Feature stories
December
- HIV prevention among most-at-risk young people: How to get the message across
- It is critical that young people most at risk of HIV infection are better informed and equipped with skills to protect themselves. This was a key argument emerging from an international symposium convened by the UNAIDS Inter-agency Task Team (IATT) on Education to address the education sector’s response to the challenge of HIV among this key population.
- UNAIDS in action: Highlights from 2009
- Below are some of the highlights and key events which took place in 2009.
- AIDSspace.org: Supporting the global AIDS response through social networking
- On 24 November UNAIDS launched AIDSspace, an online community for people living with HIV and supporters of the AIDS response. The site is built on three key principles: Connect, Share and Access and was created to expand both informal and established networks and to help maximize resources for a stronger response to the epidemic.
- South African Muppet Kami speaks the language of acceptance
- Sesame Street fans across the world are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the popular children’s television programme this year. In South Africa, the programme’s local version called Takalani Sesame is revelling in the popularity of its mustard-coloured furry Muppet, Kami, who is openly living in HIV.
- Now the time to act to address climate change: Government and UN leaders gather in Copenhagen
- The high-level segment of the UN climate change summit is about to take place in Copenhagen. Government and UN leaders gather to mark a global effort to forge a new deal to curb climate change.
- Eminent African Jurists discuss HIV and the law
- A three-day meeting to highlight the role of the judiciary in the response to HIV has concluded in Johannesburg. The gathering co-hosted by UNAIDS, UNDP, International Association of Women Judges and the International Commission of Jurists was attended by 30 judges from a diverse range of African countries and legal traditions.
- UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco visits the frontline of the HIV epidemic in South Africa
- Visiting South Africa for the first time in her role as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, Her Serene Highness, Princess Stephanie of Monaco met with community organizations and partners at the forefront of South Africa’s response to the HIV epidemic. South Africa has one of the largest HIV epidemics, with an estimated 5.7 million people living with HIV.
- Peru: New campaign to counter stigma and discrimination towards people living with HIV
- A new campaign has been launched to counter the stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV in Peru- The joint advocacy initiative is supported by UNAIDS, UNDP and the Peruvian Press Council.
- Human Rights Day - Partnering with men to stop human rights violations against women
- Each year, Human Rights Day marks the culmination of 16 days of activism to end violence against women when groups from around the world come together to eradicate this threat to the health and wellbeing of women and girls. This year, UNFPA has launched a publication which highlights the crucial role men can play.
- Sexuality education an imperative for children and young people in a world affected by AIDS
- In many parts of the world, a combination of social taboos, unavailability of sound information, lack of resources and infrastructure leave many young people vulnerable to coercion, abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Sexuality education can play a key role in improving knowledge and reducing sexual risk behaviours among young people.
- Secretary-General's Message for Human Rights Day 2009
- No country is free of discrimination. We see it everywhere, in many forms: old and new, covert and blatant, public and private. It may appear as institutionalized racism, as ethnic strife, as episodes of intolerance and rejection, or as an official national version of history that denies the identity of others.
- 16 Days of Activism: The forgotten victims of conflict in the Congo
- Tomorrow, December 10 marks the end of 16 days of activism to end violence against women, an international campaign. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, is taking the opportunity to draw attention to its work, alongside local partners, in challenging the very high number of rapes occurring in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Footballers unite against AIDS
- “On the pitch we compete, but off the pitch we are united against AIDS” assured the two UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors and star footballers Michael Ballack and Emmanuel Adebayor as they played to a packed Manchester City Stadium during the week of World AIDS Day.
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime tackles HIV in prisons
- In most countries around the world there is a higher prevalence of HIV among prisoners than in the general population. This is due to a number of factors including the relative lack of knowledge about AIDS among prisoners, lack of access to protective measures, often violent conditions, overcrowding and inadequate health services. To help tackle this situation in Africa, UNODC, in partnership with WHO, the World Bank and UNAIDS has just launched the African HIV in Prisons Partnership Network (AHPPN).
- New data shows progress in addressing TB/HIV
- Some 36 million people have been cured of TB over the past 15 years and 8 million deaths averted, according to a new report by WHO. The report also shows continued progress on addressing the lethal combination of TB/HIV.
- Michel Sidibé calls for prevention revolution in opening address at UNAIDS’ governing body meeting
- The 25th meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) of UNAIDS opened today in Geneva. Key agenda items include the recently completed Second Independent Evaluation of UNAIDS 2002-2008 and the anticipated impact that the financial crises on the AIDS response.
- UN Secretary-General and leaders join stars in “LIGHT FOR RIGHTS” event on World AIDS Day in New York City
- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined with leaders in the AIDS response and entertainment stars at a dramatic public event commemorating World AIDS Day 2009 on 1 December at New York City’s historic Washington Square Park Memorial Arch.
- UNAIDS launches framework for partnership with religious organizations
- UNAIDS has launched a new strategic framework for partnership with Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in its response to HIV at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. It is evidence of stronger partnerships between UNAIDS and FBOs.
- Online tool launched for UNGASS 2010 reporting
- In order to facilitate the 2010 UNGASS reporting process for countries, UNAIDS launches an online reporting tool. The new tool allows data to be entered over a period of time as and when it becomes available. This allows the information be shared which enables consultation country-wide. It also helps to track any changes in data during data validation. In addition to reporting on progress, countries will be able to enter their own national targets for 2010 and 2015 and can view data from earlier reporting rounds for trend analysis.
- Danny Jordaan and UNAIDS Executive Director discuss global AIDS outreach around FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa
- Earlier this week in Cape Town, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with Mr Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive Officer of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South African Organising Committee to discuss support for global outreach on HIV by the South African government around the epic event which will take place next summer.
- UNHCR chief pledges to keep AIDS response a priority
- As the world marked World Aids Day on Tuesday, UNHCR’s chief, António Guterres, noted that the UN Refugee Agency had expanded its global HIV and AIDS interventions. Guterres, while reiterating his personal commitment to keeping AIDS a priority for UNHCR, also stressed that his agency would continue to advocate for the abolishment of laws discriminating against those with HIV.
- International Labour Organization marks World AIDS Day
- About one hundred officials gathered today to form a human red ribbon to commemorate and celebrate World AIDS Day at the International Labour Organization (ILO) headquarters in Geneva on 1 December.
- “HIV cannot be managed in isolation”: Pacific Commission on AIDS
- An independent Commission on AIDS in the Pacific recommends that HIV cannot be managed in isolation; it should be considered in the overall development context of the region. This is one of several recommendations stemming from the report that was launched today by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations in New York.
- World Bank on World AIDS Day: HIV as key development issue
- To mark World AIDS Day this year the World Bank is hosting an event which brings together a wide range of international partners and high-level guests to explore key issues in the challenge to HIV. Entitled Keeping the promise, Investing in the future: Linking HIV/AIDS, food security and maternal and child health, the gathering will examine AIDS as a central development issue, with progress strongly linked to broader development goals, notably food security and maternal and child health.
- What does living with HIV mean to me?
- There are an estimated 33.4 million people around the world living with HIV. As we gather around the globe this World AIDS Day to collectively commemorate, celebrate and speak out, it is important to not lose sight of the individuals behind the numbers and to remember the very real impact HIV has on people’s lives. This is Raffaele’s story.
- Shining light on rights this World AIDS Day in New York
- To focus on the human rights of people living with HIV, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be joined UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Naomi Watts, Kenneth Cole, chairman, board of trustees, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, New York City Speaker of the City Council Christine C. Quinn, and 13-year-old AIDS activist Keren Dunaway-Gonzalez in New York City.
- President Zuma and UNAIDS Executive Director call for mass prevention movement at World AIDS Day commemoration in Pretoria
- To mark World AIDS Day, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé joined President Jacob Zuma and South Africans in their national commemoration in Pretoria where he called for the forging of a mass prevention movement.
- Geneva celebrates positive living on World AIDS Day
- If you are one of the many travellers landing in Geneva airport this week, you will surely notice the gigantic red ribbons at the arrival and departure levels of a city that has chosen to join forces with UNAIDS and the myriad civil society organizations to draw attention to Human Rights and World AIDS Day.
- World AIDS Day 2009
- 2009 marks the 21th 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.
November
- New HIV recommendations to improve health, reduce infections and save lives
- On the eve of World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new recommendations on treatment, prevention and infant feeding in the context of HIV, based on the latest scientific evidence.
- 2009 World AIDS Day statements
- 1 December 2009 marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. The theme for this year is "Universal Access and Human Rights". To mark the day, the United Nations Secretary General, the Executive Director of UNAIDS Secretariat and Heads of UNAIDS Cosponsors and partners speak out in special World AIDS Day statements.
- World AIDS Day to be marked by UNAIDS Office in Washington
- In collaboration with twenty-six civil society organizations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Bank, UNAIDS is hosting a luncheon on 1 December which completes a policy forum series on HIV, human rights and key at-risk populations.
- Data shows progress needed on HIV testing and treatment for children and mothers
- NEW YORK/GENEVA/ BARCELONA 30 November 2009 – National efforts to combat AIDS, particularly by preventing mother-to-child transmission, are showing positive results, but many HIV and AIDS affected children still struggle to have their basic needs met, according to a report launched today by four United Nations agencies.
- Developing indicators on HIV-related stigma and discrimination
- Great strides have been made in recent years in understanding HIV-related stigma and discrimination – how to measure it and how to reduce it. However, the wide diversity of measures used to measure the causes, levels and consequences of stigma makes it difficult to compare prevalence of stigma across setting and populations. In addition, the lack of standardised indicators at the programme, national and global levels has been a significant barrier to scale up stigma reduction programmes.
- United Kingdom rollout The People Living with HIV Stigma Index
- An index that documents the stigma experienced by people living with HIV in the country has been launched at the Houses of Parliament, London, United Kingdom.
