitute half of all people living with HIV, are often underrepresented in biomedical HIV trials. One year ago today a two-day meeting concluded which marked the beginning of the Women and HIV Trials initiative. This new forum opened a dialogue to challenge research norms underpinning the relative invisibility of women in clinical trial design, implementation, and reporting. The event was hosted by four partners, UNAIDS, GCWA, ICRW and Tibotec.
- UNAIDS and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent renew collaboration
- The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) renewed their collaboration agreement to work together to scale up efforts for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services worldwide.
- New generation of health and human rights advocates inspired by Dr Jonathan Mann
- “We have lost him, but we have not lost the legacy he left us,” said Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia of Dr Jonathan Mann, the visionary epidemiologist, advocate and scientist who highlighted the inextricable links between human rights and public health. In commemoration of his untimely death ten years ago, and to celebrate his legacy and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UNAIDS, WHO and OHCHR hosted “HIV, health and human rights: The Legacy of Jonathan Mann Today” on 24 November 2008.
- ICASA 2008: Social change needed to reduce HIV risk and vulnerability
- Social issues like gender inequality, violence against women and the criminalization of activities like sex work, injecting drug use and same sex intercourse are factors that can make people more vulnerable to HIV infection. To discuss the challenges of social drivers, UNAIDS Secretariat, UNESCO and the Social Change Communication Working Group held a satellite session at ICASA on Sunday 7 December.
- Public and private sector partnerships in the AIDS response: An opportunity for innovation and leadership
- Assessing what really works in the AIDS response, and understanding how it works, is all the more pressing in the current context of global financial slowdown said experts at an ICASA session on Friday. The event, “Public private partnerships against HIV: how can we together turn the tide?” was organized by UNAIDS as part of the conference’s Leadership Programme.
- ICASA 2008: Men who have sex with men and HIV in Africa
- From Cape Town to Lagos, several new studies are starting to provide a better understanding of men who have sex with men (MSM) within the context of HIV in Africa. “Homosexuality is very much understudied in West Africa, and in Nigeria it is criminalized, making it difficult to reach MSM,” said Sylvia Adebajo, a researcher at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. “As a result, the lives of MSM are characterized by denial, violence, and stigmatization”. Ms Adebajo was speaking at an ICASA session
- ICASA 2008 ends with call for stronger youth focus
- ICASA 2008 closed on 7 December with a strong message: youth are essential in the response to AIDS in Africa, especially those living with HIV. The closing ceremony began with a statement delivered by Ms Souadou N'Doye, a young Senegalese. She spoke on behalf of all young Africans and urged those in attendance to ensure that young people are involved in the design of HIV programmes.
- ICASA 2008: HIV in prison settings
- “If we do not implement adequate measures to prevent HIV infection in prisons, people incarcerated will always be vulnerable to the disease,” said Mr Gallo Diop, a former prisoner and AIDS advocate from Senegal. Mr Diop was speaking on Friday 05 December at an ICASA session organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled “HIV and AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support in prison settings”.
- ICASA 2008: Maternal health and youth focus of visits by UNAIDS Executive Director and UNAIDS Special Representative Princess Mathilde
- While in Senegal attending ICASA 2008, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and UNAIDS and UNICEF Special Representative HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium spent 6 December learning firsthand the successes and challenges faced in Dakar in providing HIV prevention and treatment services, in particular for women, children and young people.
- Religious and traditional leaders discuss HIV at ICASA 2008
- Opinions on sexuality and condom use vary depending on the different beliefs of religious and traditional leaders in Africa. Nonetheless, today at ICASA there was general agreement that regardless of an individual’s choices, human beings should be treated equally and with respect.
- ICASA 2008: Princess Mathilde of Belgium highlights the role of young people in Africa’s AIDS response
- Participants in a series of ICASA sessions on youth leadership and Africa’s AIDS response were in clear and unanimous agreement: young people are vital to preventing new HIV infections and moving towards the goal of an AIDS-free generation. UNAIDS and UNICEF Special Representative HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium today reconfirmed her commitment to youth and HIV issues.
- ICASA 2008: Long term financing for a sustainable response in Africa
- The priority of investment in health is crucial for African countries’ successful development stressed Dr Michel Kazatchkine, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Dr Kazatchkine was speaking at the 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) where he highlighted the need for a long-term approach to the reinforcement of health systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Only this will mean a sustainable response to the AIDS epidemic.
- ILO and workplace leaders pledge action at ICASA 2008
- On the occasion of the 15th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA), about fifty workplace leaders gathered together on 4 December at the invitation of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
- ICASA 2008: Improving national private sector HIV responses
- A consensus is emerging at ICASA that in countries across Africa the private sector needs to work more closely together in order to be successful in responding to AIDS.
- ICASA 2008: Free condoms in hotels as part of HIV prevention initiative
- As 5000 delegates from across Africa and the world gather in Dakar this week, condoms are being made freely available for delegates in hotels in the city as part of a HIV prevention drive.
- ICASA 2008: First Ladies of Africa speak out on stigma
- Stigma towards people living with HIV as well as the need to halt the spread of the disease were the main themes discussed by a gathering of First Ladies of Africa which took place earlier today in Dakar. Their panel discussion on the HIV response was moderated by Mr Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director
- ICASA 2008: Dr Piot reflects on 25 years of AIDS in Africa
- “We can not predict the future but we can certainly influence it,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot looking ahead after his review of the past 25 years of AIDS in Africa. Dr Piot traced the history of the AIDS epidemic in Africa over the past quarter century and highlighted some key milestones in the response during a plenary session at ICASA.
- Understanding HIV transmission for an improved AIDS response in West Africa
- On the opening day of International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), taking place in Mali under the theme “Africa’s Response: Face the facts,” the World Bank launched a new report exploring the character of the HIV epidemics and responses in countries in West Africa.
- ICASA 2008: Addressing the vulnerability of young women and girls to HIV in southern Africa
- Critical actions needed to tackle the vulnerability of young women and girls to HIV in southern Africa are detailed in a new publication launched by UNAIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa. The document, produced following an expert technical meeting, also summarises key research on female vulnerability in the region.
- ICASA 2008: Africa AIDS conference to look at progress made and challenges ahead
- Sustaining the progress that has been made in preventing new HIV infections and getting more people on antiretroviral treatment are priorities for African countries if they are to get ahead of the AIDS epidemic in the coming years – this is the overarching theme to be discussed at the 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) taking place in Dakar, Senegal from 3 to 7 December 2008.
- ICASA 2008: Courage and Hope, African teachers living positively
- A film telling four teachers’ experiences of living positively with HIV is premiered in Africa on the opening day of ICASA in Dakar along with the launch of the book “Courage and Hope: Stories from teachers living with HIV and AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
- ICASA 2008: Collaborative TB and HIV activities essential
- TB is among the leading causes of death in people living with HIV and accounts for an estimated 13% of AIDS deaths worldwide. HIV and TB are so closely connected that they are often referred to as co-epidemics or dual epidemics. Each worsens the impact of the other, yet despite evidence of positive impact of joint interventions, TB and HIV programmes have largely been implemented independently.
