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- 2011 Political Declaration: Targets and elimination commitments
- Reducing sexual transmission
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- Eliminating new HIV infections among children
- 15 million accessing treatment
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- Eliminating gender inequalities
- Eliminating stigma and discrimination
- Eliminating travel restrictions
- Strengthening HIV integration
- 2011 Political Declaration: Targets and elimination commitments
Feature stories
December
- UNAIDS in 2011
- As the world enters into the 30th year of the AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS will work to position the HIV response in a new global environment. Ten years after the United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS and the landmark adoption of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, member states are now preparing for the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS to review and renew future commitments for the AIDS response.
- Release of the Global Health Governance Special Issue on the global AIDS response, guest-edited by Executive Director Michel Sidibé
- Innovations in governance are among the signature achievements of the AIDS response and these innovations have transformed the lives of people living with and affected by HIV. This is one of several key points covered in a compilation co-guest-edited by UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, published on 20 December in a special issue of Global Health Governance.
- UNAIDS – A year in review
- 2010 has been a landmark year in the AIDS response. In November UNAIDS reported that the AIDS epidemic had been halted and that the world is beginning to reverse the spread of HIV. In its flagship report, the 2010 UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic, UNAIDS reported that the rate of new HIV infections had been reduced by nearly 20% in the past 10 years, that AIDS related deaths had been reduced by nearly 20% in the last five years and that the total number of people living with HIV had stabilised.
- Leaders call on countries to optimize resources for the AIDS response
- Ministers of Health and Finance from West and Central Africa joined representatives from civil society, the private sector and the United Nations for a discussion on financing and sustaining the AIDS response in a resource-constrained environment. Participants in the meeting, co-hosted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), reflected on the impact of the global financial crisis, risk management, alternative funding sources, and optimizing the use of available resources.
- South Africa expanding access to ARV therapy
- South African Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has announced that South Africa has successfully negotiated a range of price reductions for antiretroviral treatment in a bid to increase access to treatment for people living with HIV.
- Report of the UNAIDS Executive Director at the 27th Meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board
- UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, delivered his report to the 27th Meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB). In his report, Mr Sidibé updated the Board on the Joint Programme’s activities since its last meeting in June 2010. He also spoke on recent developments in the AIDS response, the ongoing impact of the global recession, and efforts to make UNAIDS a more effective and efficient organization.
- The Prevention Revolution: HIV Prevention on the social media agenda on World AIDS Day
- UNAIDS teamed up with MTV Staying Alive Campaign to put HIV prevention on the global agenda through social media. Over a six week period in the lead up to World AIDS day the ‘#PreventionRevolution’ campaign inspired thousands of online conversations on the need to revitalize interest in HIV prevention.
- UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board meeting to open
- The 27th meeting of UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) will open in Geneva on 6 December 2010.
- UNAIDS and the African Council of AIDS Service Organizations sign a Memorandum of Understanding
- During the civil society consultation on universal access and the Millennium Development Goals with the theme "Sustain the results – strengthen links and interactions," UNAIDS and AfriCASO signed a memorandum of understanding on 3 December in Dakar.
- World AIDS Day commemorated across the world
- World AIDS Day was held on 1 December. Here are some photos from across the globe capturing the sprit of Universal Access and Human Rights – the theme of this year’s World AIDS Day.
- World AIDS Day at the International Labour Organization highlights world of work and HIV
- Preventing HIV and protecting human rights in the work place were the themes of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) event on World AIDS Day. Staff members formed the traditional ILO human red ribbon which was illuminated as part of the Light for Rights global campaign.
- Affordable TB prevention a must for people living with HIV
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death among people with HIV and, in order to mitigate this threat, low-cost preventive therapy is essential. In new guidelines released today, the World Health Organization (WHO) sets out how such therapy can be accessed safely and effectively.
- 2010 World AIDS Day statements
- 1 December 2010 marks the 22nd 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.
- Me, Myself and HIV – 2 young people living positively
- For World AIDS Day 2010, MTV Staying Alive foundation, with support from UNAIDS, has produced the documentary Me, Myself And HIV. It will be airing globally across MTV channels. More than.100 other broadcasters across the world are also committed to airing the film on 1 December.
- World AIDS Day 2010: More than 100 “light for rights” events around the globe showcase vital link between human rights and aids response
- Commemorating World AIDS Day 2010, lights on landmarks all over the world—from New York to Paris and from Ethiopia to Thailand—will be turned off Wednesday, December 1, during more than 100 events to remember those lost to AIDS. Those same lights will then be turned back on to emphasize the importance of human rights for people living with HIV and people at risk of infection.
November
- UNAIDS delegation in Brazil builds awareness around HIV prevention
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and a delegation of internationally-known leaders and personalities—including H.E. Festus Mogae, the former President of Botswana, and Nobel Prize Laureate Dr Mohammed ElBaradei—are visiting Brazil to mobilize support and dialogue around HIV prevention globally.
- Cricket unites on World Aids Day: Players to wear red ribbons in international matches
- International cricket will mark World AIDS Day and show its support for people living with HIV this week. Players will wear red ribbons on their shirts during international matches.
- Photographer Rankin joins The Body Shop/UNAIDS HIV solidarity campaign
- UNAIDS has teamed up with The Body Shop and world-renowned photographer Rankin to launch an international HIV solidarity campaign, which invites you to be ‘an activist’ and join the fight against HIV.
- Guest Blog: Model General Assembly held at Hulebäck secondary school Sweden highlights HIV epidemic
- On Tuesday 23rd of November, the students of the IT-Media program at Hulebäck secondary school in Mölnlycke, Sweden, performed a model UN General Assembly session disucssing the AIDS epidemic. The whole day was a role play, where students acted as delegates from different United Nations member states. Before the big day we prepared ourselves, learning about the HIV epidemic, our respective adopted countries and international cooperation. As an example, we were visited by a person living with HIV, who spoke about his experience.
- Help put HIV prevention on the global agenda this World AIDS Day
- A few days ago, I launched the UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic 2010 which contains some very encouraging findings that the world has been long waiting to hear. Globally, new HIV infections have fallen by 20% over the past 10 years.
- South-South expo spotlights role of southern leadership in the AIDS response
- The recently concluded Global South-South Development (GSSD) Expo in Geneva, Switzerland revealed how partnerships among countries in the South have brought forward innovative solutions to address challenging and sensitive issues in the AIDS response.
- Asia-Pacific region UNiTEs to end violence against women and girls
- Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents, war and malaria, according to World Bank data. The most common form of violence experienced by women globally is physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner, with women beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused.
- Next steps with 1% tenofovir microbicide gel
- After nearly 20 years of research, the results of the CAPRISA 004 trial provided the first evidence that the use of a vaginal microbicide could provide a safe and effective way to prevent HIV infection in women.
- Waiting for the world to change: Travel restrictions
- When Mark Taylor, a Canadian citizen working for a company in New York’s financial sector, fell in love with his life in the Big Apple, he never gave it a second thought to apply for permanent residency in the United States of America. It was 1995 and he was thriving both professionally and personally.
- WHO World health report: The road to universal coverage
- If countries are to guarantee a good quality of life for their people and ensure socio-economic development then promoting and protecting health is crucial. Without greater emphasis on health systems financing, however, this goal will remain unattainable for the poor, says the WHO’s World health report 2010, launched today.
- People living with HIV: pioneers in the HIV response in the Middle East and North Africa
- HIV prevalence throughout most of the Middle East and North Africa remains low in the general population. In many settings, the epidemic is concentrated among key populations at high risk of infection, such as injecting drug users, men who have sex with men and sex workers. Exceptions to the general rule are evident in Djibouti, southern Sudan and parts of Somalia, where HIV prevalence now exceeds 1% among pregnant women in the general population.
- 400 000 deaths among people living with HIV due to TB in 2009
- The latest WHO Global Tuberculosis Control Report 2010, launched today, highlights the need to reinvigorate efforts to prevent deaths from tuberculosis (TB) in people living with HIV. In 2009 there were an estimated 1.1 million cases of TB disease in people living with HIV, resulting in 0.4 million deaths. Yet TB is mostly preventable and curable.
- Rwanda launches Agenda for Accelerated action for Women and Girls in the Response to HIV
- Rwanda’s National Accelerated Plan for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV 2010-2014 was unveiled on 10 November at an event at the Parliament, in the capital Kigali.
- Bridging the health gap in South Africa
- The South African government’s proposed national insurance scheme aims to tackle the stark divide in health care between rich and poor.
- Prevention Revolution
- This is the third of five animated films for the social media initiative “HIV #PreventionRevolution”, that UNAIDS is running in the lead up to World AIDS Day 2010.