- Taking World AIDS Day to the airwaves: Radio station 4U1AIDS
- To mark 2009 World AIDS Day a special amateur radio station 4U1AIDS will operate from UNAIDS Secretariat headquarters in Geneva from 1-7 December 2009 and will be broadcast all over the world via the amateur radio network. The initiative is to encourage radio amateurs all around the globe to participate in World AIDS Day.
- UNAIDS Executive Director, Yao Ming and Government launch campaign against discrimination in China
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and the Chinese Vice-Minister of Health, Huang Jiefu, launched a campaign in Beijing earlier today to address HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and a group of fans that include people living with HIV are the face of the campaign which features two videos and a poster.
- Michel Sidibé meets with Li Keqiang, Vice Premiere of China
- Mr Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director, met with Vice Premiere of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang in Beijing during his week long visit to the country.
- UNDP: Bangladeshi women migrants abroad vulnerable to HIV
- Many Bangladeshi women migrant workers in the Arab states are subject to mandatory HIV testing and are deported if found to be living with the virus. They also often face physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their employers. These are the stark findings of a report released this week by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the country’s Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme (OKUP).
- UNAIDS welcomes legal registration of Viet Nam Network of People Living With HIV
- The Viet Nam Network of People Living with HIV (VNP+) was launched on 24 November 2009. VNP+ represents the combined strength of 150 self-help groups and alliances of people living with HIV from various parts of Viet Nam, and ensures their meaningful involvement in the national response to AIDS.
- Eight-year trend shows new HIV infections down by 17%—most progress seen in sub-Saharan Africa
- Efforts towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support are bringing AIDS out of isolation. - According to new data in the 2009 AIDS epidemic update, new HIV infections have been reduced by 17% over the past eight years.
- UNAIDS Outlook 2010: Fresh perspective on the AIDS epidemic and response
- It’s clear that the HIV epidemic the world faces today is not the same as when it peaked in 1996. The number of people living with HIV globally is now at 33.4 million and although 2.7 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2008, good news is that this is a decrease by 17% over the last eight years.
- Michel Sidibé commends China’s progress in AIDS response
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, during his visit to China, commended the People’s Republic of China on rises in domestic spending for HIV prevention and care in spite of a global financial crisis where other countries are weighing the risks of making cuts.
- UNAIDS Executive Director visit to China opens with focus on civil society
- UNAIDS Executive Secretary Michel Sidibé arrived in Shanghai this week on the first leg of a two-city visit to China. During the visit, Michel Sidibé will visit Shanghai and Beijing, launch the 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update and meet with many key partners from Chinese government and civil society. Michel Sidibé began his visit by attending a prize giving ceremony organised by the China office of the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, an organization that works to improve treatment conditions for people living with HIV at the local, regional and international levels.
- Education sector: Getting to grips with an HIV monitoring and evaluation framework
- The education sector plays a critical role in national responses to AIDS. However, this contribution is often poorly appreciated and understood. To help address this situation, a host of international experts recently met in London to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for education sector responses to HIV.
- Business coalitions on AIDS strengthen the private sector response to AIDS in Asia
- In order to take stock of progress made by business coalitions on AIDS (BCA) in the Asia Pacific region and to ensure that standards are upheld as services are scaled up, UNAIDS, the Asia Pacific Business Coalition (APBCA) and the Asian Business Coalition on AIDS (ABCA) organized a regional meeting of BCAs from the region in Bangkok earlier this month.
- Acclaimed photo exhibition by women living with HIV opens in New York
- On 17 November UNAIDS hosted a reception for the opening of an exhibition at the United Nations in New York entitled The House Is Small But The Welcome Is Big, a project of the Los Angeles–based Venice Arts of over 40 extraordinary photographs made by South African women living with HIV and Mozambican children who lost both parents to AIDS.
- Michel Sidibé awarded Monaco distinction by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé was awarded the Order of Saint Charles along with UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in the Principality of Monaco during the country’s National Day. The order rewards merit and service to the state or Prince of Monaco and is one of the country’s most prestigious distinctions.
- UNFPA report: Exploring links between HIV and climate change
- The success of the global response to AIDS will rely on tackling not only the encroaching virus itself but also the affects of climate change such as food and water shortages, growth in poverty and an increase in natural disasters.
- Artists in Russia come together to spread awareness about HIV
- UNAIDS and the All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV came together for the second time to support the international project Art Against AIDS that unites well-known artists in the response to the HIV epidemic in Russia. This year, proceeds from the sale of art at the exhibition went to low-income families raising children living with HIV.
- “Just like you” video campaign against stigma and prejudice launched in Brazil
- New campaign to be broadcast by television across Brazil highlights rights of students, gay men, lesbians, people living with HIV, the Afro-Brazilian population, sex workers, refugees, transsexuals and transvestites and drug users.
- Food by Prescription: A Landscape paper from GAIN
- The World Summit on Food Security opens 16 November in Rome. In many parts of the world, lack of food security and poor nutrition are worsening the effects of the HIV epidemic. Although access to HIV treatment is increasing, service providers report large numbers of clients presenting with advanced disease and acute malnutrition. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) have published a new paper on Food by Prescription programmes.
- Study tour of Police initiatives in India
- National police officers and National AIDS Programme heads from Cambodia, Maldives, Mongolia, Philippines, and Sri Lanka visited India last month to get a firsthand experience of law enforcement initiatives on interventions related to high risk populations.
- Global Fund approves US$2.4 billion in new grants
- The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria concluded its 20th meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the approval of new grants with a two-year commitment of US$2.4 billion.
- Monitoring progress towards global HIV targets
- In a supplement of the Journal of AIDS’ December issue published yesterday, UNAIDS explores some of the current challenges to monitoring the progress towards global HIV targets. It explores thematic, technical analysis of data and key findings derived from the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS) reporting system.
- New report calls for policy changes on HIV and disability
- A new report by Health Canada’s International Affairs Directorate has called for a greater focus on rights of people with disabilities in HIV policy. The report makes recommendations for policy change and follows an International Policy Dialogue held between UNAIDS, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada in Ottawa in March 2009.
- Violence against women and HIV
- Numerous studies from around the globe confirm the links between violence against women and HIV. These studies show that women living with HIV are more likely to have experienced violence, and that, women who have experienced violence are more likely to have HIV infection.
- WHO report on the health of women: AIDS leading cause of death globally in women of reproductive age
- In a landmark report on the health of women and girls across the globe, WHO states that AIDS is the main cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age (15-44 years). This supports the contention in Women and Health: Today’s Evidence, Tomorrow’s Agenda that in a multiplicity of areas female health is neglected and must now be considered an urgent priority.
- UNAIDS and Economic Commission for Africa discuss innovative financing for health in Africa
- The Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé met with the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Mr Abdoulei Janneh earlier today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- UNAIDS, ASEAN join hands to support work on gender and HIV
- Studies in Asia indicate that most women in the region acquire HIV because of their partners who engage in unsafe behaviours. It is estimated that more than 90% of women living with HIV acquired the virus from their husbands or boyfriends while in long-term relationships. An effective AIDS response must address intimate partner relationships to prevent HIV infections in the female partners of men with high-risk behaviours.
- UNAIDS participate in Netherlands Multi Party Initiative
- UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibé took part in a meeting earlier this week organized by the Netherlands Multi Party Initiative on HIV/AIDS in The Haag. The meeting was co-organized by the Dutch NGOs “STOP AIDS NOW!” and Aids Fonds under the banner AIDS in a Time of Financial Crisis.
- Antiretroviral treatment for prevention
- Research suggests that people living with HIV who are following an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen can achieve undetectable viral load, leading to significantly reduced risk of transmitting HIV. However, antiretroviral therapy for prevention has not proven to completely eliminate the risk of transmission the virus. To explore the issue WHO convened a meeting to review scientific data available on this approach.
- President heralds new era in South Africa’s AIDS response
- South Africa’s response to AIDS received a powerful boost with President Jacob Zuma’s landmark speech to the National Council of Provinces on 29 October 2009. The speech heralds the beginning of a new movement to accelerate access towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the country which has the largest number of people living with HIV. In his speech the President calls on all leaders to work together and use evidence to inform the country’s AIDS response.
October
- UN Secretary-General urges countries to follow the United States and lift travel restrictions for people living with HIV
- Geneva/New York, 31 October 2009 — UNAIDS welcomes President Obama’s announcement of the final rule removing entry restrictions based on HIV status from US policy. The removal of HIV-related travel restrictions in the US overturns a policy that had been in place since 1987. Such restrictions, strongly opposed by UNAIDS, are discriminatory and do not protect public health.
- Empowering women to protect themselves: Promoting the female condom in Zimbabwe
- The female condom can be a tool for women’s empowerment, allowing them to protect their own reproductive health and that of their partners. In Zimbabwe, the national AIDS-prevention team, along with UNFPA, have seen their efforts lead to a dramatic increase in female condom use after just three years.
- Private sector in West and Central Africa explore strategic partnerships for improved health outcomes
- A strategic combination of private sector know-how and technologies with public sector expertise and funding could lead to improved health and a more efficient AIDS response in West and Central Africa. This was the message from a one day workshop held in Ghana focusing on the role of the private sector in Global Fund processes that brought together companies, national business coalitions tackling HIV and employers federations, as well as trade unions and development partners from all over West and Central Africa.
- Going beyond social taboos: Parliamentarians begin inclusive dialogue with key groups in Pakistan
- In a move to counter social exclusion and change discriminatory practices, a dialogue has begun in Pakistan between the government, parliamentarians and communities often overlooked by policymakers. An historic meeting was held late last month when a number of parliamentarians began a dialogue with community members on the challenges facing transgendered people, people who use drugs and people living with HIV. This meeting was a first, and aimed to create an enabling environment for policy changes related to HIV.
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia HIV conference for joint efforts towards Universal Access
- The 3rd HIV/AIDS Conference in Eastern Europe and Central Asia opened in Moscow today with a ceremony attended by senior representatives of Russian Duma, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Academy of Sciences and the US Ambassador to the Russian Federation. Participants and organizers hope it will invigorate the regional response to the AIDS epidemic.