- UNHCR reflects on progress and remaining challenges on World AIDS Day
- UNHCR marked World AIDS Day by reflecting on successes in the agency’s AIDS response while recognizing that there is still a long way to go. UNHCR is a cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- UN Cares: UN system workplace programme on HIV launched in Asia Pacific
- Marking World AIDS Day, UN staff from the Asia Pacific region launched the “UN Cares” regional programme yesterday in Bangkok.
- UNAIDS Washington commemorates 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day
- In commemoration of this year’s World AIDS Day the UNAIDS Office Washington is holding a week-long World AIDS Day visit by three women living with HIV from India, Swaziland and the US.
- World AIDS Day 2008
- 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Every year, on the first of December the world comes together to commemorate those who have died and to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. This year’s theme is "Leadership."
- Third stocktaking report on children and AIDS
- Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the prospects for survival of newborn babies exposed to HIV, according to a report released today by four United Nations agencies.
- UNAIDS Executive Director celebrates World AIDS Day in South Africa
- Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, is marking the 20th World AIDS Day at a ceremony in Durban, together with South Africa’s Deputy President, Ms Baleka Mbete and South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan.
- UNAIDS welcomes Mrs Carla Bruni-Sarkozy’s Ambassador role for Global Fund
- Mrs Carla Bruni-Sarkozy took up her appointment as Ambassador for the Protection of Mothers and Children against HIV/AIDS of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) at an event in Paris.
- World AIDS Day marked at Doha conference
- As leaders gather in Qatar's capital, Doha, to take stock of the implementation of the 2002 Monterey Consensus on financing for development World AIDS Day 2008 is marked with a press conference and statement from the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
November
- 2008 World AIDS Day statements
- 1 December 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. This year’s theme is “Lead – Empower – Deliver.” Designating leadership as the theme provides an opportunity to highlight both political leadership and celebrate leadership that has been witnessed at all levels of society. To mark the day, the United Nations Secretary General, the Executive Director of UNAIDS and UNAIDS Cosponsors and partners speak out in special World AIDS Day statements.
- Michael Ballack online UNAIDS competition closes
- Today, on 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day, the UNAIDS competition featuring superstar football player and UNAIDS Special Representative Michael Ballack has come to a close.
- On the record: Interview with Dr Peter Piot, founding Executive Director of UNAIDS
- At the end of 2008, Dr Peter Piot, the founding Executive Director of UNAIDS, will leave his post after leading the organization since his appointment in 1994. He reflected on past milestones and future challenges in an interview with John Donnelly.
- UNAIDS launches “AIDS Outlook”
- AIDS Outlook is a new report from UNAIDS that provides perspectives on some of the most pressing issues that will confront policymakers and leaders as they respond to the challenges presented by AIDS in 2009
- “Art for AIDS” receives Keith Haring sculptures
- Ahead of World AIDS Day 2008, two sculptures by Keith Haring have come to UNAIDS to join the “Art for AIDS” collection. His iconic and poignant work has been instrumental in raising awareness around AIDS issues worldwide.
- The impact of nutrition and HIV: World Food Programme
- WFP is the lead UN agency providing emergency food assistance and the world's largest humanitarian agency. As a cosponsor of UNAIDS it also plays a unique and significant role in the global AIDS response. In 2007, WFP reached 1.3 million people affected by HIV in 20 of the 25 highest HIV prevalence countries.
- Translating intent into action in Ethiopia
- Implementing ambitious HIV programmes in the workplace can be a daunting undertaking for a business. In Ethiopia, partners have piloted a management tool designed to restructure policies into a series of short-term goals and produce concrete results quickly.
- HIV, Health and Human Rights: The Legacy of Jonathan Mann Today
- Today a public event in celebration of Jonathan Mann and his legacy on HIV, health, and human rights is being held at UNAIDS Secretariat, Geneva. The event, co-hosted by UNAIDS, the World Health Organization and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also marks the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- Philanthropies major contributors to AIDS
- Total AIDS-related philanthropy in 2007 has risen to US $555 million among U.S.-based philanthropies and to EUR114 million (US $168 million) among Europe-based philanthropies, according to new reports from Funders Concerned About AIDS and the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group, released in New York.
- Kenya’s experience informs new resource for increasing coordination on AIDS
- Joint Annual Programme Reviews mobilize people from across the spectrum of AIDS work to create a clearer picture of a country’s epidemic, which helps improve national planning and spending on AIDS. A new UNAIDS resource aims to assist governments in conducting their national reviews by sharing experiences learned by Kenya and other countries.
- New guidelines for media reporting on HIV in India
- Journalists have a responsibility to report on AIDS issues with accuracy and sensitivity to avoid stigmatizing people living with HIV and to clarify misunderstandings about the disease. To assist the media the Press Council of India released updated guidelines on 16 November, India’s National Press Day, at a function presided over by President of India Pratibha Patil.
- HIV response in Moldova
- Professor Lars Kallings, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV in Eastern Europe, last month paid a visit to the Republic of Moldova. During his advocacy mission, he took the opportunity to discuss a number of priorities with government officials and civil society.
- ICC and UNAIDS celebrate partnership and look to future
- The President of the International Cricket Council (ICC), David Morgan, visited the UNAIDS Secretariat in Geneva earlier today where he was welcomed by UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Michel Sidibé.
- “Artists Against AIDS” help fight stigma and discrimination in Russia
- UNAIDS has brought together 23 artists from Russia, Ukraine, the United States of America, Spain and Greece to participate in an art exhibition to help decrease stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV. All proceeds of the artwork sale will be donated to an orphanage that cares for children who have been affected by AIDS.
- Verdict on a Virus: Public Health, Human Rights and Criminal Law
- The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) launched on 13 November 2008 a new report Verdict on a Virus: Public Health, Human Rights and Criminal Law. The aim of the publication is to provide information about the criminalization of HIV transmission or exposure and its related health, human rights and legal implications.
- "What role can the law play?"
- During his recent trip to Beijing as a guest of UNAIDS, Justice Edwin Cameron of South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeals used every opportunity to raise the question, “What role can the law play in China in response to HIV?”
- Advocating against overly-broad application of criminal law to HIV transmission
- As more countries are passing laws that criminalize HIV transmission, public health and human rights experts are concerned about the potential adverse consequences of such laws for both effective responses to HIV and the individuals involved. In order to help guide policy, UNDP and UNAIDS recently published a policy brief on “Criminalization of HIV transmission.”