- Michael Ballack given prestigious award for his advocacy work on AIDS
- Michael Ballack, the captain of the German national football team and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, has been awarded the famous German prize “sportler mit Herz,” or ”athlete with heart”, for his committed and outstanding work with UNAIDS.
- 2010 Human Development Report: 40-year trends analysis shows many countries making gains but some losing ground
- Most developing countries made dramatic yet often underestimated progress in health, education and basic living standards in recent decades, with many of the least developed countries posting the greatest gains. However, a number of nations have lost ground since 1970. These key findings are revealed in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 2010 Human Development Report, released Thursday.
- Captains at African Women’s Football Championship ‘Give AIDS the Red Card’ to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- Captains of all eight national teams competing in the 2010 African Women’s Football Championship in South Africa have joined forces to support the Give AIDS the Red Card campaign to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
- African HIV prisons network receives prestigious international award
- The African HIV in Prisons Partnership Network has been presented with the prestigious 2010 Healthcare Award by the International Corrections and Prisons Association. Representing a major boost for the network, the award was given during the Association's recent annual conference in Belgium.
- Progress in Caribbean HIV response, yet punitive laws continue to hamper access to services for most vulnerable
- At the 10th annual general meeting of the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), held in St Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé joined former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Caribbean leaders to take stock of progress, challenges and lessons learned in the regional response to the HIV epidemic over the past decade.
- UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Lebo M visits UNAIDS headquarters
- UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador South African Lebo M, visited the UNAIDS Secretariat headquarters in Geneva last week to participate in a consultation on how to leverage sports and culture for AIDS advocacy. He shared advice from his perspective as a successful producer of global shows including The Lion King and the FIFA 2010 World Cup opening ceremony.
October
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits “one-stop shop” health centre for HIV services in Hanoi, Viet Nam
- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited a “one-stop shop” health centre for HIV services in Hanoi, Viet Nam on 29 October together with H.E. Mr Truong Vinh Trong, Deputy Prime Minster and chairman of the National Committee on AIDS, and delegates of the United Nations Country Team.
- UNICEF Executive Director launches innovative approach to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in Kenya
- UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake joined the Kenya Government and other partners on Friday in rolling out an innovative approach to prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. The initiative includes a “Mother-Baby-Pack” of antiretroviral drugs and antibiotics, which women can easily administer at home.
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits methadone clinic in Cambodia
- In a recent visit to the first methadone clinic in Cambodia, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised government authorities and health workers for their efforts to reduce HIV infection and drug-related harm among injecting drug users. Launched in July 2010, the clinic has reached, to date, a total of 61 patients.
- HIV and conflict: Connections and the need for universal access
- A special supplement on HIV has been published by the journal Forced Migration Review in which a UNAIDS paper highlights the need for universal access to HIV services. The edition is based on the work of the AIDS, Security and Conflict Initiative which undertook research over a number of years to gather evidence and advance analysis on the connections between HIV and conflict.
- African leaders call for accelerated response to AIDS in Zambia
- In a recent mission to Zambia the Champions for an HIV-Free Generation, an organization of African leaders which includes former presidents and other influential personalities, met with top government officials to help push Zambia’s AIDS response forward. Zambian President Rupiah Banda unveiled a new National AIDS Strategy in the presence of the Champions that aims to increase access to antiretroviral treatment and reduce HIV infections in Zambia by 50% by the year 2015.
- UNAIDS convenes consultation on sport for global advocacy
- Sport has a special ability to unify and galvanize people all over the world and therefore is a powerful vehicle for advocacy at the global down to the community level. In light of the potential of sports for AIDS advocacy, UNAIDS organized a consultation with representatives of several sports organizations and other experts from 24-26 October in Geneva to examine current initiatives and ideas for future activities.
- Talking about a revolution: HIV Prevention focus for UNAIDS social media initiative
- “More than 7000 people are infected with HIV every day. We need a prevention revolution.” This is the message that UNAIDS is using today to launch a social media initiative across twitter and facebook to revitalize interest in HIV Prevention in the lead up to World AIDS Day 2010.
- Use light to highlight rights this World AIDS Day
- The first Light for Rights event was held on 1 December 2009 in New York. This year, the campaign aims to encourage 100 cities around the world to dim the lights on public landmarks to remember the devastating affect AIDS has had, and to turn the lights back on to illuminate the fundamental human rights shared by all but often denied people living with HIV.
- Growing concerns over rights and treatment of LGBT people in high-income countries
- UNAIDS speaks with organizations in North America and Europe to better understand patterns of human rights violations and the connections to health.
- UNAIDS and the Global Fund join forces to strengthen response to HIV in Francophone countries
- UNAIDS and the Global Fund Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and partners have joined together at the XIII Francophone summit in Montreux, Switzerland to explore ways of strengthening the response to HIV in francophone countries.
- Senghor University to include AIDS in its health curriculum in collaboration with UNAIDS
- UNAIDS and the Senghor University of Alexandria signed an agreement of cooperation to include a 25 hour module specific to AIDS in the university’s curriculum of their Master’s degree on Health.
- Emerging from conflict: women’s role in rebuilding better, fairer communities
- Too often women suffer the worst consequences of war. The latest flagship report from the UNFPA, State of world population 2010, explores the dangerous consequences for women caught up in conflict and crisis and highlights their transformative role in rebuilding communities.
- Asia-Pacific drive for increased focus on HIV and sex work
- HIV transmission via sex work accounts for many new HIV infections in the Asia-Pacific region. Yet in many countries HIV prevention, treatment and care services for sex workers are lacking. At the first consultation of its kind in the region, sex workers, government officials and United Nations participants emphasized the urgent need for action to increase focus on sex work within national HIV responses.
- Expanding HIV services in post-conflict Liberia
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and UNAIDS and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium, wrapped up a joint three-day mission to Liberia, which as a post-conflict country is working hard to expand its HIV services.
- Benin, EU and UNAIDS cooperate on technical support for HIV response
- On 14 October the Government of Benin, European Union and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Technical Support Plan to enhance coordination of the AIDS response in Benin and improve the implementation of the Global Fund grants.
- Liberia launches national agenda to improve the health of women and girls
- Following a 14-year civil war, Liberia has faced a host of post-conflict challenges that have increased the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection, including gender-related violence, poverty, population displacement and limited access to education and health services.
- UNAIDS Executive Director praises Iran’s evidence-informed approach to HIV in prison settings
- In the Islamic Republic of Iran, HIV prevalence among prisoners is about eight times higher than in the general population. Injecting drug use is the main mode of HIV transmission, accounting for more than 70% of reported HIV cases in Iran. During an official visit to the country, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé highlighted the country’s progressive work in addressing its HIV epidemic in prisons and among people who inject drugs.
- Plan launched to halve TB prevalence and death rates by 2015
- The Stop TB partnership has launched a Global Plan to Stop TB (2011-2015) aimed at halving tuberculosis (TB) prevalence and death rates by 2015 to reach the Millennium Development Goal of halting and beginning to reverse the epidemic by 2015.
- Charity event in Ukraine boosts youth awareness of HIV prevention
- “A healthy future starts with you” was the slogan of Race for Life, a charity event held on 9 October in Kiev, Ukraine. Over 3000 people gathered in Kiev’s city center to support people living with HIV, raise money for children born with HIV, and express their readiness to join hands to halt the epidemic.
- African law students argue against criminalisation of HIV transmission
- More than 120 young law students from 60 universities representing 24 African countries gathered in Cotonou (Benin) from 4-9 October 2010 to compete in the 19th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition.
- High-level mission urges Vietnam to optimize use of resources to achieve universal access
- A UN high-level delegation headed by the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, Dr Nafis Sadik and Special Advisor to the UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr JVR Prasada Rao visited Vietnam this week to discuss its AIDS response with key stakeholders — including Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong, Chairman of the National Committee for AIDS, Drugs and Sex Work Prevention and Control.
- Food security response to HIV and gender-base violence in northern Uganda
- The fertile northern region of Uganda was known for many years as one of the granaries of the country, consistently producing surpluses for local and international food markets. But two decades of civil conflict between the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have left the Acholi and Lango sub-regions destitute.
- President of Mali committed to AIDS response
- The President of Mali, His Excellency Amadou Toumani Touré, is on a three-day visit to the United States to reinforce his country’s commitment to the AIDS response. The President is participating in the Global Fund’s Replenishment conference, taking place on 4 and 5 October and is meeting with a number of high ranking officials from the United Nations and the US administration.