- UNAIDS and International Olympic Committee strengthen partnership
- Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director met with Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today in Lausanne, Switzerland to review the ongoing activities developed under the IOC-UNAIDS partnership and to explore future collaboration.
- Cricket stars raise awareness about HIV in South Africa
- Famous Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera and Lasith Malinga recently visited young people living with HIV at the WITSECHO Adolescent Sprint Holiday Programme near Johannesburg, South Africa.
- European development community discuss global health challenges
- The European Development Days opened yesterday in Stockholm by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria, the President of the EU Commission José Manuel Barroso and the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé participated a session on global health challenges co-hosted by UNAIDS, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the GAVI Alliance, the Stop AIDS Alliance, and AIDS Accountability International.
- Nigeria launches postal service campaign for HIV awareness
- To mark World Post Day on 9 October, Nigeria held a national launch of a global awareness campaign in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union, UNAIDS, the ILO and UNI Global.
- Scientists come together for the AIDS Vaccine Conference 2009
- The yearly AIDS Vaccine Conference opened in Paris today. High on the agenda are discussions on the progress made in vaccine development and implications of trail results for the future.
- China’s vocational schools play a key role in AIDS education
- The Zhaoqing Vocational School in Guangdong, China, provides basic technical skills to several thousand migrant workers a year. It is also one of the first schools of its kind in the country to include information on sexuality, reproductive health and HIV in its core curriculum. This model has now been scaled up nationally with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
- Partnering with faith based organizations for virtual elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV
- Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé took part in a meeting in Rome with members of Religious Orders, heads of Catholic-run AIDS projects, professors of Theology, medical doctors, as well as representatives for the pharmaceutical industry to discuss the prevention and early treatment of HIV and TB in young children.
- UNAIDS Head visits oldest HIV treatment centre in Karnataka
- Concluding his official visit to India, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé yesterday visited the HIV treatment centre at Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospitals in Bangalore. The government run centre is the largest and oldest in Karnataka and has the highest rate of integrated HIV and TB services in India. The treatment centre is also one of the few sites able to both evaluate, with a viral load test, when first line treatment is failing, and provide access and establish people on second line treatment.
- UNAIDS Executive Director joins Chief Minister to launch Learning Site on HIV and sex work in Bangalore, India
- In Bangalore earlier today, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé joined the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B.S. Yediyurappa at the official launch of the Ashodaya Academy – the first learning site on HIV in the Asia-Pacific region run entirely by sex workers. The Chief Minister welcomed the opening of the centre in Mysore, which begins its first HIV training course with over 200 sex workers from Ashodya, as well as participants from as far away as Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar and Nepal.
- UNAIDS Head visits outreach programme for men who have sex with men in Mumbai
- During his visit to The Humsafar Trust site in Mumbai, Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé shared with its founder, gay activist Mr Ashok Row Kavi, his vision of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment in India by 2010. Mr Sidibé was visiting Mumbai during his first visit to India as Executive Director of UNAIDS, he also congratulated The Trust on its contribution towards making the annulment of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code a reality. The organization was part of the petition filed in a Delhi court against Section 377 which criminalized homosexual sex.
- Michel Sidibé congratulates Indian sexual minority communities for uniting against Section 377
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé attended an event in Delhi today to recognize the activists whose efforts contributed towards the recent annulment of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalized consensual sex between men and transgendered people.
- New initiative to train India’s people living with HIV on AIDS advocacy in the workplace
- Today, October 7 2009, we mark World Day for Decent Work. The International Labour Organization and the India Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS has recently launched an innovative tool in India’s response to HIV in the world of work. The two organizations have come together to release a training video package aimed at guiding those living with the virus in AIDS advocacy in the workplace as rights at work include freedom from discrimination.
- Gender and sexuality: Partners gather for global expert forum in Asia
- To address the technical and political challenges of reaching sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and other sexual minority groups while also supporting strong country ownership, the Global Fund, UNAIDS and the Coalition of Asia Pacific Regional Networks on HIV/AIDS is hosting an expert consultation in Bangkok, 5-7 October 2009.
- Michel Sidibé urges India to continue AIDS effort
- In his first visit to India as Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé has held a series of meetings with the Government in which he emphasized the role of political leadership to ensure that the country’s universal access goals to HIV prevention, care and treatment are achieved in India by 2010.
- Telecom: Tools connecting the world and communicating about HIV
- The global telecommunications sector is gathering in Geneva this week for Telecom WORLD 2009. Delegates will explore areas of societal change including the digital divide, climate change, and disaster relief. The extended reach of mobile technologies also presents a great opportunity to scale up the AIDS response across the world.
- OPINION: HIV vaccine—a public good to right a global wrong
- The promise of a vaccine against HIV has got one step closer. Results from the largest vaccine trial ever conducted show a modest but encouraging 31% efficacy in preventing new HIV infections in Thailand. This has vindicated thousands of scientists and volunteers who have been hoping that a safe and highly effective HIV vaccine is possible.
September
- Governments and civil society expand access to HIV testing and counselling
- A brightly coloured van known as the ‘Tutu Tester’ has become a familiar sight in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of an accelerating drive to persuade people to know their HIV status. More than 10 000 people have been tested and counselled since May 2008 when the mobile clinic from the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation took to the road.
- More infants protected from HIV as access to antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission increases
- Despair is giving way to cautious optimism even in the most HIV-affected African nations as antiretroviral drugs become more widely available to stop HIV-positive women from infecting their unborn child or infant, thus edging closer to United Nations targets for an HIV-free generation of children.
- More than four million HIV-positive people now receiving life-saving treatment
- More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the close of 2008, representing a 36% increase in one year and a ten-fold increase over five years, according to a new report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- Y-PEER in Lebanon: Youth leadership in action
- The UNFPA-supported Y-PEER initiative is a groundbreaking youth programme that raises HIV prevention awareness through street art, music and dance. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé had the opportunity this week to attend a dance performance by the Youth Peer Education Network during the Jeux de la Francophonie.
- UNAIDS Executive Director visits Lebanon
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé concluded an official visit to Lebanon on 29 September. Mr Sidibé recognized and supported the country’s achievements in the HIV response and efforts to target key populations at risk of HIV. He also welcomed the Government of Lebanon’s strong commitment to introduce oral substitution therapy into the country’s public health system.
- Jeux de la Francophonie and UNAIDS: Partnering for young people
- The Jeux de la Francophonie, the Francophone Games, have been opened in Beirut by His Excellency Michel Suleiman, the President of Lebanon. UNAIDS is an official partner to the games where sport and culture combine to foster dialogue and understanding among French speaking nations.
- UNAIDS partners in new Clinton Global Initiative to address sexual violence against girls
- UNAIDS and cosponsors UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO have joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNIFEM and private sector supporters through the Clinton Global Initiative to address the injustices and health impact of sexual violence against girls. The initiative, launched in New York by the partners, will focus on countries where sexual violence is a key initiation point for the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases.
- Largest ever HIV vaccine trial results very encouraging
- Geneva, 24 September 2009 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) are optimistic about the results, announced today, of the largest ever HIV vaccine clinical trial held to date.
- Social protection: helping families affected by HIV weather the financial crisis
- As leaders convene at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign, spearheaded by UNICEF and supported by UNAIDS among other partners, is encouraging a discussion on the role of social protection. The campaign believes that developing a network of public and private services, addressing vulnerability, poverty and exclusion, can help protect children and families affected by AIDS.
- Government of Australia, UNAIDS sign partnership agreement
- As a sign of consistent and growing partnership on the AIDS response, UNAIDS signed a multi-annual agreement with the Government of Australia on Monday 21 September 2009.
- Bruni-Sarkozy endorses UNAIDS call to virtually eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015
- Carla Bruni-Sarkozy echoed UNAIDS call to virtually eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015 while addressing the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leaders at a side event to the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- AIDS and security: new evidence, new actions
- A report published today by the AIDS, Security and Conflict Initiative provides new evidence and outlines recommendation for actions on the links between security, conflict, peacebuilding and HIV.
- Friends of UN Plus in Swaziland, Mozambique
- Strengthening efforts towards a stigma-free work environment for United Nations staff living with HIV and their families, UN Plus has launched a new Friends of UN Plus initiative in Swaziland. Keeping up the momentum to break down barriers and silence around HIV in southern Africa, this will be followed by the launch of a similar initiative in Mozambique on September 23.
- UNAIDS, Millennium Villages join forces to keep children free from HIV in Africa
- UNAIDS and the Millennium Villages Project signed an agreement in New York to strengthen efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa. The aim of the partnership is to help local governments create “Mother to child transmission-free zones” in 14 ‘Millennium Villages’ across ten African countries.
- Metro TeenAIDS – keeping young people on the agenda in Washington DC
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met yesterday with Metro TeenAIDS (MTA), a community health organization in Washington, DC dedicated to supporting young people to overcome the impact of AIDS. Metro TeenAIDS is the leading youth organization in the Washington DC-metro area focusing all its efforts on the prevention, education, treatment and the unique needs of young people around HIV.
- UNAIDS Forum on HIV, Human Rights and Men Who Have Sex with Men
- As part of his official visit to Washington, D.C., UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé participated in the Forum on HIV, Human Rights and Men Who Have Sex with Men on 16 September 2009. The event was organized by UNAIDS in collaboration with the HIV Policy Working Group on Men Who Have Sex with Men and Other Sexual Minorities, and in cooperation with the Honorable Howard Berman (D-CA) and the Honorable Barbara Lee (D-CA).
- New UN Plus groups in South Africa and Lesotho
- UN Plus, the advocacy group of United Nations staff members living with HIV, is launching three country groups in Southern Africa – Pretoria, Johannesburg and Lesotho - after an increase in membership of UN Plus in the region. UN Plus members are undertaking a road trip across southern Africa where they will later launch the ‘Friends of UN Plus’ initiative in Swaziland and Mozambique.