- BBC News reports bone marrow 'cures HIV patient'
- According to a BBC report on 13 November 2008, 'Doctors in Germany say a patient appears to have been cured of HIV by a bone marrow transplant from a donor who had a genetic resistance to the virus.'
- New report on the State of the World Population
- Cultural sensitivity is critical for the success of development strategies according to a new report produced by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Reaching Common Ground: Culture, Gender and Human Rights, launched 12 November 2008, reports that culture is a central component of successful development of countries, and must be integrated into development policy and programming.
- Police in India commit to support community AIDS responses
- Under a government initiative, police in India are being encouraged to act as facilitators and to offer proactive support to community groups reaching out to people who are at higher risk of HIV and who also may be the most marginalized in society.
- Reporting HIV estimates
- An increasing amount of information about the epidemic is coming from data gathered by HIV programmes and services. This helps to give a clearer picture of the epidemic worldwide. However the information is usually not available before a current year ends and so it has been decided not to publish a new “AIDS Epidemic Update” in 2008.
- First Summit of Global Agenda Councils
- The World Economic Forum’s first Summit of the Global Agenda Councils - a unique gathering of leaders from academia, business, government and civil society – is taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 7 to 9 November. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot is in Dubai participating in this event.
- Building on experience to scale up HIV services
- More than 30 representatives from 10 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), along with UNAIDS representatives, took part in the meeting of the CIS Coordination Council on HIV/AIDS on 30 October in Moscow. The meeting, hosted by the Russian Government, brought together government representatives, country and regional civil society leaders and members of the Eastern European and Central Asian Union of the Organizations of People Living with HIV to build on their experiences to scale up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- UNAIDS and KfW Entwicklungsbank renew cooperation agreement
- Four years after signing the first cooperation agreement to support the AIDS response in Central America and the Caribbean, UNAIDS and KfW Entwicklungsbank (KfW) have entered into a new agreement to expand the reach of its cooperation to include parts of Africa.
- Focus on new HIV prevention technologies
- HIV prevention was the focus of a meeting organized by the UK Department for International Development on 4 November in London. Politicians, scientists, international organizations and civil society gathered to evaluate current HIV prevention strategies and assess the steps forward. UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Michel Sidibe also took part in the meeting.
- Advancing the health systems strengthening debate
- Representatives from G8 and non-G8 countries, international organizations, foundations and civil society are in Tokyo, Japan to further health systems strengthening. The International Conference on Global Action for Health System Strengthening took place from 3-4 November as a follow-up to the July 2008 Toyako G8 Summit. The conference aims to keep global health high on the agenda of G8 leaders and to develop a coordinated framework to better align global health initiatives.
- UNAIDS: The First 10 Years
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was launched in 1996 to strengthen the way in which the UN was responding to AIDS. “UNAIDS: The First 10 Years” is a new publication that presents a multifaceted account of the history of UNAIDS based on multiple views.
October
- Justice Edwin Cameron adds a new dimension to China - Africa relations
- The South African Supreme Court Judge Edwin Cameron visited China from 27th to 31st October at the invitation of China’s Ministry of Health and UNAIDS. Through his visit, he set out to support the response to AIDS in China with a special focus on legal issues, discrimination and rights of people living with HIV.
- No room for complacency in the Caribbean challenge to HIV
- Gathering brings US Chiefs of Mission and regional partners together to discuss the myriad challenges and the way forward for the AIDS response in the Caribbean.
- Get ready for World AIDS Day 2008
- 1 December 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. As in previous years, the World AIDS Campaign has produced a wide variety of campaign materials to be used by individuals and organizations that want to campaign on World AIDS Day and host commemorative events.
- UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy Dr Nafis Sadik urges a broader approach to AIDS in China
- While in Beijing to give a keynote on HIV and Gender at the High-Level Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy Dr Nafis Sadik also gave a public lecture under the theme of “know your epidemic,” urging a broader approach to AIDS in China.
- UNAIDS Executive Director and Princess of Norway on AIDS advocacy mission in Ukraine
- UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and UNAIDS Special Representative, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway were in the Ukrainian capital Kiev this week to call for strengthened leadership in the AIDS response in the country which has Europe’s most severe AIDS epidemic.
- Leadership and AIDS: Festus Mogae
- On 20 October 2008 Festus Mogae the former President of Botswana was named the winner of the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. How has Mogae’s leadership made a difference in Botswana’s AIDS response?
- Lars Kallings: UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- In the second of a series of interviews with the UN Special Envoys for HIV/AIDS, Professor Kallings shares his views on his role and the challenges facing the AIDS response in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Be a winner with Michael Ballack and UNAIDS online competition
- UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador and international football star Michael Ballack and UNAIDS are proud to team up for an online competition.
- Sidibe highlights the role of civil society in countries’ AIDS responses
- UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Michel Sidibe addressed the vital role of civil society at “Rendez-vous de la coopération québécoise et canadienne dans la Francophonie” hosted by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The event takes place ahead of the XIIe Sommet de la Francophonie in Quebec City.
- World Lung Health experts discuss TB and HIV
- Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of illness and death among people living with HIV in many parts of the world, yet TB is mostly curable and preventable. In spite of the two diseases being so inextricably linked, for many years, efforts to tackle HIV and TB were largely separate. To enhance collaboration, the forthcoming Union World Conference on Lung Health will hold a series of symposia on TB and HIV.
- Business coalitions from Latin America and the Caribbean gather in Brazil
- Business Coalitions on AIDS have emerged as an effective platform for the private sector response to the epidemic. UNAIDS and the Brazilian Business Council on HIV-AIDS Prevention recently convened a workshop of business coalitions and initiatives from Latin America and the Caribbean to recognize the role that the private sector play in the response to HIV and exchange experiences, challenges and opportunities.
- UN Secretary-General convenes pharmaceutical companies in New York
- On 09 October 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General together with senior officials from the United Nations system met with seventeen of the world’s research-based and generic pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies to review progress on strengthening efforts to expand access to HIV services in low- and middle-income countries.
- 4th Global Partners Forum on Children Affected by HIV and AIDS
- In order to review progress, set global priorities, and make commitments for children affected by HIV, 200 delegates from 42 countries including leaders in government, civil society and UN agencies met in Dublin, Ireland on the 6th and 7th October 2008 for the 4th Global Partners Forum on Children affected by HIV and AIDS.
- HIV prevention and the uniformed services in CIS
- Regional conference brings together broad coalition of military, technical experts, civil society and government representatives from across Commonwealth of Independent States to discuss a shared approach to lowering HIV prevalence among servicemen and servicewomen.
- You don’t have to be in power to be a leader
- “Portraits of Commitment” is a thought-provoking book of photographic portraits celebrating outstanding individuals recognized for their leadership working to inform the people of South Asia about HIV.