September
- More than a game: using football to promote health issues in Uganda
- Although hostilities in northern Uganda ceased in 2006, the lives of young people, formerly targets for abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army, have not been easy. During the conflict, which lasted more than 20 years, many children spent their early years confined to camps for displaced persons, while others were subjected to trauma, brutality and suffering as child soldiers.
- Mobility, migration and vulnerability to HIV along the ports of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
- Each year, there are more than 200 million people on the move. The UN estimates that between 20 and 30 million are migrants in irregular situations and that wars and conflicts have caused the displacement of 16 million refugees.
- Women in African Parliament to accelerate action on gender and HIV
- The Global Power Africa conference opened on September 26 in Washington D.C. The event brought together women Members of Parliament and Ministers from twelve countries in Africa, to develop strategies to support the implementation of the UNAIDS Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV at country level.
- Photo exhibition captures Russia’s HIV epidemic
- A new exhibition featuring images representing Russia’s HIV epidemic opened on 21 September at Moscow State University. The international news agency Reuters and the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia partnered to display 35 of Reuters’ most compelling photographs.
- Sierra Leone wins MDG Award for AIDS response
- At a ceremony on the eve of the 2010 Millennium Development Goals Summit, held in New York from 20-22 September, the Government of Sierra Leone was presented with an MDG Award for its leadership and progress towards achieving MDG 6, to stop and reverse the spread of HIV by 2015.
- US$ 40 billion pledged for UN Secretary-General’s ‘Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health’
- On the concluding day of the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, a concerted effort to save the lives of more than 16 million women and children.
- UNDP: ‘AIDS and MDGs’ charting a way forward
- If the global HIV epidemic is to be curbed, links between HIV and reaching other Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) need to be explored, strengthened and leveraged. This is the key conclusion emerging from a new publication by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released today at the UNAIDS hosted MDG Summit side event – AIDS plus MDGs: Delivering results towards our shared commitments.
- UN Private Sector Forum convenes to fast track the MDGs
- Today 300 Heads of States and Governments, chief executives, civil society leaders and Heads of UN agencies participated in the United Nations Private Sector Forum on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
- Financing the health-related MDGs
- On Tuesday 21st September, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria organized an event entitled “Champions for Global Health - Financing the health related MDGs”. The meeting aimed at raising awareness among world leaders attending the MDG Summit as to the linkage between a fully-funded Global Fund and the achievement of the health related MDGs.
- High-level panel to discuss ‘AIDS plus MDG’ approach
- A global consensus is emerging that accelerated progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and more efficient use of resources can be achieved by taking the AIDS response out of isolation and integrating it with efforts to achieve other health and development goals. On 22 September, the last day of the UN MDG Summit in New York, UNAIDS will co-host the event ‘AIDS plus MDGs: Delivering results towards our shared commitments’ together with the Governments of China, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa.
- Addressing the special needs of the most vulnerable
- Addressing the special needs of the most vulnerable took centre stage at the 5th interactive round-table session organized in concurrence with the UN Summit held in New York, 20-22 September 2010.
- World leaders focus on the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015
- Virtual elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015 and the linkages between Millennium Development Goals 4 (Reduce child mortality), 5 (Improve maternal health) and 6 (Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases) were the focus of a working session that took place on Tuesday 21st September in New York as part of a MDGs Summit side event organized by UNICEF, WHO and UNAIDS.
- MDGs Summit: Nigerian AIDS activist optimistic about success
- Lucy Attah has high hopes for this week’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit. As a woman living with HIV and a gender activist from Nigeria, she believes the summit is an important opportunity to discuss issues of women’s equality and empowerment and achieving universal access to HIV services.
- Keeping the promise on ‘mother-to-child transmission-free zones’
- Preventing mothers and babies from becoming infected with HIV was the focus at the Millennium Promise 2010 Partners’ Meeting, a side-event organized by the Millennium Promise in conjunction with the MDG Summit. The aim of the meeting was to assess progress made by the partnerships within the Millennium Villages Project (MVP), an initiative designed to show that MDG targets can be achieved with an integrated and simultaneous package of health and development interventions.
- Country spotlight Botswana: ‘the AIDS response has been catalytic in strengthening our health system’
- Botswana’s coordinator of the National AIDS Coordinating Agency, Richard Matlhare, shares his thoughts on Botswana’s progress in MDG 6.
- Rethinking linkages between the MDGs: Botswana leads the way
- There is now global recognition that one Millennium Development Goal cannot be achieved without the others. The health sector, in particular, has realized that responses to Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6—to reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat HIV malaria and other diseases—must be tackled together to improve people’s life. At a side event of the UN Millennium Development Goals Review Summit taking place from 20 to 22 September in New York, Botswana shared its experiences in integrating health interventions and programmes in order to maximize resources and improve health outcomes.
- Cambodia takes MDG prize for excellence in its AIDS response
- At a ceremony held in New York on the eve of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit, the Kingdom of Cambodia was presented with an MDG Award for its outstanding national leadership, commitment and progress towards achievement of Goal 6 and particularly in working towards halting and reversing the spread of HIV.
- Integrating the MDGs: delivering for girls, women and babies
- Ahead of the opening of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit at the UN in New York City, General Assembly delegates gathered today for a dialogue with bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), First Ladies, youth leaders and the private sector on how to secure the resources and political will needed to achieve the MDGs—with specific focus on delivering solutions for women, girls and babies.
- Germany contribute 4 million euro to the AIDS response
- On the 16 of September 2010, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations in Geneva, H.E Ambassador Reinhard Schweppe and UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé signed an agreement for Germany to continue supporting the work of UNAIDS. Germany will provide a total of € 4 million over the next two years.
- MDG 6: Six things you need to know about the AIDS response today
- There is a lot to be hopeful for as the milestone of reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is approached. Much has been achieved—fewer people are dying of AIDS-related illnesses and the rate of new HIV infections has fallen by more than 17% since 2001. This new report provides an overview of six key aspects of AIDS response today.
- Country spotlight Kazakhstan: ‘Funding and planning a key priority for response’
- Maksut Karimovitch Kulzhanov, the head of Kazakhstan’s Public Health Institute and representative for Eastern Europe on the Board of The Global Fund, shares his views on Kazakhstan’s progress towards MDG 6.
- Maternal deaths worldwide drop by a third
- The number of women dying due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth has decreased by 34% from an estimated 546 000 in 1990 to 358 000 in 2008, according to a new report, Trends in maternal mortality, released by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank.
- Young MSM and transgender people are raising their voice
- Young men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people in Asia and the Pacific region are calling for governments, donors and partners to ‘make youth voices count’ by increasing focus and programming of national HIV responses to include their opinions and needs.
- UNICEF: MDGs for children can be reached faster with focus on most disadvantaged
- Millions of lives can be saved globally by investing first in the most disadvantaged children, young people and communities, according to new UNICEF data released today. Such an approach would also address the widening disparities that are accompanying progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- UNAIDS Executive Director commends Japan’s commitment to AIDS and the Global Fund
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé congratulated the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on his country’s generosity to the AIDS response. Japan has invested more than US$ 1 billion in HIV assistance to low-and middle-income countries since 2002. Japan is a leading donor of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which was first conceived at the 2000 G8 summit in Okinawa.
August
- ‘Investments in AIDS must be maintained’: UNAIDS Executive Director at end of Australia visit
- Concluding his first official visit to Australia, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé stressed the need for the international community to mobilize an additional US $10 billion to meet country-set targets for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- Conference underscores young people’s leadership in HIV prevention
- The role of young people in improving the state of the world took centre stage at this week’s World Youth Conference in Leon, Mexico. Over five days, delegates from 112 countries—including 25 000 youth and representatives from government, civil society and the United Nations—shared ideas on young people’s involvement in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- UNAIDS Executive Director highlights Australia’s role in the Pacific AIDS response
- On the first day of a five day visit to Australia, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, commended the country for its role as a key partner in the AIDS response in the Pacific region.
- Papua New Guinea releases new HIV prevalence estimates
- Approximately 0.92% of the adult population in Papua New Guinea was living with HIV in 2009, according to new estimates from the National Department of Health and the National AIDS Council Secretariat.This latest round of estimates of HIV prevalence—carried out by a panel of national and international experts—is based on extensive data from antenatal clinics in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, Southern, Momase, and New Guinea Islands regions.
- Young Olympians get the HIV message
- AIDS-inspired dance workshops, sports games with an HIV awareness-raising twist and make-your-own plasticine prevention messages were highlight activities coordinated by UNAIDS at the first-ever Youth Olympic Games, as part of the culture and education programme designed to encourage young Olympic athletes to learn more about issues of well-being, healthy lifestyle and social responsibility.