- Advocating for HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection services for injecting drug users in India
- Loon Gangte is President of the Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) and a strong advocate of HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention. In an interview with the Regional South Asia office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, he talks about stigma and discrimination and explains why HIV and HCV co-infection, especially among injecting drug users, is an issue needing urgent intervention.
- Michel Sidibé presents UNAIDS’ vision in Washington, D.C.
- The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Health Policy Center invited the UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé to share his vision for the future direction of UNAIDS, including prospects for accelerated global action in support of universal access to HIV services.
- Resources for regular lab tests could be used for HIV treatment
- Having 12 children and a very old mother to support, Vincent, middle-aged Ugandan single father living with HIV, knows that his death would spell disaster for the whole family. “If I had died, where would these people go?” said Vincent perched on a stool with his legs outstretched.
- Male circumcision programmes as part of combination HIV prevention are beneficial and cost effective
- Male circumcision among heterosexual men in high HIV prevalence and low male circumcision settings is beneficial and cost effective, says a new article in the open access journal PLoS Medicine.
- Moldova: NGOs coming together to strengthen HIV response
- Speaking with many voices and representing many different perspectives, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in the response to the AIDS epidemic in countries around the world. As key partners in the development of national AIDS responses, NGOs are well positioned to provide quantative and qualitative information to augment the data collected by governments.
- Rwanda leading the way in jointly tackling TB and HIV
- Dr Jorge Sampaio, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Stop TB and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé together witnessed, first-hand, delivery of integrated HIV and TB services during a visit to the Socio-Medical Centre in Biryogo, Rwanda.
- UNAIDS Executive Director official visit to Rwanda continues
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé has met with President of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame, and the First Lady of Rwanda, H.E. Jeanette Kagame, as well as representatives of civil society organizations. Yesterday he addressed the 59th session of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Kigali.
August
- UNAIDS Executive Director’s first official visit to Rwanda
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé will pay his first official visit to Rwanda from 27 August to 3 September to recognize and support the achievements of the Government of Rwanda in the HIV response and conduct high-level advocacy for universal access to HIV services and the Millennium Development Goals.
- United for UNICEF: Manchester United visit highlights HIV and rights of vulnerable children
- Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Federico Macheda took time out of the club's pre-season tour of Asia in mid-July to highlight the facts about HIV, help challenge the prejudice and stigma faced by marginalized children; and advocate for their rights.
- Revitalizing community mobilization for universal access in West and Central Africa
- Thirty civil society organizations involved in the HIV response in West and Central Africa (WCA) identified six priority areas for action to accelerate the movement towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the region. This decision was the outcome of a regional consultation organized by the UNAIDS Regional Support Team, in collaboration with three regional civil society networks (AfriCASO, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ENDA Santé) in Dakar from 11 to 14 August 2009.
- UNAIDS to receive additional funding from UK
- UNAIDS and its cosponsor UNFPA have been ranked as best performers in a recent assessment of four UN agencies, including UNDP and WHO, conducted by UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). As a result, both organizations will receive full additional funding to further support projects on the ground.
- Economic Progress not enough to change the future course of the epidemic: AIDS in Asia needs bold policy changes
- Six Asian countries experiencing rapid economic transition have yet to prioritize HIV prevention resources for high-impact programmes. Political will and social acceptance will be needed to allocate resources for HIV services for sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users and men who have sex with men.
- New website launched to improve diagnosis of TB among people living with HIV
- A new web site, Evidence-Based Tuberculosis Diagnosis, has been launched that aims to provide the most comprehensive single source of evidence synthesis, policies, guidelines and research agendas on TB diagnosis. It is also a source for complete up-to-date information on the current TB diagnostics pipeline. Standard operating procedures and package inserts for several tests also are available.
- UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador strikes a chord for youth engagement in the AIDS response
- Participants in a discussion on young people’s role in AIDS response at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) reached a clear and unanimous agreement: young people are essential to halting the spread of HIV.
- HIV in humanitarian crises : Opportunities and challenges
- With millions of people around the world forced to move by conflict and natural disasters, examining the relationship between humanitarian crises and HIV is becoming increasingly critical. This key issue, and its implications for Asia, was highlighted in a satellite session at ICAAP sponsored by UNHCR and UNAIDS.
- UN Report: Echoing ’97 Asian turmoil, current financial crisis leaves migrants more vulnerable to HIV
- The global economic downturn is having an adverse effect on migrants as they are excluded from stimulus packages and AIDS programmes are threatened, concludes a UN report released at ICAAP. As in the 1997 Asian crisis, negative impacts on health and migration are set to become graver as donor funding and government programmes are cut.
- ICAAP 2009: Breaking down legal barriers and criminalization
- Legal barriers and criminalization are blocking the empowerment of groups at high risk of HIV infection such as injecting drug users, sex workers and men who have sex with men by denying or obstructing the rights to live healthy and safe lives. To explore and address this global social issue, UNAIDS organized a satellite session at ICAAP on Wednesday 12 August.
- HIV transmission in intimate partner relationships in Asia
- photo caption. Credit: It is estimated that more than 90% of the 1.7 million women living with HIV in Asia became infected from their husbands or partners while in long-term relationships. By 2008, women constituted 35% of all adult HIV infections in Asia, up from 17% in 1990.
- International Day of the World's Indigenous People focuses on AIDS
- The 2009 International Day of the World's Indigenous People was observed at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday 10 August 2009. This year’s International Day focused on the theme of “Indigenous Peoples and HIV/AIDS”.
- WFP Addresses Vital Role of Food and Nutrition in Global AIDS Response
- During a satellite session at the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), held in Bali, Indonesia, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners explored the vital role of nutrition and food security for people living with HIV.
- Injecting drug users take central role in anti-stigma film
- The lives of injecting drug users and the HIV-related stigma and discrimination they face was one focus of the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific as the film Suee (Needle) was launched by Response Beyond Borders, the Asian consortium on drug use HIV, AIDS and poverty.
- More needs to be done to help young people most at risk of HIV infection
- In general, HIV prevention services in the Asia region are currently not reaching young people who are most at risk of infection. In order to address this, the Asia Pacific Regional UN Coordination Group on Most at Risk Young People is hosting a symposium (Aug 10) at the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
- Hope to reality: transforming the Asia–Pacific AIDS response
- More than a thousand people become infected with HIV in Asia each day. If only we had invested in reaching populations at higher risk and their partners, most of these infections could have been averted - at a cost of less than half a US dollar per person.
- "Empowering People, Strengthening Networks" — 9th ICAAP opens
- The President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Hj. Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has officially opened the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), which this year takes place in Bali, Indonesia from 9-13 August under the theme “Empowering people, strengthening networks”.
- AIDS Ambassadors gather in Indonesia
- Ahead of the official opening ceremony of the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), a high-level meeting of AIDS Ambassadors took place in Bali. The gathering was co-hosted by the First Lady and National AIDS Ambassador of Indonesia, Mrs Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, and AIDS Ambassador of Australia, Mr Murray Proctor.
- UNAIDS Cosponsors out in force for 9th ICAAP
- The 10 UNAIDS Cosponsors are presenting a strong showing as thousands of delegates converge in Bali, Indonesia, to share ideas, knowledge, best practices, lessons learned and research findings at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP).
- A new blog for the development community: Conversations for a Better World
- If the AIDS epidemic and other key development issues are to be dealt with effectively, greater attention has to be paid to population dynamics and reproductive health. To address this, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has launched a series of on-line dialogues: Conversations for a Better World. The first conversation deals with the links between poverty and AIDS. You are invited to join in.
July
- Preventing HIV through education in Latin America and Caribbean
- A year ago Latin America and the Caribbean Ministers pledged to provide comprehensive sex education in schools. The historic Prevention through education declaration was signed at the end of the First Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to prevent HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Brazilian national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Association awarded consultative status to the UN
- The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has for the first time awarded consultative status to a Latin-American non-governmental organization representing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
- Public-private partnerships strengthen health systems and AIDS response
- A new UNAIDS report looks at the contribution of AIDS-related public-private partnerships to the six building blocks of health systems: service delivery; human resources; information; medicines and technologies; financing; and leadership.
- ECOSOC adopts resolution on UNAIDS
- The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) passed a resolution on UNAIDS by consensus at its 2009 substantive session on 24 July. Negotiations on the text were led by the Delegation of the Netherlands, in its capacity as Vice Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board and ECOSOC member, and 31 countries – from all regions – co-sponsored the text.
- Dialogue on Universal Access Report 2009 released
- When the Executive Director of UNAIDS took office he called for a renewed commitment to universal access. From January to May 2009, a transition team led by Norwegian AIDS Ambassador Sigrun Mogedal engaged in a process of consultations and dialogue with key partners and stakeholders in the HIV response to obtain insight on where UNAIDS should focus its efforts in helping countries achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- HIV Treatment data update – July 2009
- Substantial progress has been made in increasing access to treatment in low and middle income countries.
- Evidence shows new drug combination dramatically reduces mother-to child transmission of HIV during breastfeeding
- According to a new study led by WHO, if HIV-positive pregnant women are given a combination of antiretroviral drugs from late in pregnancy until six months into breastfeeding, rather than a short course of drugs that ends at delivery, their babies are over 40% less likely to become infected with HIV.
- Young researcher from Kenya recognized at 5th IAS Conference
- This year’s recipient is Dr Linnet N. Masese, Kenya, for her abstract, A prospective cohort study of the effect of antiretroviral therapy on sexual risk behaviour in a high-risk cohort of Kenyan women. It was selected by a review committee from eligible abstracts submitted to and accepted for presentation at IAS 2009.
- Deputy President of South Africa echoes UNAIDS priorities at international AIDS conference
- The Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe has pledged to strengthen work on eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV.
- Lesotho: HIV free babies bring hope
- Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNAIDS has ended his visit to Lesotho with call for strengthened health services for mothers living with HIV and their babies to help end vertical transmission of HIV.