- New tool to improve coordination of AIDS technical support
- In order to further improve the coordination of technical support provided to countries, the UNAIDS Secretariat, working closely with the Global Implementation Support Team (GIST) have developed a new mechanism to facilitate the sharing of information and improve accountability.
September
- Clinton Global Initiative
- The annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) concludes today in New York. The three-day event brought together a diverse group of world leaders to examine global challenges. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and former President of the Portuguese Republic, Jorge Sampaio participated in a working group breakfast on Global Health.
- The Global Campaign for the Health MDGs
- To mark the first year of the Global Campaign for the Health Millennium Development Goals, a progress report was released on 25 September. It provides an update of major activities during the last year, and highlights concrete actions that are required to accelerate the necessary progress if we are to reach the health related MDGs by 2015.
- Achieving the MDGs: Why the AIDS response counts
- In 2000, leaders embraced a series of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that resolved to make the world safer, healthier, and more equitable. To assess gaps and progress to date, a High-level Event on the MDG takes place 25 September. MDG 6 specifically addresses the AIDS epidemic; however an effective HIV response will also support achievement of other MDG and conversely success in other Goals will support the AIDS response.
- Millennium Development Goals and AIDS poster exhibition
- Marking the High-level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which takes place on 25 September, a poster exhibition on “Millennium Development Goals and AIDS” is running from 22 to 26 September in the Basement Colonnade of the United Nations in New York.
- The AIDS response: Relationship to development in Africa
- As high-level participants and international experts gather to discuss Africa’s development needs and challenges at UN headquarters in New York, we take a look at how HIV and the AIDS response is impacting development on the continent.
- Focus on China’s AIDS response
- With an estimated 700,000 people living with HIV China’s HIV prevalence remains low – estimated at less than 0.1 per cent of the total population – but the epidemic continues to grow in all parts of the country. Most of the new HIV infections are related to sexual transmission and injecting drug use.
- UNAIDS recognizes leaders in China’s AIDS response
- Progress in scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is underway in China thanks in part to the growing involvement of China’s leaders in the AIDS response. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot acknowledged the contributions of nine such individuals during his official visit to China this week, 16-19 September, by presenting them with the UNAIDS’ “Award for Outstanding Contributions to the AIDS Response”.
- UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Africa Elizabeth Mataka
- The United Nations Special Envoys for HIV/AIDS are individuals specially selected by the UN Secretary-General to help advance the AIDS agenda in the regions they cover. In a series of interviews, we explore their motivation and commitment to ensuring that AIDS is kept high as a political priority within their respective regions of responsibility and operation.
- Fashion designer joins hands with HIV positive women in Cambodia
- Internationally-renowned fashion designer Bibi Russell, along with UNDP and the Modern Dress Sewing Factory (MDSF) in Cambodia, has launched an international designer label “Bibi for WE”.
- Gaps remain in delivering on global commitments
- A new report by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Gap Task Force identifies gaps in delivering on the global commitments in the areas of aid, trade, debt relief, access to new technologies and access to affordable treatment for HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.
- Belgium renews support to UNAIDS
- UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and the Belgian Development Cooperation Minister Charles Michel met in Brussels on 9 September to announce Belgium’s new four year funding agreement to UNAIDS.
- Disability and HIV in Jamaica
- To address the lack of inclusion of the disabled community in HIV-related public education, an innovative information and economic empowerment programme for people with disabilities is being implemented in Jamaica as part of the national response to HIV.
- Challenges to universal access in low prevalence countries in Asia Pacific
- In order to assess challenges for countries with low HIV prevalence in the Asia Pacific region, the second regional consultative meeting on universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support took place in Manila 26-28 August 2008.
- UNAIDS Executive Director meets Ghanaian AIDS groups
- In Ghana attending the Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot also visited the headquarters of the Network of African People Living with HIV (NAP+) where he met civil society groups active in responding to the country’s AIDS epidemic.
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits UNAIDS Secretariat
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits UNAIDS Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland.
August
- Assessing aid effectiveness at Accra forum
- The Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness takes place this week in Ghana. To mark this event, we begin a new web series “Making the money work”. In coming months we will explore different aspects of aid effectiveness; how financial aid to countries can be made more effective, accountable and results-oriented.
- People Living with HIV Stigma Index
- HIV-related stigma and accompanying discrimination are widely recognized as significant barriers to HIV prevention, treatment and care services reaching those who need them. To address this, a tool has been developed for measuring the magnitude of stigma experienced by people living with HIV.
- Prevention is for life
- HIV prevention is about saving lives. UNAIDS cosponsor, the United Nations Population fund (UNFPA), has published an advocacy booklet telling the personal stories of people and communities who are making a difference in many corners of the world.
- MTV Staying Alive Foundation grants
- The MTV Staying Alive Foundation invites grant applications from youth-led organizations and young people who are working on HIV prevention and AIDS education campaigns within their communities.
- The power of two wheels
- In many countries, the volunteers who bring home-based care services to people living with HIV form the backbone of the AIDS response. In Kenya and Namibia bicycles are playing an important role enabling the volunteers to bring their services to those most in need.
- HIV prevention in Olympic Villages
- As part of a joint HIV prevention campaign which will run throughout the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, free condoms will be made available in Olympic Villages; and athletes will be educated about HIV and encouraged to be ambassadors of the AIDS response.
- When red ribbon meets Olympics
- A range of initiatives by UNAIDS in China in partnership with the Chinese Government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the run-up to the 2008 Games illustrate how sport can break down barriers, fight discrimination and make a difference in the AIDS response.
- AIDS 2008 closes in Mexico
- The XVII International AIDS Conference has ended in the Mexican capital after five days of spirited participation involving an estimated 22,000 people engaged in the global response to AIDS.
- Red Ribbon Award winners honoured
- Representatives of 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning communities were guests of honour at a formal Award Ceremony and Dinner, held last night in Mexico City and attended by government officials and global AIDS leaders. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot addressed the Awards Ceremony at which five organizations were selected by a jury for special recognition in the following categories.
- The Lancet: Series on HIV prevention launched
- The Lancet in conjunction with UNAIDS has produced a special series of six major articles on the future of global HIV prevention and held a lunchtime symposium with the authors on 5 August during the International AIDS conference Mexico City.
- International AIDS Society marks 20 years
- In 1981 the first cases of unusual immune system failures were identified among gay men, women and injecting drug users. Some seven years later a group of prominent scientists from around the world came together to found the International AIDS Society (IAS) – an organisation which would organise international conferences on AIDS bringing together scientists, activists, researchers, people living with HIV and others working on AIDS issues to share knowledge and experiences in responding to the epidemic.
- Official opening of the Global Village at AIDS 2008
- At the very heart of the XVII International AIDS Conference is the Global Village, an area of over 8,000 square metres open to everyone attending AIDS 2008, including community organizations from around the world, local and national groups and the general public.