- AIDS a key issue for international youth dialogue
- HIV and sexual and reproductive health has been identified as a central theme for discussion as part of the International Year of Youth, a United Nations (UN)-led initiative launched this month by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
- Inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore
- During the next two weeks, Singapore is making Olympic history by being the host of the first-ever Youth Olympic Games, opening on 14 August 2010.
- Michel Sidibé meets Chinese leaders, highlights barriers to MDG achievement
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with top Chinese government leaders yesterday in Beijing to discuss China’s AIDS response. In meetings with Vice President Xi Jinping and Vice Minister of Health, Yin Li, Mr Sidibé commended China for its strong political commitment to the AIDS response, and outlined workable recommendations to strengthen China’s AIDS response.
- Engaging cities in the HIV response
- Approximately half of the world’s population lives in cities. By 2050, seven out of ten global citizens will be living in a “mega-city” of more than 10 million people. In an official visit this week to Shanghai—one of the world’s largest metropolises—UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé called attention to the central role that cities can play in the AIDS response.
- WHO online consultation on global health sector strategy for HIV
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a web-based consultation to seek input on the development of the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy for HIV/AIDS, 2011-2015.
- Partnership for HIV prevention in Sri Lanka
- HIV prevalence in the general population of Sri Lanka is very low at 0.1%. However data indicates that people who buy and sell sex and men who have sex with men are at risk of HIV infection yet little is known regarding the size of these groups making it difficult to guide the country’s HIV prevention efforts.
- African First Ladies and UNAIDS to work together for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- In its 8th General Assembly, members of the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) gathered in Kampala, Uganda, to deliberate on the theme of “Maternal and Child Health.” The First Ladies renewed their commitment to champion the well-being of African women and children in a Declaration presented at the end of the meeting.
July
- UN Secretary-General awards special commendation to UN Cares
- On 29 July 2010 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon awarded a "special commendation" to UN Cares during the UN 21 Awards at UN Headquarters in New York.
- UNAIDS calls better integration of HIV prevention and treatment in maternal, newborn and child health programmes in Ethiopia
- The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé paid a visit to Ethiopia to discuss ways of accelerating progress towards achieving universal access to HIV services and reaching the Millennium Development Goals in the country.
- NGO delegation to UNAIDS board seeks new members
- The Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) is the governing body of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and is made up of Member States, the UNAIDS Cosponsors (the ten United Nations organizations that make up the joint programme), and nongovernmental organization (NGO) delegates.
- Vienna 2010 closes with a renewed commitment for AIDS + MDGs
- The XVIII International AIDS Conference ended in Vienna today after a week of intense dialogue involving 19,300 people from 193 countries engaged in the global AIDS response.
- Exploring combination prevention: the way forward
- For every two people who start on HIV treatment, five are newly infected. With the need to focus on HIV prevention becoming ever more acute, how can those at risk of contracting HIV be targeted to produce impact? What can we scale up? How to bring coordination in interventions that complement each other? These are some of the key questions explored in a UNAIDS Satellite Session at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna.
- Y-PEER: Media helping empower young people to protect themselves from HIV
- Harnessing the power of the mass media and new technologies to reach young people with information about HIV and reproductive health was high on the agenda at the XVIII International AIDS conference yesterday during a series of events sponsored by Y-PEER, a youth initiative pioneered by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
- Young people interpret new UNAIDS data
- A change is happening among young people across the world, especially in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Young people are waiting longer to become sexually active, have fewer multiple partners and are increasingly using condoms among those with multiple partners. As a result, HIV prevalence among young people is dropping in many key countries according to a new analysis by UNAIDS.
- Communities in South Asia show how stigma and discrimination can be transformed
- Stigma and discrimination are widely recognised as two of the major barriers to an effective and successful AIDS response. But how, with both often entrenched and hard to challenge, can they be meaningfully addressed? The World Bank and The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) focused on this central question during a satellite session at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna entitled: Making the case for stigma-reduction and moving to action, the experience of South Asia.
- “Right for you!” Satellite puts young people centre stage at Vienna
- The thoughts and voices of young people took centre stage at the Vienna AIDS Conference yesterday as an innovative satellite session explored how they can best protect themselves from HIV. The session was organized by UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO. It provided an interactive platform for youth from around the world to discuss sexual and reproductive health services and provision of comprehensive information including sexuality education, condom use and HIV counselling and testing.
- Red Ribbon Award 2010: Exceptional community AIDS leaders and activists recognized
- A ceremony to celebrate the 25 winners of the 2010 Red Ribbon Award was held in Vienna 21 July, with a host of global AIDS leaders joining the award winners and some 250 guests. The award event, which included a formal gala dinner, took place during the XVIII International AIDS Conference. Mr Jeffrey O’Malley, Director of HIV/AIDS Practice at the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), filled the role of Master of Ceremonies and Ms Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations Branch, addressed the ceremony on behalf of the Executive Director.
- Country perspectives on AIDS and disabilities
- While there is a growing recognition of the interrelationships between disability and HIV, people with disabilities still lack access to HIV prevention information, treatment, care and support services.
- “Now more than ever”: Marchers in Vienna call for protection of human rights and HIV
- Downtown Vienna was the backdrop for last night’s HIV and human rights march and rally on 20 July. The public event took place during the 18th International AIDS Conference which has brought some 20,000 activists and HIV professionals to the Austrian capital.
- UNODC: humane and effective drug dependence treatment
- Detention of HIV positive drug users is not treatment for their dependence. Drug dependence is a health disorder and punishment is not the appropriate response. This was the key message contained in a UNODC discussion paper launched at the XVIII AIDS Conference in Vienna today.
- Punitive laws and human rights violations limit access to HIV prevention and care services for men who have sex with men and transgender people in Asia Pacific
- Vienna, 21 July 2010 – Some 19 of 48 countries in the Asia Pacific region continue to criminalize male-to-male sex, and these laws frequently lead to abuse and human rights violations. Correspondingly, HIV prevalence has reached alarming levels among men who have sex with men and transgender populations in many countries of the region. If countries fail to address the legal and human rights context of HIV, this already critical situation is likely to become worse. The implementation of effective, national HIV responses requires governments to consider and address the effects of laws and law enforcement practices on the health of men who have sex with men and transgender people.
- UNAIDS and funders convene to discuss ending vertical transmission of HIV at AIDS 2010
- Continuing UNAIDS' efforts to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015, earlier today, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations Branch, Ms Jan Beagle addressed a meeting of funders already committed to this action, at a side event of the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna.
- UNAIDS satellite explores paving the way towards virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- UNAIDS hosted a satellite at AIDS 2010 on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV 19 July. It was co-chaired by Antony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF and Hiroki Nakatani, Assistant Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) and coordinated by Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of the HIV department (WHO). Opening remarks were delivered by Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and Ambassador Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator.
- HRH Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway joins young people to open Youth Pavilion at AIDS 2010
- UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador HRH Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, joined UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations Branch, Ms Jan Beagle and Dr Julio Montaner, International Chair of the XVIII International AIDS Conference and President of the International AIDS Society in welcoming young participants to the Youth Pavilion at XVIII International AIDS Conference.
- Rights Here, Rights Now! The Global Commission on HIV and the Law
- Legal frameworks can be powerful tools for countries struggling to control their epidemics. The last three decades have given rise to contentious legal debates on HIV-related issues (e.g.: criminalization of HIV transmission; legal restrictions on needle and syringe distribution in the US, on methadone in Russia, versus legal comprehensive harm reduction in Australia). The last few years have seen an insurgence of punitive laws and practices related to drug use, HIV transmission and exposure, sex work, and same sex sexual relations. There is also a growing body of evidence on the relationship between HIV and violence against women.
- More than five million people receiving HIV treatment
- World Health Organization advises earlier treatment among people with HIV. An estimated 5.2 million people in low-and middle-income countries were receiving life-saving HIV treatment at the end of 2009, according to the latest update from the World Health Organization (WHO).
- A human rights-based approach to prevention: Mission impossible?
- From the left: Mirta Roses; Tripti Tandon at ‘Human Rights based approach to HIV Prevention: Mission Impossible’, 18 July 2010. Credit: UNAIDS/Anna Rauchenberger The Global Village of AIDS 2010 was the setting of a UNAIDS satellite session on HIV prevention and human rights. Participants discussed how evidence-informed and rights-based laws, policies and programmes can be scaled-up in support of a ‘prevention revolution’ to break the trajectory of the epidemic.
- AIDS 2010 begins in Vienna with call for Treatment 2.0
- The XVIII International AIDS Conference opened on Sunday 18 July in the city of Vienna. With open arms, Austria has welcomed an estimated 20,000 delegates from all over the world who will spend the next week taking part in conference sessions and satellite meetings under the theme “Rights Here, Right Now” selected to emphasize the critical connection between human rights and HIV.