- The route to good living: World Bank guide to HIV prevention in Africa’s transport sector
- Transport corridors in sub-Saharan Africa, as elsewhere, enable movement of people and goods, increasing economic activity and spreading wealth. But they also facilitate the spread of HIV. In response, the Africa Transport Sector of the World Bank has published a practical new booklet on how to implement HIV prevention activities as part of road construction projects.
- Kaiser Family Foundation and UNAIDS issue report on funding for AIDS by G8 countries and other major donors
- The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have issued a new report on 2008 funding for global AIDS efforts from the G8 nations, European Commission (EC) and other donor governments.
- Morocco: Coming together to strengthen the AIDS response in the workplace
- The world of work is a key arena for successfully challenging the AIDS epidemic. To promote this challenge in Morocco, the Ministry of Employment, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNAIDS, hosted a two-day national workshop on HIV workplace programmes in Casablanca at the end of June.
- All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV
- The official registration of the All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV has become a major breakthrough in the national response to AIDS in the Russian Federation. The All-Russian Union was officially registered in May 2009 and had its first conference in June 2009 under the theme “All –Russian Union of People Living with HIV: Actual Issues of Development”.
- US First Lady Michelle Obama visits UNDP projects in Moscow
- US First Lady Michelle Obama visited St. Dimitry Sisterhood Medical Nurses College in Moscow, a nursing school that cares for people living with HIV on 7 July. While there, she stressed the need for more information and education to reduce stigma and raise awareness about how to care for people living with HIV. Ms. Obama, who worked previously as an executive for University of Chicago Hospitals, also shared her experience in the health care field and noted the importance of the work.
- International post office network to share HIV prevention messages
- Thanks to a collaboration between the Universal Postal Union and UNAIDS, Post Offices around the world are participating in an awareness campaign on preventing HIV. Also onboard are the International Labour Organization and UNI Global Union.
- Landmark Delhi High Court decision recognizes inappropriate criminalization as a barrier to health, human rights and dignity
- The Delhi High Court declared section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalised consensual sexual acts of adults in private as violative of the rights to privacy, liberty, health and equality enshrined in the Constitution of India. Though the decision was largely seen as a victory for the men who sex with men and transgender people, it is a victory for all – regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The judgment is noteworthy and progressive in terms of its rejection of a hetero-normative and homogenous conception of sexuality.
- Global economic crisis and HIV
- A joint Word Bank/UNAIDS report looks at the potential impact of the global financial crisis on HIV prevention and treatment programmes worldwide. Using data collected in March 2009 from 71 countries, the analysis looks at how the crisis could affect people living with HIV needing treatment. The potential effects on prevention activities were also investigated.
- ECOSOC high level forum discusses global public health progress and challenges
- The high-level segment of the annual session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) opened this morning in Geneva with addresses by Sylvie Lucas, President of the Economic and Social Council; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of Switzerland.
- Better HIV diagnosis in mothers and infants to avoid death from TB vaccine
- Bacille Calmette-Guérin, or BCG, is one of the most widely given vaccines globally and is safe in people with healthy immune systems. WHO recently published further research on the finding that this standard tuberculosis vaccine has a higher risk of causing death in babies living with HIV.
- Made in Africa
- Recently published op-ed by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé -- There are 22 million people living with HIV in Africa. For every two people who start on antiretroviral treatment, five are newly infected with HIV. This means the number of people in need of treatment will always increase.
- African Union summit focuses on economic growth and food security
- Leaders and representatives from some 50 African countries, as well as guests from the international community are gathered in Sirte, Libya from 1 – 3 July for the 13th ordinary session of the African Union taking place under the theme “Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security.” UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibé also attended the meeting where has he held several consultations with African leaders.
- Dispatch from the field: WHO HIV Director tours pioneering treatment clinic in Namibia
- In the first of a new World Health Organization web series called Dispatch from the field, Dr Kevin De Cock, undertaking his last mission as Director of the WHO HIV/AIDS Department, visited Katutura State Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. He praised efforts by the hospital, national authorities and health-care providers to expand antiretroviral treatment (ART) in a country where almost 90% of those in need of ART receive it.
June
- vih.org: Information, debate and exchange in response to AIDS
- For information and tools on the AIDS response in French as well as community fora, web users will find much of interest on VIH.org.
- aids2031 2009 Young Leaders Summit
- Thirty young leaders from around the world came together in Oslo June 23 - 25 for the 2009 aids2031 Young Leaders Summit.
- UNAIDS welcomes Youth Fellows
- UNAIDS welcomes four Youth Fellows who arrived this month in Geneva for the second round of the UNAIDS Special Youth Programme.
- Coalition of global business gathers to turn knowledge into action on AIDS
- More than 250 people from business and NGO sectors, government and multilateral bodies are gathering in Washington, D.C. for the annual conference of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Coalition, know as GBC, has convened the two-day event to help ensure that private sector initiatives on these three diseases remains high on the corporate agenda.
- 24th UNAIDS Board meeting opens with a focus on “people on the move”
- UNAIDS Governing body, the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), is holding its 24th meeting in Geneva from 22-24 June 2009. This year’s thematic session is focusing on addressing the HIV-related needs of “people on the move”. Mr Michel Sidibé will also give his first address to the Board members in the role of UNAIDS Executive Director.
- Addressing the HIV-related needs of “people on the move”
- June 20 is World Refugee Day, an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of addressing the HIV-related needs of “people on the move”. Love in the time of AIDS, a video co-produced by UNHCR, highlights the story of Noe Sebisaba, a former Burundian refugee who set up a successful NGO which provides a lifeline to many fellow refugees affected by HIV. The video will be featured during the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board thematic session on forced displacement at the Board’s 24th meeting.
- Ahead of PCB, UNAIDS launches handbook on governance
- Ahead of the 24th meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) which opens on 22 June 2009, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has published the UNAIDS Governance Handbook.
- Collaboration between TB Alliance and Tibotec offers hope of accelerated tuberculosis drug development
- In response to the urgent need to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs to fight tuberculosis (TB), a landmark collaboration between the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), a non-profit, product development partnership, and Tibotec Inc., (Tibotec), a global pharmaceutical company, was announced at the Pacific Health Summit.
- General Assembly review on HIV/AIDS
- As the HIV response represents one of the soundest of all possible global investments, it is critical that commitment to HIV efforts be maintained and strengthened in the midst of these economic challenges - Report of the Secretary-General to the 63rd General Assembly.
- Top UN officials urge continued AIDS funding amid economic crisis
- Top United Nations officials today urged countries to maintain and strengthen their commitments to tackle HIV and AIDS in the midst of the global economic downturn, warning that slashing resources now could mean greater costs and suffering in the future.
- Economic crisis challenges UN health Goals
- The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre launched the 2009 report of the Global Campaign of the Health MDGs, Leading by Example - Protecting the most vulnerable during the economic crisis. The launch coincided with the High-Level Forum on Advancing Global Health in the Face of Crisis which was held on 15 June at United Nations Headquarters, New York.
- New publication champions a strategic approach to HIV and education
- Education can play a critical role in the global challenge to HIV simply by “doing more of what it is doing already and doing it better,” and ensuring that all children have access to good quality learning. This is a key conclusion emerging from a new publication by the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on Education which explores the sector’s response to the epidemic.
- HIV prevention central to the AIDS response
- The 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting opened on June 10 in Namibia, drawing more than 1,500 participants from more than 55 countries around the world to Windhoek. With the theme : “Optimizing the Response: Partnerships for Sustainability”, this year’s meeting focused on optimizing the impact of prevention, treatment and care programmes, enhancing programme quality, promoting coordination among partners and encouraging innovative responses to the AIDS pandemic.
- AIDS and global health
- The High-Level Forum on Advancing Global Health in the Face of Crisis is taking place at United Nations Headquarters on Monday, 15 June 2009. The Secretary-General is hosting the day long forum in order to elevate the global health debate and engage multisectoral representatives from around the world.
- Cartoons to help stop tuberculosis
- International football icon and Stop TB Ambassador Luis Figo is the main character of an educational comic book that provides key information on tuberculosis (TB) to children and young adults. An animated version of the Luis Figo and the World Tuberculosis Cup will be launched in Geneva on 13 June 2009 during a charity match organized by the Luis Figo Foundation.
- Grass roots projects supporting people living with HIV
- As part of the 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers meeting being held in Windhoek, Namibia, delegates had the opportunity to visit HIV projects in the area to find out what is being done on the ground to support people living with HIV.
- 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting
- From June 10-14, more than 1,500 implementers from around the world will gather in Windhoek to share best practices and lessons learned during the implementation of multi-sectoral AIDS programs with a focus on optimizing the impact of prevention, treatment and care programs; enhancing program quality; promoting coordination among partners; and encouraging innovative responses.
- Swaziland: WFP supports families living with HIV
- As a man living with HIV, Vusie Maphalala knows very well that without regular, adequate nutrition people receiving treatment for HIV are weakened and cannot reap the full benefit of their drugs. Two years ago his wife died for this very reason. Under a joint project run by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Swaziland’s Ministry of Health Mr Maphalala receives food rations and is now able to support his family.
- UNAIDS Task Team develops effective tools to help young people tackle HIV
- Empowering young people to protect themselves from HIV is one of the eight priority focus areas for UNAIDS and its Cosponsors under the Joint action for results: UNAIDS outcome framework 2009-2011. In order to give young people the urgent attention they need, a series of seven Guidance Briefs has been developed by the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on HIV and Young People.
- Michel Sidibé meets with UNDP Administrator
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark at UNDP headquarters in New York on 3 June 2009. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a Cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- Cricket stars launch global AIDS campaign
- Leading cricketing stars are launching THINK WISE, a new global AIDS awareness campaign designed to provide young people with information about how to protect themselves from HIV. The players will champion the campaign during the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 2009, which begins in London on Friday 5 June. This leg of the campaign will aim to improve education and awareness about HIV and eliminate the stigma associated with the disease.
- Peer educators raising HIV awareness through sport in Trinidad and Tobago
- A UNICEF-supported programme called 'Kicking AIDS Out' (KAO) has recently been initiated in Speyside, northern Tobago, by the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education. The new programme uses sports and games to teach young people and adolescents about HIV.