- Special Session on the global financial architecture for AIDS
- The shifting dynamics of the AIDS global financial architecture were explored in depth at a Special Session held on 5 August during the International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico.
- AIDS 2008 opens
- With great celebration and a characteristically warm Latin American welcome, the XVII International AIDS Conference opened on Sunday 3 August in Mexico City. Thousands of delegates from all over the world will spend the next week participating in conference sessions, satellite meetings, exhibitions as well as the Global Village and a wide cultural programme.
- Leaders pledge to promote sexual health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean
- At the conclusion of the 1st Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministers have signed an historic declaration committing to provide comprehensive sex education to adolescents and young people in the region.
- Bishop washes feet of HIV-positive women as faith community reach out to people living with HIV
- Engaging in an act of “humility and repentance,” a world church leader began his presentation to an international ecumenical AIDS conference by washing the feet of two women living with HIV.
- Women and AIDS: First Ladies and women leaders of Latin America meet
- The Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America on Women and AIDS met on 2 August and approved a statement reaffirming their commitment to advocate for improved HIV services for women and’s health.
- Historic signing at White House brings leaders together
- On 30 July 2008, US President George W. Bush signed the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. This legislation replaces and extends the existing act by five years and also expands it three-fold to US$ 48 billion.
July
- Positive Leadership Summit 2008
- Ahead of the Positive Leadership Summit which will begin in Mexico City on 31 July, unaids.org asked Kate Thomson, UNAIDS Chief of Civil Society Partnerships to reflect on the changing leadership role of the global positive community and today’s outstanding issues.
- MSM and the global HIV epidemic
- Ahead of AIDS 2008, a two day forum being held in Mexico will focus on men who have sex with men and HIV. In many parts of the world social taboos largely prevent sustained discussion on the issue and have inhibited efforts to promote safer sexual relations.
- UNAIDS launches new report on global AIDS epidemic
- Significant gains in preventing new HIV infections are being seen in a number of countries most affected by the AIDS epidemic. This is according to a new report released today by UNAIDS.
- Anti-stigma campaign to be launched at Mexico AIDS Conference
- AIDES, the French national AIDS association, and the International AIDS Society (IAS) have joined forces to denounce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV through an awareness campaign titled “If I were HIV-positive”.
- Strengthening the AIDS response in Portuguese speaking countries
- In order to highlight the issue of HIV during the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) Heads of State’s Summit and to foster a new generation of leaders committed to the AIDS response, UNAIDS in partnership with the CPLP and National Portuguese Television (RTP) are holding a televised town hall on AIDS.
- “YouthForce”: The Power of Youth at AIDS 2008
- To promote and strengthen young delegates' meaningful participation in the AIDS 2008 conference, Mexico YouthForce is coordinating a three day event for approximately 250 young HIV activists.
- STI Online: Supplement on UNAIDS estimation methods and tools
- Ahead of the publication of the 2008 Global Report, Sexually Transmitted Infections, a peer review journal for health professionals and researchers in sexual health has published a supplement giving a description and underlying data for UNAIDS estimation methods and tools, as well as analyses on a range of epidemiological issues including quantifying HIV burden in emergencies, the quality of global serosurveillance and a method for estimating averted infections.
- The Life Initiative – Hotels addressing AIDS
- The upcoming International AIDS conference will bring many thousands of delegates and journalists to Mexico from 3-8 August 2008. UNAIDS is involving the Mexican hotel industry in a HIV prevention campaign which will run through out the international conference to raise awareness of HIV prevention and non-discrimination of people living with HIV.
- International labour standard would strengthen the HIV response in the workplace
- To expand and strengthen the role of the workplace in the global response to HIV, the International Labour Organization (ILO), which is a cosponsor of UNAIDS, has recently launched a process to adopt a new international labour standard that sets out basic principles and rights at work.
- Third meeting of the International Task Team on HIV-related Travel Restrictions
- The International Task Team on HIV-related Travel Restrictions concluded its third meeting with draft recommendations towards the elimination of HIV-specific restrictions on entry, stay and residence. In the coming months, these will be finalized and presented to the boards of the Global Fund and UNAIDS this November and December.
- Senate vote renews US government’s global AIDS programme PEPFAR
- The US Senate has voted on legislation authorizing US$ 48 billion for AIDS, TB and malaria over the next five years. The legislation will replace and expand three-fold the current $15 billion act passed by Congress in 2003 which expires at the end of September.
- New UNAIDS policy on HIV and international labour migration
- International labour migrants bring benefits not only to their families but also to their countries of origin and host countries. Yet this type of work can increase their exposure to HIV. For this reason, UNAIDS, in collaboration with the ILO and IOM, have developed a policy brief focusing on the HIV-related needs and rights of international labour migrants.
- Ballack captains “Goal4Africa” team
- Established in 2008, the Goal4Africa Global Foundation raises funds through football to improve education and development in Africa.
- Strong HIV and Human Rights Activist appointed as new UN Special Rapporteur
- Anand Grover, head of the HIV/AIDS Unit of Lawyer’s Collective (India) and a member of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human RightsAnand Grover, head of the HIV/AIDS Unit of Lawyer’s Collective (India) and a member of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights, has been appointed Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health by the UN Human Rights Council.
- The UN Secretary General visits Red Ribbon Centre Beijing
- The UN Secretary General visited Ditan hospital and Red Ribbon centre in Beijing to discuss discrimination issues and HIV treatment with people living with HIV and hospital staff.
- Examining links between AIDS and climate change
- The AIDS epidemic and the climate change phenomenon are two of the most important “long wave” global issues of the recent past, present and future. They share similarities, interactions, and present possibilities for a more united response. Yet, these links have received little analysis so far.
- UNAIDS and Kaiser Family Foundation release new report assessing funding for AIDS by G8 countries and other major donors
- As world leaders prepare to meet in Hokkaido, Japan for the annual meeting of the G8, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Kaiser Family Foundation have released a new report analysing the funding available for AIDS from G8, European Commission (EC) and other donor governments in 2007.
- Preventing HIV, preserving the environment
- The use of condoms in Brazil is preventing the spread of HIV and it might also be helping to save the rainforest thanks to a condom factory opened in April in the Amazon region. This unique factory uses natural latex collected by local rubber tappers and it will be able to supply the Brazilian government with 100 million condoms a year.
June
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- UNFPA: Reproductive and sexual health among youth in Tajikistan
- UNFPA: Reproductive and sexual health among youth in Tajikistan The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) is supporting a unique set of media and training interventions in Tajikistan designed to raise awareness, reduce stigma and provide adolescents with the tools to improve their reproductive and sexual health.
- UNAIDS committed to support the achievement of MDG3
- UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot received one of the MDG3 Torches on Thursday 26 June in Geneva as part of a campaign organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark intended to ensure commitment from participants to the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG3): Promote gender equality and empower women.