- ICASO satellite reviews targets and strategies for universal access
- At a satellite session on universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, panelists discussed target setting and review process to date, drawing on community analysis from countries over the last few years. The session aimed to start a debate on how, in many countries, genuine targets for universal access (UA) are not being set, especially for populations at higher risk of HIV infection.
- Town hall on reshaping the future of the AIDS response sets the tone for International AIDS Conference
- Ahead of the official opening of the XVIII International AIDS Conference, a town hall event saw the coming together of influential leaders in the AIDS response to share their insights of what the future of HIV prevention and treatment must look like if the goal of zero new infections and zero AIDS deaths is to be reached by 2015.
- Dialogue on new generation leadership and youth mentoring at AIDS 2010
- Young leaders from around the world joined HRH the Crown Princess of Norway and UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé and others to exchange experiences on leadership in the AIDS response during a formal and an informal session on 17 July 2010 at AIDS 2010.
- Young people: Now make it happen!
- UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé has highlighted how young people are leading the prevention revolution.
- UNAIDS calls for protection of human rights of men who have sex with men and sexual minorities at pre-conference forum
- “The human rights of men who have sex with men and other sexual minorities must be fully protected and respected if universal access to HIV services is to be achieved,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé.
- ILO workplace partners' forum tackles HIV with high level support
- The recent adoption of a ground-breaking human rights instrument on HIV and the world of work has brought the key role of the workplace in the global AIDS response into sharp focus.
- 18th International AIDS Conference to open in Vienna
- The XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) will begin in Vienna on 18 July. A pivotal year in the AIDS response, it will coincide with a major push for expanded access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as 2010 is the target year set by countries to achieve universal access to HIV services and comes ten years after nations committed to the historic Millennium Development Goals.
- Join UNAIDS and IAS at Town Hall on reshaping the future of AIDS
- Towards a paradigm shift in HIV treatment and prevention At this defining moment—reshaping the AIDS response is a necessity. Join UNAIDS and the International AIDS Society to set the tone for the AIDS 2010 Conference: challenging and encouraging delegates to call for and join a movement to reshape the AIDS response to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- 'Give AIDS the Red Card' web competition closes
- With the ending of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the UNAIDS web contest has come to a close as well. Contestants joined the UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors footballers Michael Ballack and Emmanuel Adebayor in the ‘Give AIDS the Red Card’ web competition to learn about HIV and win prizes. The contest engaged hundreds of participants from all corners of the world. Respondents’ thoughtful ideas for a solution to stopping stigma and discrimination were particularly enlightening and promising.
- European Parliament votes for rights-based AIDS response
- In the lead up to the 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna, the European Parliament has voted on a Motion for a Resolution on a rights-based approach to the EU's response to HIV. Referring to the UNAIDS Outcome Framework 2009-2011, the Resolution strongly supports the Joint Programme's position on human rights issues such as decriminalization of sexual transmission, injecting drug users and on men who have sex with men.
- New UNAIDS OUTLOOK report 2010 launched
- Ahead of the XVIII International AIDS Conference to be held in Vienna from 18 – 23 July, UNAIDS has launched its OUTLOOK Report 2010 in Geneva.
- Research project during the World Cup gathers data on sex workers and HIV
- As part of the UN South Africa Programme of Support to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, UNFPA and SWEAT (Sex Worker Education & Advocacy Taskforce) partnered with South African researchers to investigate key dimensions of HIV and sex work during the tournament. This rigorous research was supported by a telephone helpline service to respond to health and human rights concerns of sex workers during the World Cup. According to Mr. Eric Harper, Executive Director of SWEAT: “These projects give weight to the rights watch dimension for most-at-risk-populations that is so vital when the largest sporting event in the world occurs.”
- AIDSspace @ Vienna 2010
- Ahead of the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, AIDSspace.org has created a group to provide a forum for AIDSspace members to share information and updates on events during the six day conference. Members can start discussions as well as send a promotional e-postcard to spread the word.
- UNICEF and partners help make the World Cup a win for children
- UNICEF has been using the 2010 FIFA World Cup to help harness the power of sport to promote children’s rights. A series of partnerships and programmes around the global football championship are providing children with the opportunity to learn about their world and be better protected.
- Egyptian actor Amr Waked appointed UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Middle East and North Africa
- Renowned Egyptian actor Amr Waked has been named Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A popular star, Mr Waked is an influential figure with teenagers as well as adults across the region. Now, he joins UNAIDS' commitment to speaking out against stigma and discrimination of people living with or affected by HIV.
- Landmark forum in China to champion rights-based approach to HIV
- For the first time in China, government and civil society have formed a partnership to offer innovative ideas from a rights-based perspective to strengthen the national response to HIV. The China Red Ribbon Beijing Forum was launched on 5 July 2010 at a high-level meeting attended by Vice Minister of Health Yin Li and more than 100 members of civil society, including grassroots organizations.
- National ownership pivotal to sustained HIV responses
- National ownership is central to sustainable AIDS responses and is beyond doubt a path to improved aid effectiveness. To set the stage for engaged debates on national ownership and actions to realize this, UNAIDS organized a consultation in Geneva on 21 June 2010 that brought together government representatives, civil society, representatives from regional political bodies, and development partners.
June
- The judiciary and the AIDS response
- The AIDS epidemic has raised new and complex legal and human rights challenges leading to judicial rulings on matters related to HIV that have become part of the jurisprudence of many countries. Through interpretation of national constitutions, legislation and international human rights treaties, the judiciary has sometimes had a transformative and beneficial impact on the national response to HIV and on the public perception of HIV.
- New HIV prevention commission will be called on to boost global effort
- In December 2009, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé called for a “prevention revolution” and announced the formation of a UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention. The Commission, composed of political, business, activist and philanthropic leaders, will lead a political action campaign over the coming year to galvanize commitment at the highest level in support of effective HIV prevention programmes.
- UNAIDS Executive Director presents progress report to Board
- UNAIDS governing body, the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) is holding its 26th Board meeting from 22-24 June 2010 in Geneva. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé addressed the Board on 23 June giving an overview of progress in last six months by the Secretariat, partners and Cosponsors. The UNAIDS Annual Report 2009 was also shared with the Board members.
- UNAIDS’ call to Kenya for sustainable financing for HIV response gets major boost in national budget
- Kenyan Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta presented the national budget for the 2010-2011 financial year to parliament on 10 June. The budget sees a near doubling of past allocations for HIV treatment, earmarking Ksh. 900 million (US$ 11.25 million) for antiretroviral treatment.
- Helping Vietnamese youth protect themselves against HIV
- Pham Xuan Tung talks eagerly and takes notes for his group during a biology lesson on HIV transmission and the replication of the virus in blood cells. This new type of highly interactive class is something Tung, a student at Hoang Quoc Viet upper secondary school in Dong Trieu District, Quang Ninh Province, clearly enjoys.
- UNAIDS Web Contest 2010
- Every 4 years, the world turns its eyes to the football World Cup, the biggest sporting tournament on the planet. This year, the World Cup is being held in South Africa with many top teams and stars taking part. As in years past, UNAIDS will be hosting a web-competition, under the slogan “Give AIDS the Red Card” in order to celebrate the games. With the help of UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Michael Ballack and Emmanuel Adebayor, the “Give AIDS the Red Card” campaign leads us in the direction of preventing and ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the year 2015.
- UNAIDS welcomes the efforts of UNITAID towards the creation of a patent pool entity
- UNAIDS welcomes the efforts of UNITAID towards the establishment of the Patent Pool Foundation, scheduled for July this year. On 8 June 2010 the UNITAID Board made the final decision to move forward with the new Medicines Patent Pool Foundation and to provide US$ 4.4 million for its first year of operations.
- Vulnerability of indigenous peoples to AIDS insufficiently recognized in international response
- Indigenous peoples need to be identified as a priority group in the HIV response, the Report of the 5th International Policy Dialogue in Canada has clearly indicated. The report also called for a better integration of indigenous peoples into the international response to AIDS.
- UNAIDS addresses UN Human Rights Council on the impact of punitive laws on HIV
- As part of the 14th session of the UN Human Rights Council taking place in Geneva from 31 May-18 June 2010, the Council held on 4 June 2010 an interactive debate with the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, the Independent Expert on the question of human rights and extreme poverty, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
- UNFPA and CARE announce partnership to improve maternal health
- UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and CARE International, one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid agencies, have announced an agreement to enhance collaboration on maternal health programmes in more than 25 countries. This move, launched at the Women Deliver conference in Washington DC, will bring together UNFPA’s effective work with national governments and CARE’s expertise in engaging local communities.