- International Labour Conference tackles HIV in the world of work
- Challenging the AIDS epidemic is high on the agenda of this year’s International Labour Conference. The development of a new international labour standard on HIV and the world of work is one of the key issues being discussed by some four thousand representatives of governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations from 183 states around the world.
May
- Paris Leading Group gathers to discuss financing development in times of crisis
- The sixth plenary meeting of the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development is taking place in Paris 28-29 May 2009. France, President of the Leading Group since the beginning of 2009, is hosting this year’s plenary with over 200 participants in attendance.
- UNAIDS and Principality of Monaco commit to strengthened cooperation in AIDS response
- Strengthened cooperation between UNAIDS and Monaco was the aim of Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, on his first official visit to the Principality.
- Communities reclaiming their role in universal access to HIV services
- Leonard is the father of five daughters, one of whom, recently turned 14, was born HIV positive. In addition to juggling with the responsibility of raising a family of girls, Leonard is becoming very concerned about the new challenges he’s facing with having a positive teenage girl at home. “She is growing and as a father, I must help her grow into a mature and responsible woman. How should I talk to her about sex given her HIV positive status without instilling a sense of guilt? I do not find the guidance to help me respond to her needs,” he said.
- Early diagnosis and treatment save babies from AIDS-related death
- Many infants across the world are dying needlessly because they are not being tested early enough for HIV and treated if they have the virus. Without treatment, half of all HIV-positive babies will not live long enough to see their second birthday. To help address this situation, the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign has launched a new video vividly highlighting the importance of early testing and treatment to save the lives of infants who have HIV.
- The challenges of pandemics for Africa’s development
- Africa Day, the official day of the African Union, is observed every 25 May. It is an opportunity to celebrate African diversity and success, but also a time to reflect on the challenges remaining in Africa’s road to development.
- Ambitious project brings key countries in eastern and southern Africa closer to ‘knowing their epidemics’.
- If national HIV prevention strategies are to succeed, countries must understand the character and drivers of their epidemic and focus on proven need through sustained and effective interventions. However, there is often a mismatch between HIV prevention efforts and the actual factors driving new infections. This can lead to significant resources being invested in programmes of limited effect which do not reach those most at risk. To address this situation in five African countries, National AIDS Authorities, UNAIDS and the World Bank have produced a series of detailed reports that aim to characterize the true nature of the respective epidemics and their drivers, the existing HIV prevention response and the allocation of funding for prevention.
- Remembering Rodger
- This week, I got the unexpected news that my friend, the legendary AIDS activist Rodger McFarlane had taken his own life. I was in shock and deeply saddened.
- UNAIDS Executive Director met Caribbean delegations
- UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé met on Wednesday 20th May with a delegation of the Caribbean community (CARICOM) at the 62nd World Health Assembly to discuss the Caribbean priorities for collaboration with UNAIDS.
- UN Secretary-General meets HIV positive UN staff members
- The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon held a meeting in Geneva with HIV positive UN staff members and the UNAIDS Executive Director. The staff are part of a UN system-wide advocacy group called UN Plus which was set up in 2005 to promote the rights of HIV-positive staff and provide peer support.
- Innovative financing for development the goal of new I-8 Group
- As global economic slowdown threatens to negatively affect those already most vulnerable to poverty, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) around the world will require a change of scale in the implementation of innovative financing mechanisms for development.
- ASEAN Health Ministers discuss A(H1N1) and AIDS issues
- Ministers of Health of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, gathered for an informal meeting on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on 19 May 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Sixty-second World Health Assembly to be dominated by A(H1N1)
- This year’s World Health Assembly is set to focus considerable attention on the widespread outbreak of influenza A(H1N1), as Health Ministers and officials of more than 190 countries gather in Geneva from 18-22 May to discuss the most effective responses to the potential pandemic, including preparedness, access to vaccines and sharing of influenza viruses.
- African Parliamentarians commit to universal access to HIV services
- UNAIDS and UNDP in West and Central Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Forum of Arab and African Parliamentarians for Population and Development (FAAPPD) formalizing the commitment of the Parliamentarians to work towards the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services in the region.
- Migrant workers and HIV vulnerability in South Asian and South East Asian countries
- International labour migration, or the movement of people across national borders for employment, is a growing phenomenon and an increasingly important aspect of global, regional and national economies. However, HIV has become a key issue of concern with cross border and overseas migration.
- Anti-homophobia campaign to end discrimination in Latin America
- May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia which is an initiative to end discrimination and demand respect for the rights of homosexuals, transsexuals and lesbians.
- New same sex and transgender Action Framework
- Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (17 May), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new UNAIDS Action Framework on Universal Access for Men who have Sex with Men and for Transgender People. The Framework sets out how UNAIDS will facilitate and support universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for men who have sex with men and transgender people.
- International Day against Homophobia
- By signing the 2006 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, governments committed to removing legal barriers and passing laws to protect vulnerable populations. However, over 80 countries still criminalize consensual same sex acts among adults.
- Global online forum to give teachers a voice on HIV
- Teachers have a critical role to play in mounting a successful response to HIV in schools and yet evidence of effective teacher involvement in the challenge to the epidemic is scarce and scattered and lessons learned have not been universally discussed and shared.
- Finland increases its contribution to UNAIDS
- As a sign of its long-term commitment to the AIDS response and partnership, the Government of Finland has committed to increase its contribution to UNAIDS by 25% in 2009. The news of this increase in contribution was personally delivered to UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé by the Ambassador of Finland Mr Hannu Himanen in a meeting held in Geneva.
- Romania discusses successful national AIDS response with UNAIDS
- During an official visit to Bucharest, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé yesterday met with Mr Ion Bazac, Minister of Health of Romania.
- UN Secretary General applauds efforts to address AIDS in Lao PDR
- The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, praised the efforts of the UN Country Team and its partners to support prevention, treatment, care and support activities for people living with HIV, and to raise knowledge and understanding of the issue in Lao PDR.
- UNAIDS praises Viet Nam’s efforts to reach universal access
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé praised Viet Nam’s efforts to reach its universal access goals in a meeting with Viet Nam’s Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr Truong Vinh Trong in Paris. The meeting took place on 28 April during a study visit to the Netherlands and France.
- ‘Health Research in the Americas V’ focuses on HIV prevention
- The Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami and the Fogarty International Training Programme on AIDS and TB organized in collaboration with UNAIDS the ‘Health Research in the Americas V’ Conference on 7 and 8 May 2009, in Miami, Florida.
- UNAIDS in Oslo for Nordic Consultations
- The Nordic countries are staunch supporters of the global AIDS response and have supported UNAIDS both politically and financially since its inception. This week UNAIDS met with four Nordic countries, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland to exchange knowledge and outline priorities for the upcoming year.
- UNAIDS reaffirms its partnership with Global Fund as board meeting concludes
- The 19th Board Meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) concluded yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland. Opening a technical session on “The Global Fund's role as a strategic and responsible investor in HIV/AIDS” earlier, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé reaffirmed UNAIDS commitment to its partnership and reiterated his call for a fully funded Global Fund. He called for bolder action in order to address the challenges facing the AIDS response.
- Strengthening and expanding HIV legal services
- Experience in the response to AIDS has shown that access to legal services is an important part of guaranteeing protection from discrimination, getting redress for human rights violations, and expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment. Yet such programmes are not sufficiently supported by national AIDS responses, and where they do exist, quality and scale are often insufficient.
- HIV response and the education sector: UNESCO Best practice series
- The negative impact of HIV is felt on education systems and schools, learners and teachers around the world from children dropping out of school to care for sick parents to the loss of teachers in their most productive years. As part of efforts to support governments, donors, NGOs, education planners and managers, school governing bodies and teachers in dealing with the implications of the epidemic and to share knowledge on effective responses, UNESCO has developed a best practice series entitled Good Policy and Practice in HIV & AIDS and Education.
- Influenza A(H1N1) and HIV infection
- There are many questions concerning the potential impact of emerging influenza A(H1N1)* on people living with HIV, as they are more susceptible to opportunistic infections.
April
- 'Never abandon, never give up’: ILO film helps China’s migrant workers challenge AIDS stigma
- Zhang Xiao Hu is one of China’s estimated 200 million migrant workers. He is also one of the stars of ‘Never abandon, never give up’, a short Charlie Chaplin-style film aimed at reducing HIV stigma and promoting condom use among the country’s migrant workers. Beginning on 4 May, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Mega-info Media, the company which runs China’s national railway station television network, will begin screening the film in 500 stations in 450 cities across the country. Over a three month period, 40 million people will have an opportunity to see the film.
- Funding for AIDS drugs in jeopardy as global financial crisis hits health sector
- A new report from the World Bank reports preliminary findings from a survey in 69 countries conducted by the World Bank, UNAIDS and the World Health Organization showing that respondents in 22 countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and Asia and Pacific expect the economic crisis to impact HIV treatment programmes over the coming year.
- International Technical Consultation on ‘Positive Prevention’
- Ever since HIV testing was developed in the early days of the epidemic, the role of people living with HIV in HIV prevention has been an important aspect of the AIDS response. Following the advent of combination antiretroviral treatment which significantly prolongs life and improves quality of life for people living with HIV, there have been increasing calls to incorporate what is known as ‘positive prevention’ in the continuum of prevention and care programmes and services.
- World AIDS Campaign: An opportunity to spark changes in society
- AIDS presents a political opportunity to spark changes in society and talk about issues like human rights, homophobia and sex education according to UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.
- Official launch of the V Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STDs
- The V Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STD’s, FORO 2009 was officially announced on Thursday 16th April in Lima. The Forum will take place in Peru’s capital from 22nd to 26th June under the theme “Health is our right, universal access is our goal, no discrimination our challenge”.