- Olympics 2008: AIDS awareness training for young volunteers in China
- Ahead of this summer’s 2008 Olympic Games, the United Nations in China has teamed up with people living with HIV to train Olympic volunteers on HIV prevention and counter discrimination in collaboration with Beijing Youth League, Red Cross Society of China and Marie Stopes International China.
- HSH Princess Stephanie inaugurates new premises of Fight AIDS Monaco
- UNAIDS Special Representative Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco has inaugurated the new premises of Fight AIDS Monaco, an organization that provides psychological and material support to people living with HIV and their affected families in Monaco.
- Hindu faith leaders commit to AIDS response
- In a historic initiative by Hindu religious groups, over 70 prominent faith leaders from across India came together to commit to incorporating HIV information into their religious education and training of future faith leaders as well as including AIDS in their discourses, rituals and festival celebrations.
- Powerful film brings AIDS issues to communities in Democratic Republic of Congo
- When we talk about AIDS we often look at the sobering statistics such as the estimated number of 22.5 million people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa in 2007.
- 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS concludes in New York
- The 2008 United Nations High-level Meeting on AIDS came to a close on Wednesday evening, 11 June 2008. During the two day meeting representatives from member states reviewed progress made in the response to the AIDS epidemic and highlighted challenges still to overcome.
- The President of El Salvador meets with UNAIDS Executive Director
- President Elías Antonio Saca of El Salvador hosted a meeting with UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot on 10 June at UN in New York. On this occasion a regional Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of El Salvador and UNAIDS on technical assistance to Central America was signed.
- Civil society interactive hearing
- Representatives of civil society organizations addressed Member States and observers on Tuesday 10th June in an interactive hearing at the High-level Meeting on AIDS entitled Action for Universal Access 2010: Myths and Realities.
- 2008 High-level Meeting on AIDS opens
- The 2008 High-level Meeting on AIDS opens today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This is an important forum for government representatives and civil society to review progress made in the AIDS response and to identify the outstanding challenges.
- Universal access to affordable AIDS commodities
- As part of the 2008 High level Meeting on AIDS, a special event entitled “Universal access to affordable diagnostics, prevention and treatment: In search for sustainable solutions” will be held on 9th June in the United Nations Headquarters, New York.
- Securing our future: Final report from Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa
- The Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) will present its final report "Securing our future" to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 9 June 2008 at UN Headquarters.
- Panel discussion 5: Resources and Universal Access
- The final discussion panel of 2008 High-level meeting on AIDS will examine aspects of financing the response to AIDS, including sources of funding, resource allocation, and spending, “making the money work”, accountability and predictable and multi-year funding.
- Panel discussion 2: Providing leadership in countries with concentrated epidemics
- In many countries, the people who are most in need of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support are not able to reach these services as they are already vulnerable and stigmatized in society.
- Panel discussion 4: Providing a robust and long term response to AIDS
- The fourth panel discussion of the 2008 High-level meeting on AIDS is set to examine the multigenerational challenge of the AIDS response.
- Panel discussion 3: Gender equality and AIDS
- The first panel discussion on the second day of the 2008 High-Level meeting on AIDS is on the topic of gender equality and AIDS.
- First HIV/TB Global Leaders Forum
- The first HIV/TB Global Leaders' Forum will be held on 9 June 2008 at the United Nations in New York and will bring together heads of government, public health and business leaders, heads of UN agencies and activists.
- 2008 High-Level meeting on AIDS panel discussions
- The 2008 High-Level meeting on AIDS begins 10 June at the General Assembly in New York. In addition to the plenary meetings, a series of panel discussions will be held over the next two days. These discussions will cover a range of topics from gender equality to concentrated epidemics and the multigenerational challenge of AIDS. The discussions will be open to representatives of Member States, observers and civil society representatives and presentations will be followed by an interactive dialogue.
- UNAIDS response to “Reassessing HIV Prevention”
- UNAIDS advocates that countries implement HIV prevention programmes that will be truly effective in reducing new HIV infections. This requires a strategic combination of interventions that address populations that are at risk or vulnerable for transmission and that utilize behavioral and social change methods that are appropriate and informed by the latest evidence.
- AIDS to feature at the Jackson Hole Film Festival
- The 5th annual Jackson Hole Film festival will host the first Global Insight summit in partnership with the United Nations. Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS Deborah Landey will moderate a panel on children and HIV.
- Standard Chartered Bank world leader in workplace HIV education
- As HIV directly impacts the lives of employees and partners it impacts business. Standard Chartered Bank has been actively engaged in the AIDS response for almost ten years.
- UNAIDS and The Global Fund sign cooperation agreement
- UNAIDS* and The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria signed in Uganda a revised Memorandum of Understanding which renews a commitment for a coordinated response to AIDS and it serves as an umbrella framework to strategically guide their partnership to strengthen support to national AIDS responses.
- HIV implementers gather in Kampala to share ideas, experiences in AIDS response
- HIV implementers from around the world will over the next five days share lessons learned and best practices on how HIV services are delivered to people affected by the AIDS epidemic. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot will address the opening ceremony and several colleagues will participate in key thematic sessions.
- HIV treatment figures up by 46.5%
- Some 3 million people now have access to antiretroviral therapy according to a report issued today by WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF.
May
- UNAIDS and Brazil to strengthen technical cooperation on AIDS
- UNAIDS and the government of Brazil signed an agreement on Wednesday 21st of May, 2008 to continue their cooperation on providing technical support to countries in strengthening and scaling-up national responses to AIDS through the International Centre for Technical Cooperation on HIV/AIDS (ICTC).
- Tokyo Conference on Africa to spotlight AIDS
- Leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe and other parts of the world are in Yokohama for the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). The theme of this year’s meeting is “Towards a vibrant Africa” and will focus on mobilizing knowledge and resources to overcome the obstacles facing Africa as it moves its economy and social development agenda forward.
- Eurovision stars light candles to dispel discrimination
- The opening day of this year’s Eurovision song contest coincided with the 25th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
- Strengthening work with MSM in Africa
- Research in many African countries indicates higher HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men and higher incidence rates from male to male sexual activity compared to the general population. Furthermore consistently higher levels of infection among men who have sex with men and formidable cultural, social and legal barriers, combined with high levels of stigma and discrimination and the need to address AIDS within the general population, have inhibited the provision of MSM-targeted HIV prev
- New UNAIDS policy on HIV, food security and nutrition
- In many parts of the world, lack of food security and poor nutrition are worsening the effects of the HIV epidemic.
- "Stars against AIDS" in Eastern Europe
- This is an unprecedented project to tackle stigma and discrimination in the Eastern Europe region. UNAIDS has brought together a group of successful women from Russia and Ukraine to help dispel the taboos and prejudice that often surround AIDS and to reduce discrimination against people living with HIV. Female celebrities from the artistic, media and sports communities have joined their talents and voices to ensure a proactive response to the AIDS epidemic.