- UN Secretary-General presents progress report on AIDS response
- At the 64th session of the General Assembly held on 9 June in New York, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro on behalf of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon introduced the 2010 report on the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV.
- Safe sex during the 2010 World Cup
- As the 2010 World Cup kicks off this Friday, thousands of football fans will arrive in South Africa to cheer on their favourite teams.
- Women Deliver conference focuses on MDG 5
- With maternal and reproductive health as a global priority, a three-day conference, Women Deliver 2010, has kicked off in Washington DC under the theme "Invest in women. It pays." The event’s main focus is to highlight that the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) will not be achieved without investing in women and that there is just enough time, if the world commits funding now, to achieve the MDG’s fifth goal of improving maternal health.
- Ground-breaking labour instrument to address HIV in the world of work
- A ground-breaking new labour instrument to address HIV in the world of work is one of the issues considered at the annual International Labour Conference (ILC- 99th Session) in Geneva from 2-18 June 2010.
- Ahead of World Cup, national team captains appeal: “Give AIDS the red card”
- Captains of South Africa, Nigeria, France, Paraguay, Uruguay, Australia, Cote D'Ivoire, Uruguay, Greece, and Serbia national teams join appeal to prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV.
- African Ambassadors and UNAIDS join hands to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV
- GENEVA, 2 June 2010—Preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to child was high on the agenda at a meeting in Geneva of 50 Ambassadors to the African Union and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.
- WHO: HIV Programme highlights significant achievements towards universal access
- A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), HIV/AIDS Programme Highlights 2008-09, outlines major accomplishments of the agency in collaboration with countries and partners in promoting interventions to accelerate the progress towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.
- Linking maternal and child health to AIDS ahead of G8 Summit
- At an event for Canadian Parliamentarians, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Jan Beagle, made the links between the 2010 G8 focus on maternal and child health and previous G8 commitments on AIDS.
May
- Celebrated artist and activist Annie Lennox appointed as International UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador
- Geneva, 2 June 2010 – The world renowned Scottish singer songwriter and women’s activist Annie Lennox has been named as International Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). With an award winning career spanning several decades, Ms. Lennox is one of the world’s most outstanding musical voices. Now, she renews her commitment to speak out for women and girls affected by the HIV epidemic.
- World Bank hosts series of high-level debates on changing dynamics of the AIDS epidemic
- A bi-monthly debate series began on 19 May at the World Bank, with a discussion on what constitutes an effective "HIV test and treat" strategy. The high-level events will explore aspects of the constantly changing dynamics of the AIDS epidemic.
- UNAIDS celebrates the life of Dr Sergei Furgal
- Today there are heavy hearts at UNAIDS, as we celebrate and commemorate the life of Dr Sergei Furgal – one of UNAIDS most valued staff members and a distinguished international civil servant.
- PCB delegation highlights commitment to end stigma and discrimination in El Salvador
- A recent visit from a UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) delegation to El Salvador stressed the importance of addressing stigma and discrimination in the response to HIV in the country and commended the government of El Salvador for its leadership on these issues.
- Report calls for urgent scale-up of MSM strategies to prevent HIV in Asia Pacific
- A report on HIV among men who have sex with men and transgender people in the Asia-Pacific region has called for urgent scale-up of strategies to prevent the transmission of HIV, and to ensure greater access to treatment, care and support for those already in need.
- Africa prepares to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015
- UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé has called for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. Africa is responding to this call. This week participants from 20 countries with the highest burden of infections among pregnant women are meeting in Nairobi to chart a course of action to accelerate access to the needed HIV services.
- Punitive laws limit access to HIV prevention and care services in Asia Pacific
- More than 90 per cent of men having sex with men (MSM) in the Asia-Pacific region do not have access to HIV prevention and care services due to an adverse legal and social environment. If countries fail to address the legal context of the epidemic, this already critical situation is likely to become worse. The implementation of effective, human rights-based national HIV responses requires governments to consider the effect of laws and law enforcement practices on the health of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons.
- UNDP’s Administrator Helen Clark concludes four-country Africa tour
- The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark recently ended a four-country tour of Africa to highlight progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the run-up to the MDGs Summit in September 2010. Ms Clark travelled to Mali, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, and South Africa.
- A mother’s joy, a mother’s challenge: Cameroon copes with mother to child HIV transmission
- After almost ten years, 28-year old Angele is a mother again. “My daughter is my joy. She is such a wonder,” said the young woman who wishes to keep her identity a secret as she is living with HIV in Oug-ebe, a shantytown in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
- African nations celebrate 50th anniversary
- The heads of seven African states are in Yaoundé at the invitation of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their countries’ independence on Thursday. The seven leaders, who come mostly from central Africa, also took part in the closing ceremony of the international conference “Africa 21” on Wednesday evening.
- ‘BORN HIV FREE’ campaign launched by The Global Fund
- The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has launched a new campaign BORN HIV FREE to mobilize public support for its work and contribute to the global effort for a world where no child is born with HIV by 2015. At the core of the campaign, originated and supported by Global Fund Ambassador, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, is a series of creative films intended to inspire people to sign up online in support of The Global Fund’s mission.
- UNAIDS advances agenda for AIDS plus MDGs during 63rd World Health Assembly
- In key bilateral meetings held on the eve of the 63rd World Health Assembly in Geneva, Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS engaged ministers of health from leading countries on how investments in AIDS can be used to leverage progress towards the other Millennium Develop Goals (MDGs).
- International Day Against Homophobia
- May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia. Homophobia is considered one of the main obstacles in implementing HIV prevention strategies. Of the 192 member states of the United Nations, 85 have laws that still criminalize homosexual behaviour and, in some of these countries, conviction can even result in the death penalty.
- World Health Assembly to discuss International Health Regulations and MDG
- The 63rd World Health Assembly, the gathering of the decision-making body of World Health Organization (WHO), opened in Geneva today. Health Ministers and officials from across the world will meet until 21 May 2010 to discuss the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR).
- International conference begins in Cameroon
- The African continent is experiencing major changes as 17 African countries prepare to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their independence in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Two days before the anniversary celebrations, a high-level international conference, Africa 21 began on Tuesday in Yaoundé. The conference is called “Africa, a chance for the world: realities and challenges,” and brings together top politicians, economists, international civil servants and business leaders, including former United Nations Secretaries of State, Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Much of the debate will focus on macro-economic issues.
- President Kabila commits to ensuring an AIDS-free generation in Democratic Republic of Congo
- President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has pledged to promote the emergence an AIDS-Free Generation, to ensure safer motherhood and to eliminate mother-child-transmission of HIV in his country.
- Cricketers promote HIV awareness during ICC World Twenty20
- As the World Twenty20 Tournament takes place in Barbados, cricketers are participating in a number of HIV awareness outreach and community activities through the ICC, UNAIDS, UNICEF partnership programme, Think Wise.
- Christian faith leaders launch alliance to respond to AIDS in PNG
- Church leaders from 19 Christian denominations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) came together to launch the Christian Leaders Alliance, a network of Christian faith leaders committed to provide an effective response to AIDS in the country. Civil Society, including people living with HIV, Faith based groups, donors and partners in the national response attended the event.
- World Bank opens free access to development data
- In an unprecedented move, the World Bank has made its extensive store of developmental data available to all free of charge. From now on more than two thousand health, economic, human development, financial and business statistics will be accessible via a new website, data.worldbank.org.
- Joint Mission to Mali Concludes
- On the fourth and final day of their official visit to Mali, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé commended President Amadou Toumani Touré on achievements in the country’s AIDS response and said that Mali had set an example for other countries in the region to follow.
- TB partners meet in Viet Nam
- The 18th Stop TB Partnership Coordinating Board meeting is being held from 4 – 5 May 2010 in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The meeting will bring together UNAIDS and the Stop TB Partnership to strengthen their joint response to HIV/TB co-infection and to agree on a compact intended to halve TB deaths in people living with HIV by 2015.
- UNDP and UNAIDS joint mission to Mali continues
- UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé began their four-day mission to Mali in the ancient city of Timbuktu, where they visited Groupe d'Appui à la Formation de Base (GAFB), a local civil society organization that provides HIV prevention through innovative peer education programmes among vulnerable populations, including uniformed services, youth, and domestic workers.
- First joint mission by UNDP and UNAIDS to Mali
- The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark and Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibé are on a four day mission to Mali. It is the first joint mission to Mali by these two UN agencies and Ms Clark, who is also Chair of the United Nations Development Group and Chair of the UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO) will call for an accelerated national AIDS response in the lead-up to 2015, the target date set by the international community for reaching the Millennium Development Goals.