- New Country Response Information System to strengthen national M&E
- UNAIDS announces the launch of the Country Response Information System (CRIS) version 3, which is a tool for managing national HIV data. In support of Three Ones principles, and especially the principle of one national monitoring and evaluation system, CRIS3 enables national AIDS authorities to store, share and utilize the national HIV data in an effective manner with national and international counterparts.
- Consultation held on definition and measurement of concurrent sexual partnerships
- It has long been suggested that concurrent sexual partnerships are one component responsible for creating sexual contact networks conducive to the rapid spread of HIV. Recently the idea has gained prominence and momentum, with national HIV programmes beginning to plan prevention campaigns targeted at reducing concurrent partnerships. However, in both the scientific and programmatic communities, research and discussion about concurrent partnerships and their role in the spread of HIV have been impeded by lack of clarity about the definition and appropriate indicators of concurrency.
- UNODC and Brazil promote action on AIDS in prison settings
- Much more needs to be done to improve AIDS prevention, treatment and care services in Brazil’s prisons. This was the major conclusion emerging from the first national consultation on HIV in prison settings which took place in Brasilia between 31 March and 2 April.
- AIDS responses in action in rural Ethiopia
- Across Ethiopia, community initiatives and local government are coming together to make a difference in the AIDS response. During his official travel to the country, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé visited some of the programmes and projects putting into action the goals of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
- Joint action for results: UNAIDS outcome framework, 2009 – 2011
- The HIV organizational landscape has evolved and grown more complex over the past decade. UNAIDS, donors and civil society, including networks of people living with HIV, have rightly demanded greater clarity on the relationships between needs, financing, activities and outcomes. Also demanded is greater specificity about the role of UNAIDS and the Secretariat within the wider constellation of actors.
- OPINION: HIV and drugs: two epidemics - one combined strategy
- By Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Geneva, Switzerland
- UNAIDS Executive Director visits Ethiopia
- The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé is in Ethiopia to discuss ways of strengthening UN support to the AIDS response in the country.
- International Harm Reduction conference opens in Bangkok
- Delegates are gathering in Thailand’s capital this week for the 20th international conference on harm reduction running from 20 to 23 April. Organized by the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA), the conference’s theme is human rights, underscoring the necessity of injecting drug users’ universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support including comprehensive harm reduction programmes.
- UNICEF working to teach AIDS prevention to young people in Guinea
- Nene Gallé Barry sells charcoal in a very poor area of the Koloma quarter in Conakry, Guinea’s capital. She is 18 now, but left her home village four years ago to earn a living in the city. She has a boyfriend and is sexually active and, until recently, she had never heard of AIDS and had never seen or used a condom.
- ILO: Action against stigma brings hope to Ethiopia’s agricultural cooperatives
- Ajama Kalacha works hard on his small agricultural plot in Ethiopia’s highlands to provide an income for the extended family he supports. Even though life is tough, Ajama is an optimist - his community treats him well and he believes his prospects for making a living from the land are good. But he was not always so confident.
- Leadership in Senegal’s AIDS response
- UNAIDS estimates that one per cent of adults in Senegal are living with HIV. In 1992, at a time when the full impact of AIDS on society was only beginning to be recognised in the country, the Catholic church in Senegal founded “SIDA Service,” an organization to support and care for people living with or affected by HIV.
- New policy brief on disability and HIV
- An estimated 650 million people, or 10% of the world’s population, have a disability. Although people with disabilities are found within the populations at higher risk of exposure to HIV, not much attention has been paid to the relationship between HIV and disability.
- UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations meet
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organizations in the AIDS response. The UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO) serves as the forum for these Cosponsors to meet on a regular basis to consider matters of major importance to UNAIDS, and to provide input from the Cosponsoring organizations into the policies and strategies of UNAIDS.
- ‘Love and Relationships’: Film festival in Cambodia addresses HIV prevention
- Last month audiences in selected Cambodian provinces had the chance to see the Khmer film Palace of Dreams as part of the ‘Love and Relationships’ film festival sponsored by UNESCO in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre (CCF). This drama, produced in 2008 by BBC World Service Trust, aims at reducing the risk of HIV infection transmission among young people.
- Call for global action on the threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis
- Ministers from the 27 countries with the highest burden of multi-drug resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) have jointly endorsed a Call for Action on TB control and care to urgently address this alarming threat. The meeting in Beijing, China, on 1-3 April 2009, was organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- El Salvador: Ministerial decree to reduce homophobia in health services
- The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of El Salvador approved, as part of its National Plan on HIV prevention, a set of actions to reduce homophobia and any type of discrimination based on sexual orientation in the health services.
- In memory of Lynde Francis: HIV activist and beacon of hope
- There are some people who leave a mark on you after you have met them and there are some people whose words you hang on to and whose advice you cherish. Lynde was one such person, not only to me but also to many people around the world.
- HIV and high food prices
- Leaders of the Group of Twenty (G-20) countries are gathering in London for a summit to identify steps that can help restore global economic growth.
March
- UN Human Rights Council and HIV
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi on 11 March. The Tenth Session of the Human Rights Council is currently taking place in Geneva.
- New UNGASS Guidelines for 2010 reporting
- To assist Member States in preparing and submitting their 2010 Country Progress reports, UNAIDS has released the new UNGASS Guidelines on Construction of Core Indicators for 2010 reporting.
- Forum seeks to engage men and boys in goal of achieving gender equality
- A global symposium on engaging men and boys in achieving gender equality is taking place this week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Addressing the opening ceremony last night, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé spoke of the need for all to “work over the long term to end the social acceptance of violence against women and the gender inequality that underpins it.”
- UNAIDS Executive Director meets with Brazilian Government and civil society
- The upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) meeting in London, the global financial crisis, and universal access were some of the main topics Mr Michel Sidibé and Brazilian Government counterparts discussed during his first official visit to Brazil as the Executive Director of UNAIDS.
- Brazilian children’s society offers a home from home for children living with HIV
- Viva Cazuza has been working for nearly two decades in Rio de Janeiro to give orphaned children and young people living with HIV a safe haven, antiretroviral treatment and access to programmes to gain confidence and build leadership skills.
- UNAIDS Executive Director meets with TB Programme Managers, TB civil society
- Mr Michel Sidibé, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, met with managers of national TB programmes and civil society representatives at the 3rd Stop TB Partners Forum to hear their views on ways to improve the joint response to TB and HIV.
- Barber Shops and Beauty Salons promote HIV education in Guyana
- Barber shops across Georgetown, Guyana, are buzzing with chatter about the latest trends, community happenings, neighbourhood gossip and now, ways to protect young people from AIDS. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with UNAIDS Secretariat, has identified barber shops and beauty salons as information hubs, and is using them to spread the word about HIV prevention.
- UNODC and Iran sign agreements to reduce vulnerability of women and Afghan refugees to drugs and HIV
- The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, and the Deputy Secretary General of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Drug Control Headquarters, Taha Taheri signed, on 19 March, two projects to provide HIV prevention and care services to Afghan refugees and female drug users in Iran. These projects will be launched thanks to funding from the Government of the Netherlands.
- Need for scale up in integrated TB and HIV screening to address linked epidemics
- Although it is mostly preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV globally. Of the 33 million people who are living with HIV, only 20% of know their status, and only a tiny fraction, 2% in 2007, were screened for TB according to the World Health Organization’s annual report on global TB control launched today.
- TB/HIV, universal access, and human rights key items on UNAIDS Executive Director’s agenda in Brazil
- The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé, is in Brazil this week promoting greater awareness of the interlinked epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis, the need for universal access to HIV services for all people in need, and the necessity to address stigma and discrimination in Brazil’s response to HIV.
- Swing and Sisters: HIV outreach to sex workers in Thailand
- Picking her way through the crowds Surang Janyan waves a friendly hello to her friend Gop. This is one of the many people she will meet tonight in Pattaya’s Walking Street – a long street running along the cost of one of Thailands red light areas.
- Condoms and HIV prevention: Position statement by UNAIDS, UNFPA and WHO
- Condom use is a critical element in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable approach to HIV prevention and treatment. Prevention is the mainstay of the response to AIDS. Condoms are an integral and essential part of comprehensive prevention and care programmes, and their promotion must be accelerated. In 2007, an estimated 2.7 million people became newly infected with HIV. About 45% of them were young people from 15 to 24 years old, with young girls at greater risk of infection than boys.
- Asia Pacific Leadership Forum meets
- The 7th Steering Committee of the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum met today in the Thai capital Bangkok to discuss progress made and to design ways forward for work on HIV in the region.
- UNAIDS Executive Director visits Thailand
- At the invitation of the Thai Government, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé is in Thailand this week to discuss progress in the response to AIDS and visit projects to get a better understanding of how HIV prevention and treatment efforts are making a difference to peoples lives.
- 3% of US capital city living with HIV
- At least 3% of residents in Washington D.C. are living with HIV according to a report published today by US health officials at the District of Columbia's HIV/AIDS Administration.
- New HIV Indicator Registry improves access to high-quality indicators
- UNAIDS announces the launch of a central repository of information on indicators used to track the response to the HIV epidemic. Through the Indicator Registry, professionals in monitoring and evaluation, for the first time ever have access to the complete definitions of all key indicators in one central database.
- Greater action needed to protect women’s inheritance and property rights in the face of HIV
- If more women are to avoid HIV infection, laws on inheritance and property rights should be revisited, revised or better enforced. This was one of the key messages emerging from a high-profile side-event on women’s inheritance, land and housing rights in the context of HIV, which took place yesterday, 12 March, during the 53rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women held at UN Headquarters in New York.
- Injecting drug use and HIV: Interview with UNAIDS Team Leader, Prevention, Care and Support team
- The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is meeting at the United Nations Office in Vienna for its 52 session, from 11-20 March 2009. At this session, governments will assess the progress achieved in meeting the goals defined in the 1998 UN General Assembly Special Session on Illicit Drugs.
- OPINION: Silence on harm reduction not an option
- In 1998, the UN General Assembly held a Special Session on the world drug problem. At the time there was little discussion on the linkage between HIV and drugs. Today of the estimated 16 million people world wide who inject drugs—3 million are HIV positive. Any discussion on drugs cannot ignore their needs and human rights.