- International Day against Homophobia
- On May 17th, 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization approved the 10th Edition of the International Classification of Diseases, that established that sexual orientation (heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual), on its own, “will not be considered as a disorder”.
- UNAIDS Executive Director delivers lecture on AIDS response
- As part of the London School of Economics and Political Science’s (LSE) speakers series on AIDS (LSEAIDS), UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot delivered a public lecture titled “The future of AIDS: Exceptionalism Revisited” on May 15.
- World Bank lays out new AIDS strategy for 2007-2011
- In a new report launched 14 May 2008, the World Bank reaffirms its commitment to a long-term engagement to the AIDS response in Africa.
- Making a difference: UNAIDS in Iran
- Continuing with the web special series “Making a difference”, which focuses on the work of UNAIDS staff at country level, www.unaids.org talks to UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Iran, HamidReza Setayesh, his role, his motivations and how a coordinated UN response is making a difference in the country.
- Leadership and AIDS: Gregg Gonsalves
- Gregg has been working on behalf of people living with HIV since 1990 when he joined ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) in the United States. In the early nineties, very little was understood about how the virus worked or how the immune system was damaged by it and there were no effective treatments to counter the progress of the disease. Most discussion about AIDS was taking place in the domain of the scientific community.
- International Health Partnership launches new web site
- The International Health Partnership (IHP+) has launched a public web site to facilitate the dissemination of information and tools related to strengthening health systems and services.
- 2nd Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference ends
- The Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference concluded on May 5 after three-days of dialogue centred on better responding to the region’s HIV epidemic.
- Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference
- A three-day conference on AIDS opens in Moscow on May 3 with a focus on the epidemic in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot will address the opening plenary and take part in sessions discussing the challenges facing the region in its AIDS response.
April
- Human rights and gender in HIV-related legal frameworks
- In adopting the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001 at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, Governments have fully recognized the importance of protecting human rights and gender equality through appropriate legal frameworks in national responses to HIV.
- ILO sees significant improvement in workplace attitudes to HIV
- Better policies and practices in the workplace have led to more supportive attitudes towards co-workers living with HIV, the International Labour Organization (ILO) reports in its new publication “Saving lives, protecting jobs”.
- UNFPA: Bringing HIV services directly to communities in Côte d'Ivoire
- “I’m here because I have four children,” explains a 48-year-old sex worker, who asked that her name not be used. Today she is being tested for HIV at a mobile health clinic, run by the volunteers of the Association for the Promotion of Mother, Child and Family Health (APROSAM) which is supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
- New EDUCAIDS Resource Pack to support education ministries
- New Resource Pack from EDUCAIDS, the UNAIDS Global Initiative on Education and HIV and AIDS.
- Carrying the Olympic flame for PLHIV in Tanzania
- Dhamiri Mustapha, a young Tanzanian woman living with HIV, was one of the 80 dignitaries who carried the Olympic flame during the five-kilometre torch relay in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 13 April.
- Towards Universal Access in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Delivering on AIDS today and in the longer term
- The upcoming Second Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference will be an important forum for discussion helping countries to improve their understanding of what is driving their epidemics and how to reach key populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
- A stronger civil society voice in the UNAIDS work
- The NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board has established a new Communications Facility intended to compile civil society’s issues to be addressed at the global level and to support the work of the Delegation at the Board meetings.
- Developing strategies to work with FBOs
- UNAIDS in collaboration with UNFPA, WHO, ILO and UNDP has convened a meeting to outline a strategy for future work with faith-based organizations on AIDS issues.
- Leadership and AIDS: Patricia Pérez
- Leadership is the expression of a person whose aim is to transform something for the better and to develop this potential in others. Often leadership abilities are brought to the fore by certain crises in life enabling people to discover abilities that they didn’t know they had.
- African Ministers reaffirm commitment to Millennium Development Goals
- African Ministers of Finance and Development Planning concluded their 3-day meeting with a statement reaffirming their commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa by 2015.
- Second stocktaking report on children and AIDS
- UNICEF, UNAIDS and WHO have released the second stocktaking report reviewing progress made in the AIDS response for children since the initiative Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS was launched in October 2005.
- 2008 HIV/AIDS Implementers' meeting
- The HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting will take place June 3-7, 2008, in Kampala, Uganda
- African Ministers meet to discuss 21st century challenges
- The first session of the Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
March
- Women leading the AIDS response in Latin America
- The Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America on Women and AIDS held its IV meeting in the Dominican Republic on 27 and 28 March 2008.
- Independent Commission on AIDS in Asia calls for countries to craft new responses
- High-impact interventions, such as HIV prevention programmes focused on key populations and antiretroviral treatment, should constitute the core of the HIV response across Asia recommends independent Commission on AIDS in Asia. Their new report, entitled “Redefining AIDS in Asia – Crafting an effective response”, was presented to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on 26 March at an event in New York.
- UNAIDS launches global web sites in French, Spanish and Russian
- UNAIDS has launched the first phase of the new editions of its global web site in French, Spanish and Russian. For the first time parts of the web site are now available in each of the 4 official languages of the organization.
- TB deaths rise in people living with HIV
- Almost quarter of a million people living with HIV died from Tuberculosis (TB) in 2006 according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO). The annual report, Global Tuberculosis Control 2008, also shows that nearly 3/4 million people living with HIV fell ill with TB disease in 2006, confirming that TB is a major cause of illness and death in people living with HIV despite being mostly preventable and curable.
- Making a difference: Jamaica
- Continuing with the web special series “Making a difference”, which focuses on UNAIDS staff working in countries around the world, we take a look at Jamaica and talk to UNAIDS Country Coordinator, Miriam Maluwa on the daily challenges and rewards of working in this Caribbean country.
- Responsible journalism honoured in Bangladesh
- Four outstanding journalists were honoured today in Bangladesh for their exceptional contribution to the AIDS response through journalism at the first ever UNAIDS Bangladesh Media Awards.
- Much progress to report: UNGASS 2008
- Every two years, in compliance with the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS signed by UN member states in June 2001, countries report to UNAIDS on their progress made in the response to the AIDS epidemic. This year, countries and individuals showed extraordinary personal commitment to this reporting process.
- 51st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
- UNAIDS delivered a statement to the 51st session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (Vienna, 10-14 March), calling for increased investment and programmatic action to provide prevention, treatment and support and to protect the human rights of people who use drugs.
- Lions Club International signs Central America agreement with UNAIDS and UNICEF
- UNAIDS and UNICEF Regional Support Teams (RST) for Latin America have signed a cooperation agreement with the Lions Club International (LCI) in Central America.