- Consultation on HIV prevention in the Russian Federation
- A consultation on the progress, gaps and next steps towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention in the Russian Federation took place in Moscow on 25-26 February. The meeting was convened by the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being, the Federal AIDS Centre and UNAIDS. Around 100 health care professionals took part in the conference including representatives of the All-Russia Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS, and members of civil society from 23 Russian regions.
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation discusses financial crisis with UN agencies
- On 7 March 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr Sergei Lavrov, hosted a meeting of UN Heads of Agencies in Geneva to focus on the impact of the global financial crisis.
- New report shows Asian migrant women in the Arab states have heightened vulnerability to HIV
- Asian women migrating to the Arab states often do so under unsafe conditions, are targets of sexual exploitation and violence and are highly vulnerable to factors that lead to HIV infection, according to a study launched today, produced in collaboration by UNDP, UNAIDS, CARAM Asia, IOM,UNIFEM, and Caritas Migrant Centre in Lebanon.
- Joint Islamic action to respond to AIDS
- The Islamic Republic of Iran hosted the second session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM) bringing together representatives from 57 member countries from 1 – 4 March to discuss health issues facing the Islamic community under the theme "Health Equity in the Islamic Ummah."
- UNICEF: Communities provide a bigger ‘family’ for orphaned children in Rwanda
- Bamporeze is a non-governmental organization that started a community-based protection programme for children orphaned by AIDS in Rwanda soon after the genocide in 1995. Around 150,000 people live with HIV in Rwanda; 19,000 of them are children.
- UNAIDS Executive Director meeting with U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations
- On 2 March 2009 UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
- EECA AIDS conference co-chairs meet
- The co-chairs of the 3rd Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EEAC) AIDS Conference gathered today in Geneva to discuss the forthcoming event to be held in Moscow, 28-30 October 2009.
- Challenging violence against women a key task for newly launched Caribbean Coalition on Women, Girls and AIDS
- Violence against women is increasing women and girls’ vulnerability to HIV in the Caribbean region. This is the stark message which emerged from the launch of the Caribbean Coalition on Women, Girls and AIDS (CCWA) hosted on 4 March by the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team at the National Library, in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
- World Bank highlights potential risks of AIDS to economic and social development in South Asia
- The AIDS epidemic may pose a considerable danger to the economic and social development of South Asian countries unless those at highest risk of infection are reached by scaled up prevention programmes, according to a new World Bank report.
- Highlighting sexual violence on International Women’s Day
- "Women and men: United to end violence against women" is the theme of this year’s International Women's Day which is observed at the United Nations on 5 March 2009 and celebrated internationally on 8 March.
- Costa Rica: Peer HIV prevention programmes to be promoted for young people
- Young people in Costa Rica will be receiving information on HIV prevention and healthy lifestyles from their peers thanks to a new agreement signed in San Jose by the Government of Costa Rica and the United Nations.
- Commission on the Status of Women opens with call for action to achieve universal access and gender equality
- Equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care-giving in the context of HIV is the theme of the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which opened today at UN Headquarters in New York.
February
- As global economy slows International Health Partners push for faster health progress
- Meeting in Geneva last week, participants in the first Ministerial Review Meeting of the International Health Partnership and related initiatives (IHP+) adopted a document laying out bold and concrete commitments to push forward the objectives of the Partnership.
- Sir George Alleyne: UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS
- 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.
- Broad coalition discuss philanthropy and global public health at UN
- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for “truly powerful global partnership for global health.” He was addressing over 400 executives and philanthropy leaders, representatives of UN Member States and other partners at the opening yesterday of a special event on Philanthropy at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
- State legislators in India pledge to advance universal access to HIV services as a political goal
- In a milestone in the political response to HIV in India, more than a 100 elected state legislators, from all major political parties in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have pledged to incorporate the goal of universal access to HIV services in their political manifestos. Legislators from 15 major political parties in the state met at a special all-party function organized by the Legislators Forum on AIDS and the State AIDS Control Society on 21 February. They signed a joint declaration of intent to integrate HIV issues into their official electoral campaigning as they gear up for the state’s next election.
- New clearinghouse on male circumcision for HIV prevention launched
- A new web site on male circumcision for HIV prevention was launched today. It provides evidence-based guidance to support the delivery of safe male-circumcision services as one component in a comprehensive approach to HIV-prevention services.
- Strengthening partnership with the Global Business Coalition
- On 3 February 2009, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met for the first time with John Tedstrom, President of the Global Business Coalition on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC). At the meeting, Mr Sidibé explained his vision and priorities for UNAIDS and the business rationale for further engaging the private sector in scaling up universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. They also discussed some specific ways to strengthen the on-going partnership between UNAIDS and the GBC.
- Spotlight: men who have sex with men and HIV
- Film offers invaluable insights into the lives of different cultures, groups, and people. It is a medium that has a long history in addressing controversial topics and issues. For men who have sex with men, cinema has been a powerful platform to highlight the challenges they face in society.
- UNAIDS and TEDDY Award partner to raise awareness on HIV for 23rd edition
- UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé addressed the audience of the 23rd edition of the TEDDY Award in Berlin on 13 February with a strong message: universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support must be accessible to all people who are in need—including men who have sex with men and other populations most-at-risk of HIV infection.
- “Champions for an HIV-free generation” visit Mozambique
- The “Champions for an HIV-free Generation” - an organization of African leaders including former African presidents and other influential personalities – visited Mozambique as part of their mandate to mobilize leadership in Africa and to promote effective policies and action on HIV prevention.
- Visiting Khayelitsha, Executive Director announces universal access as top priority for UNAIDS
- This morning the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé gave his first major global statement at a public meeting in Khayelitsha a township on the outskirts of Cape Town in South Africa.
- New report calls for $25 billion investment to ensure countries reach 2010 targets
- A new report released by UNAIDS, <
> estimates that an investment of US$ 25 billion will be required for the global AIDS response in 2010 for low- and middle-income countries—US$ 11.3 billion more than is available today.
- UNAIDS Executive Director visits South Africa
- The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé, is visiting South Africa where he will announce plans for the future direction of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- Goodbye to another hero in the AIDS movement Ramesh Venkataraman
- By Leonard Okello International head of HIV/Aids, ActionAid I have received the very sad news of the sudden death of Ramesh Venkataraman, the former ActionAid Asia HIV and AIDS regional coordinator. Ramesh joined ActionAid in April 2007 till he resigned his post at the close of 2008. He passed away on 31 January due to an internal haemorrhage. He had been suffering from multiple illnesses.
- Talking about OneLove in Southern Africa
- OneLove is a regional campaign running in Southern Africa that aims to get people talking about the trend of having more than one sexual partner at a time. The overall goal is change this behaviour which is a factor in the transmission of HIV in the region.
- New information-sharing portal for tracking and evaluating AIDS responses
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and activities are key to tracking what is being done in the field of HIV prevention, treatment and care and whether these activities are making a difference. A new platform (www.globalhivmeinfo.org) now allows M&E professionals worldwide to access and share information about the AIDS epidemic and the response in a ‘one-stop-shop’.
- Insight into AIDS responses in Middle East and North Africa
- Across North Africa and the Middle East, UNAIDS estimates that 35,000 people acquired HIV in 2007, bringing to 380,000 the number of people living with HIV. An estimated 25,000 died of AIDS-related illness in the same year. Effectively coordinated HIV prevention, treatment, care and support strategies are vital to the reduction of these figures.
- New tool distills guidance on writing strong Global Fund HIV proposals
- As applicants prepare their proposals for the next round of HIV funding, Round 9, UNAIDS and WHO have jointly developed an online resource kit to provide guidance in planning and writing strong Global Fund proposals.
January
- Home Truths: Facing the facts on children, AIDS, and poverty
- The global response to AIDS must be significantly reoriented to address the unmet needs of millions of children and their families in the worst affected countries, according to a new report by the independent Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS (JLICA).
- In Memory of Allan Dunaway: Founder and President of Honduras National Association of people living with HIV
- It is indeed sad news to hear of the passing of Allan Dunaway who died in San Pedro de Sula, Honduras on 25 January 2009 at the age of 39.
- In Memory of Martin Delaney: The Founder of Project Inform
- Last week we lost one of the true heroes in the response to AIDS. Martin Delaney, the founder and longtime Executive Director of the HIV advocacy/education organization Project Inform, died of liver cancer at his home near San Francisco on January 23, 2009. Marty Delaney was 63.
- Hidden HIV epidemic amongst MSM in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Judging by the official statistics, cases of HIV infection amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ukraine, as in much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, are so rare as to seem scant cause for concern.
- New head of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé sworn in by UN Secretary-General
- Michel Sidibé was sworn in as new Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters in New York yesterday.
- China to tackle HIV incidence amongst MSM
- China announced in 2008 plans for an extensive programme to tackle sharply rising rates of HIV amongst men who have sex with men (MSM), in the latest sign that the country may be starting to face up to a crisis which long seemed taboo.
- US AIDS relief programme exceeds goals for HIV treatment and care
- According to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) 2009 Annual Report, PEPFAR has exceeded its five-year goals for treatment of two million and care of ten million people.
- HIV prevention hampered by homophobia
- Every two or three days a person is killed in Brazil in violence connected with his or her sexuality, according to Brazil’s oldest gay rights association, Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB). In Mexico, the reported figure is nearly two a week.
- HIV: Know your epidemic, understand the politics
- For every two people accessing HIV treatment, another five are newly infected with the virus. Given the gap, there is broad agreement among scientific, government and civil society communities on the need to intensify HIV prevention efforts.
- Migrants and HIV: “Far Away From Home” club
- Viet Nam’s rapid economic development and growth over the last decade has resulted in increased levels of mobility both within the country and across its borders. Large infrastructure and development projects coupled with industrial growth have encouraged young people and workers from all over the country to move to major cities and provinces.