- Abataka: Women shape their future
- International Women’s Day on 8 March is a global day of celebration to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. The theme of 2008 is “Investing in Women and Girls”. UNAIDS Special Representative Mary Fisher and the women artisans of the Abataka jewellery project believe income generation projects are critical in empowering women living with HIV, enabling them to shape their future.
- International Women's Day 2008: Investing in women and girls
- Ahead of 2008 International Women’s Day - themed “Investing in Women and Girls” - the main focus of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was the importance of financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women.
- Partnerships and linking for action
- UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot gave the following plenary speech on "Partnerships and linking for action" at the first ever Global Forum on Human Resources for Health in Kampala, Uganda from March 2-7, 2008. The GHWA, hosted and administered by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been created to identify and implement solutions to the health workforce crisis.
- Uniting against female genital mutilation
- Reaffirming their commitment to the elimination of female genital mutilation, 10 United Nations bodies including UNAIDS, have expressed their commitment to support governments, communities, and women and girls to abandon the practice within a generation.
- HIV-related travel restrictions
- Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, governments and the private sector have implemented travel restrictions with regard to HIV positive people wishing to enter or remain in a country for a short stay (e.g. business, personal visits, tourism) or for longer periods (e.g. asylum, employment, immigration, refugee resettlement, or study).
February
- Health workforce crisis limits AIDS response
- The first ever Global Forum on Human Resources for Health is being held this week in Kampala. We explore what the health workforce crisis is and how it is impacting on the AIDS response.
- Providing community care in India
- While in India Executive Director Dr Peter Piot visited Sewa Ashram––a centre providing people with essential healthcare and support.
- MDR-TB more common in people living with HIV
- According a recent WHO report on anti-TB drug resistance, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is almost twice as common in TB patients living with HIV compared to TB patients without HIV.
- Microbicides 2008 concludes in India
- Microbicides 2008 conference ended on a positive note when it closed 27 February in New Delhi with delegates hopeful that the lessons shared and learned from recent trials will help deliver results soon.
- UNAIDS Executive Director receives prestigious humanitarian award
- The first ever ‘Blessed Mother Teresa International Humanitarian Award’ has been awarded to Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS for the ‘significant impact he has made to the lives of people living with HIV in the developing world’.
- Microbicides: challenges to development and distribution (Part 2)
- In the second of a two part series looking at microbicides, we will be exploring new developments in microbicide research including basic science, clinical trials and social science issues as well as discussion on behaviour, community engagement and advocacy.
- Journal of Internal Medicine: Review article by L. O. Kallings
- The current issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine features a review article by Professor Lars O. Kallings, UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia entitled “The first postmodern pandemic: 25 years of HIV/ AIDS”
- Microbicides: why are they significant? (Part 1)
- Ahead of next week’s biannual international microbicides conference Microbicides 2008 running 24 – 27 February in New Delhi we take an in-depth look at microbicides. In part 1 of this 2-part series we look at why they are considered significant in the response to HIV. In part 2 the challenges to the development of this preventative technology will be explored.
- Overview of this year’s Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI)
- The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) began in 1994 as a small meeting of scientists studying HIV and clinicians treating people with HIV. It is now one of the most important annual HIV gatherings and provides a forum for basic scientists, clinical investigators, and global health researchers to present, discuss, and critique their investigations into the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and the diseases they produce.
- Top scientists discuss global health challenges in Boston
- The 2008 Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science has opened in Boston, USA. The five-day conference which runs from 14-18 February will bring together science and technology professionals from 56 countries to discuss the latest scientific breakthroughs and challenges.
- To Our Partners
- It is now 12 years since UNAIDS started work, 12 years in which the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has matured into a truly global institution, supporting national AIDS responses in more than 80 countries.
- Making a difference: UNAIDS in Ethiopia
- Continuing with the web special series “Making a difference”, which focuses on the work of UNAIDS staff at country level, www.unaids.org talks to UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Ethiopia, Roger Salla Ntounga, his role, his motivations and how one document is making history in the AIDS response.
- Theological consultation on HIV prevention
- The role of Christian faith in responding to the AIDS epidemic was the focus of a consultation that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 28 January to 2 February.
- African First Ladies meet on AIDS
- The Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA), held their 5th Extra Ordinary General Assembly in Addis Ababa from 1-2 February.
- Getting support for HIV and mental health in Africa
- The research was presented at the recent World Federation for Mental Health expert forum convened in Cape Town, South Africa, on 29-31 January 2008.
January
- Faces against HIV stigma and discrimination
- HIV has often been associated with behaviours that may be considered socially or morally unacceptable by many people such as sex work, sex outside marriage or with multiple partners, sex between men and injecting drugs. This single fact, fueled by high levels of ignorance, denial, fear and intolerance, has widely stigmatized HIV infection.
- UNGASS 2008: Country progress reports
- In compliance with the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, countries have submitted their country progress reports to UNAIDS which will assess the state of the global AIDS epidemic in preparation for the United Nations High-level meeting on AIDS that will take place in June in New York.
- HIV positive leaders meet in Monaco
- UNAIDS Special Representative Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco has convened a meeting of HIV positive leaders in her home town of Monaco.
- Business Coalitions: a joint response to AIDS
- “UNAIDS has supported the development of a number of national business coalitions on HIV in regions heavily impacted by the epidemic,” said Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS. “Business Coalitions help to ensure that the response is coordinated and that knowledge and expertise is shared across the board, they are a valued and respected partner in the AIDS response.”
- UNAIDS Executive Director meets Mexican delegation
- The Mexican Secretary of Health made a recent visit to UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva to meet with Exective Director to discuss plans for the upcoming International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico City from 3-8 August 2008.
- Business and the AIDS response
- UNAIDS works closely with the private sector and recognises the significant contribution the business community makes to the global response to the AIDS epidemic. This week, world business leaders will come together at the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss global priorities for 2008––including the business community’s contribution to the AIDS response.
- Civil society’s role in joint reviews of AIDS responses
- Country experiences of joint reviews of national AIDS responses were discussed and analyzed at a consultation organized by UNAIDS which took place in Geneva on 15 – 16 January 2008.
- 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS
- The 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS will take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10 - 11 June. It will review progress made in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.
- Strengthening partnership: UNAIDS and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance
- Working towards the global efforts to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services for all those in need, UNAIDS has renewed its collaboration with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.
- Making a difference: UNAIDS in Ukraine
- In the first of web special series focusing on the work of UNAIDS staff at country level, www.unaids.org talks to UNAIDS Country Coordinator in Ukraine, Dr Ani Shakarishvli, about the response in the country, her role and her motivations.
- Addressing the health worker shortage crisis
- One of the major constraints to addressing both the AIDS epidemic and global access to essential health care services is the serious shortage of healthcare workers.
- India: largest-ever gathering of people living with HIV
- Over 7,000 people living with HIV came together in Shilparamam-Hyderabad, India on 7 December as part of the Andhra Pradesh State’s “Be Bold” campaign.