April
- Advocate Gerry Elsdon: A voice and a face for TB
- Gerry Elsdon was at the height of her professional career as a popular TV personality in South Africa when she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She is now an advocate for the rights of people affected by TB.
- Commission on AIDS in the Pacific Report launched in Suva, Fiji
- The country launch of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific Report Turning the Tide: An OPEN Strategy for a response to AIDS in the Pacific took place in Suva, Fiji on 26 April 2010. The report was presented to His Excellency President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and representatives of the Pacific Regional organisations by Commission Chair and Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister, Misa Telefoni Retzlaff.
- International conference on harm reduction in Liverpool
- Harm Reduction 2010, the 21st International conference organized by the International Harm Reduction Association is taking place in Liverpool, England from 25 – 29 April 2010. Under the theme ‘Harm Reduction: The Next Generation’, the conference has attracted around 1400 delegates from around 80 countries to share knowledge, network and promote evidence-based best practices in the field of reducing harms from drugs and alcohol.
- West Indies cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan new champion for HIV advocacy
- In conjunction with the International Cricket Council (ICC), West Indies cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan was unveiled as a new Think Wise Champion on 26 April as part of a global cricket partnership to raise awareness of HIV.
- UNAIDS Executive Director joins President Zuma to launch national HIV counselling and testing drive in South Africa
- To launch a new national testing campaign UNAIDS Executive Director joined South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Minister Motsoaledi, Premier Mokonyane and civil society representatives Ms Vuyiseka Dubula from the Treatment Action Campaign and Nkululeko Nxesi from the National Association of People living with AIDS.
- New WHO strategy calls for elimination of HIV in children by 2015
- Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV is one of the key pillars in the worldwide response to the AIDS epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently published a strategy paper outlining its commitment to support country-level and global efforts to scale up PMTCT services and to integrate them into maternal, newborn and child health programmes.
- No African child should be born with HIV by 2015
- During an official visit to Senegal, the UNAIDS Executive Director was received by the President, Mr Abdoulaye Wade, on 19 April.
- UNODC project provides cross-border HIV services to Afghan injecting drug users
- Providing comprehensive HIV services for injecting drug users is critical to an effective HIV response. In recognition of this, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has begun to support the implementation of an initiative to make services accessible to Afghan refugees who use drugs in Iran and Pakistan, and also to Afghan drug users who have returned home.
- New study shows significant drop in maternal deaths
- A new study published in the medical journal the Lancet found that, for the first time in decades, the number of women dying each year from pregnancy and childbirth had significantly drop. Researchers estimate that maternal deaths fell from 526 300 in 1980 to 343 900 in 2008.
- UNICEF Executive Director launches 'Facts for Life' in Lesotho
- During a visit to Lesotho UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman (give date) launched Facts for Life, a publication that delivers life-saving information to families and communities on how to prevent child and maternal deaths, diseases, injuries and violence.
- Haiti civil society brief US government on AIDS needs
- Haitian civil society representatives visited Washington, D.C. on 6 April to mobilize political support for reconstructing the AIDS response in Haiti. The civil society delegation, with support from UNAIDS, gave a testimony of their experiences with the earthquake and highlighted the importance of reconstructing the AIDS response with direct involvement of affected communities, especially people living with HIV.
- Ahead of XVIII International AIDS Conference UNAIDS Executive Director visits Vienna
- During an official visit to Vienna, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé yesterday met with high-ranking government representatives of Austria, including Minister of Health Alois Stöger, Executive City Councillor for Public Health and Social Affairs of Vienna Sonja Wehsely, as well as Her Excellencies Ambassadors Irene Freudenschuss-Reichl, Director General of the Department of Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Austria and Brigitte Öppinger-Walchshofer, Director General of the Austrian Development Agency.
- New campaign to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Lesotho
- Malekena George, from Lesotho’s Berea district, is eight months pregnant and living with HIV. The Lesotho Ministry of Health, with help from UNICEF and other partners, is working to ensure that her second baby is not born with HIV.
March
- 5th Francophone conference on HIV/AIDS in Casablanca wraps up
- While a wide range of AIDS epidemics occur across the Francophone world, this week in Casablanca, countries came together to speak with a common voice and with one common goal – stopping AIDS from making further inroads in French-speaking countries. Representatives from around 50 French-speaking countries wrapped up the 5th Francophone conference on HIV/AIDS today.
- UNDP to partner with Sony and JICA in Cameroon and Ghana during FIFA World Cup
- Sony Corporation is partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to bring health information, with a special focus on HIV, to vulnerable communities in Cameroon and Ghana.
- Partnership with faith organizations vital for effective response to HIV
- Religious leaders and UNAIDS renewed their commitment to collaborate closely in order to prioritize and strengthen the response to HIV. The reassurance of their commitment came during the launch of the French language version of the UNAIDS strategic framework for partnership with Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) in its response to HIV, that took place at the 5th Francophone conference on HIV/AIDS taking place in Casablanca from 28 to 31 March 2010.
- New grants available for young leaders
- Following UNAIDS calls for putting young people’s leadership at the centre of national HIV responses, a new small grants programme for youth-led organizations, the HIV Young Leaders Fund, announced their request for proposals. The mission of the Fund is to enable new leadership in the AIDS response among young people who are most-at-risk and vulnerable to HIV and young people living with HIV.
- International consultation on “Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention” in Casablanca
- Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) and UNAIDS held an international consultation on “Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention” takes place as part of the 5th Francophone Conference on HIV.
- Spotlight on human rights at the 5th Francophone Conference on AIDS
- Human rights and law will be in the spotlight at the 5th Francophone Conference on AIDS held in Casablanca, Morocco from 28 to 31 March 2010. The conference is taking place against a backdrop of continuing discrimination and human rights infringement of people living with HIV across the world. There are reports of harassment, prosecution of and violence against people living with HIV in several francophone countries.
- Dr Julio Montaner, President of the International AIDS Society, visits UNAIDS
- Dr Julio Montaner, the President of the International AIDS Society (IAS), visited the UNAIDS Secretariat in Geneva on 24 March. At the headquarters he met with UNAIDS staff and discussed various topics including the concept of ‘treatment as prevention’’ which has come from his long standing work in Vancouver, Canada.
- Guyana launches national HIV prevention principles, standards and guidelines
- On Wednesday 24th March 2010, Guyana unveiled the country’s new national principles, standards and guidelines for the prevention of HIV as part of its efforts to achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- Religious summit engages religious leaders in the HIV response
- The first-ever Summit of High Level Religious Leaders on the Response to HIV is taking place in The Netherlands from 22 to 23 March. The meeting will explore opportunities for religious leaders to promote universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in their communities and speak out against stigma and discrimination affecting people living with HIV.
- Taking HIV prevention on the road
- For many in West Africa, the road network is a vital socio-economic lifeline but it can also be a way for the spread of HIV. An ambitious programme, the World Bank Abidjan-Lagos Transport Corridor (ALCO) project, has seen marked success in helping people living and working along this highway to reduce their vulnerability to HIV.
- WHO report highlights growing numbers of drug-resistant tuberculosis
- Up to a quarter of people with tuberculosis in some regions can no longer be treated with standard drug regimens. This is the stark finding of a new World Health Organization report which estimates that 440,000 people had multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2008, a third of whom died.
- Disproportionate impact of HIV on men who have sex with men in US underlines need for better outreach
- New data analysis released on 10 March by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that HIV and syphilis disproportionately impact gay and bisexual men in the United States (U.S.). The data, presented at CDC's 2010 National STD Prevention Conference, found that the rate of new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the U.S. is more than 44 times that of other men and more than 40 times that of women.
- CPLP and UNAIDS sign cooperation agreement in response to the AIDS epidemic
- LISBON, March 17, 2010 – The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Counties (CPLP) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) formalized their cooperation in response to AIDS in CPLP countries with a Memorandum of Understanding. The cooperation agreement was signed today by CPLP Executive Secretary, Mr Domingos Simões Pereira and by UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibé.
- Universal access in the Caribbean must include men who have sex with men
- Although the Caribbean as a region has the second highest HIV prevalence after sub-Saharan Africa, most countries have concentrated epidemics which disproportionately affect certain groups including gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). In many countries men who have sex with men experience considerable social stigma and are not reached with vital HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. Not only are men afraid of disclosing their sexual activity, they are also deterred from finding out what they need to know to reduce their risk or to buy condoms.
- UNAIDS and Private sector meet to explore collaboration towards virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission
- On 15 March 2010, UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé met with more than 15 private sector companies affiliated with the Global Business Coalition on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC). Mr Sidibé highlighted UNAIDS’ priorities for 2010-11 and reiterated his call for the virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission by 2015.
- HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe will be highlighted at Vienna AIDS conference
- The rapidly growing AIDS epidemic in Eastern Europe, fuelled primarily by unsafe injecting drug use, will be under the spotlight at the VIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010), to be held in Vienna in July.
- UNICEF: Helping Ukraine’s most-at-risk young people
- Ukraine is the European country which bears the highest burden of HIV with just over 1.6 percent of the adult population estimated to be living with the virus. Among the most affected groups are young people who engage in high risk behaviour such as injecting drug use and sex work. Many of these young people live on the streets. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine aims to give vulnerable young people the tools to protect themselves against HIV.
- Papua New Guinea launch of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific
- The first Pacific launch of the report “Turning the Tide: An OPEN strategy for a response to AIDS in the Pacific” took place in Papua New Guinea on Thursday 11 March 2010. The report is the first document to synthesize regional and country information on epidemiology, risks and vulnerabilities, and financing and coordination of the AIDS response. Issues of rights and civil society as well as the impact of AIDS on health are also highlighted.
- Call for urgent action to improve coverage of HIV services for injecting drug users
- The fifty-third session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)—the central policy-making body of the United Nations in drug related matters—is running in Vienna until 12 March 2010. A new report by the Reference Group to the UN system on HIV and Injecting Drug Use shows that the coverage of effective interventions remains far short of what is needed.
- Country driven goals towards universal access need to remain a priority
- AIDS is not over in any part of the world and country driven goals towards universal access need to remain a priority. This was a recurrent message told by more than 40 champions and leaders of the AIDS response who gathered for a meeting at the House of Lords organised by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).
- Regional body adopts programme of joint action on HIV for Commonwealth of Independent States
- An estimated 1.5 million adults and children are living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. With an adult HIV prevalence of 1.6% in 2007, Ukraine has the largest prevalence in all of Europe. Estonia, Russian Federation and Ukraine all have HIV prevalence that exceeds 1%.
- South Africa committed to achieving universal access
- South Africa is transforming its AIDS response. Today, the Deputy President of South Africa HE Mr Kgalema Motlanthe met with Executive Directors of UNAIDS and Global Fund in Johannesburg. He recommitted his government’s commitment to meet their universal access targets.
- Global Fund: Elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child by 2015 within reach
- Virtual elimination of mother to child HIV transmission by 2015 is now within reach if current rates of progress by Global Fund-supported programmes and other efforts are maintained. Malaria may be eliminated as a public health problem within a decade in most countries where it is endemic. Tuberculosis prevalence in many countries is declining and the international target of halving TB prevalence could be met by 2015.
- Global Fund projects that UNAIDS’ call for elimination of mother–to-child HIV transmission by 2015 is within reach
- A new report by the Global Fund projects that UNAIDS’ call for the virtual elimination of mother–to-child transmission by 2015 is within reach. UNAIDS’ Executive Director and South Africa’s Health Minister joined the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the launch of the Global Fund 2010 Results Report in South Africa which highlights progress made towards these three diseases.
- On International Women’s Day, UNAIDS, IAS and 14 partners launch new agenda to improve scientific research for women and children
- As the world marks International Women’s Day, there is growing concern that women and children are bearing the brunt of the AIDS epidemic. To turn the tide, UNAIDS, the International AIDS Society (IAS) and 14 other leading public and private sector organizations have teamed up to release a new scientific research agenda.
- Power of words: Brazil LGBT launch guide for media
- The Brazilian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual (LGBT) Association (Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas, Bissexuais, Travestis e Transexuais or ABGLT) recently launched an “LGBT Communication Manual” aimed at communication professionals, students and teachers to reduce the use of inappropriate language that prejudices, or perpetuates misunderstandings about the millions Brazilian LGBT people and their supporters.
- Micro-Contribution for Massive Good
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, former US President Bill Clinton, movie director Spike Lee and international recording artists Will.I.Am and David Guetta are in New York to launch MASSIVEGOOD. This new fundraising tool will enable travellers to make a “micro-contribution” towards major global health causes every time they buy a plane ticket, reserve a hotel room or rent a car.
- Fiji first Pacific Island nation with colonial-era sodomy laws to formally to decriminalize homosexuality
- Marking a significant step towards achieving the country’s universal access goals, Fiji passed a law decriminalizing consensual homosexuality through the Fiji National Crimes Decree on 1 February 2010. With this legislation Fiji becomes the first Pacific Island nation with colonial-era sodomy laws to formally decriminalize sex between men.
- UNAIDS takes action to empower women and girls to protect themselves from HIV
- New York/Geneva, 2 March 2010 – UNAIDS, together with celebrated artist and activist for women and HIV, Annie Lennox, has launched an Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV (2010–2014), which has been developed to address gender inequalities and human rights violations that continue to put women and girls at risk of HIV infection.
- 54th Commission on the Status of Women opening calls for Action on Gender Equality
- During a high-level panel on the opening day of the 54th at the Commission on the Status of Women, UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya A. Obaid, speaking on behalf of the United Nations, called attention to the links between the right to sexual and reproductive health and women's empowerment, gender equality and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
- UNAIDS, Annie Lennox, launch action framework for women, girls and HIV
- Globally, women and girls continue to be affected disproportionately by HIV. Artist and political and social activist Annie Lennox together with UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé launched the Agenda for Accelerated County Action in order to bring global political attention to the well-being of women and girls today.
- Call for submissions Global Health Governance: Special Issue on “Governance and the AIDS Response”
- The next issue of Global Health Governance will focus on Global Health Governance and the AIDS Response. Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Kent Buse, Senior Policy Advisor to the Executive Director, will serve as guest editors for this issue.
- CONCASIDA opens with spotlight on needs of young people
- The Sixth Central American Congress on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CONCASIDA) will take place in San Jose, Costa Rica from 1-5 March 2010 with the theme "Youth: for my right to know and decide".
February
- During Winter Olympics, UNAIDS calls on Canada to ensure G8 delivers on universal access
- A global summit on HIV was hosted by LifeSciences British Columbia, the BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and the University of British Columbia (UBC) on 26 February against the backdrop of the 2010 Olympic Games. Endorsed by the International AIDS Society, the event "The Impact of Science & Innovation in the Evolving Global Health Paradigm: HIV and AIDS - A Challenge of Olympic Proportion" brought together world leaders in HIV research, health, innovation and policy to share latest and compelling perspectives on the challenges being faced under a shifting global health paradigm.
- New wave of cooperatives in Cameroon help HIV-positive women gain economic independence
- Many people living with HIV face not only health issues but may also struggle to make ends meet economically. A number of HIV-positive women in north-west Cameroon are taking the initiative by generating income through cooperatives, with the assistance of the International Labour Organization (ILO) funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
- Handbook on HIV for Parliamentarians developed in Cambodia
- Political commitment at the highest level is recognized as a critical factor in Cambodia’s success in creating a supportive legislative and policy environment for the national response to HIV. With support from the National AIDS Authority, the UNDP Legislature Assistance Project of the National Assembly, , Family Health International USAID funded Prasit Project and UNAIDS, a Parliamentary Handbook on HIV has been developed.
- Nigeria to accelerate universal access efforts in HIV response
- There are nearly three million people living with HIV in Nigeria. After South Africa, the country has the largest number of people living with HIV in the continent. Each day there are about 1000 new infections. National HIV prevalence is around 4.6%. But these figures mask the multiple epidemics in the various states of the country. Many of the people living with HIV are poor. Add to this stigma and discrimination.
- UNDP Head Helen Clark highlights importance of gender equality for Papua New Guinea to achieve MDGs
- United Nations Development Programme Administrator Miss Helen Clark highlighted HIV issues during her visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG). In her meetings with senior government and other officials, she underlined that “the United Nations development system stands ready to continue working with the Government and the people of Papua New Guinea in overcoming existing development challenges and accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, especially in areas such as education, health, advancing women’s empowerment and combating HIV/AIDS epidemic.”
- Pampaida: millennium development in action in Nigeria
- Agnes, barely six months old, was comfortable going into the lap of complete strangers, smiling and clutching fingers that were extended towards her. She has been making regular visits to the clinic with her mother Sarah and father Yusuf Samalia. These have been made possible by the Millennium Village Project that is providing comprehensive health, education and poverty alleviation programmes in the Pampaida village located in the Kaduna state of Nigeria. Of the 20,000 people who live in the area around 44% are in the reproductive age groups.
- Protecting drug users from becoming infected with HIV in Lithuania
- The pioneering Vilnius Centre for Addictive Disorders in Lithuania is the focus of the second Dispatch from the Field, a web series designed to highlight the World Health Organization’s work at country level.
- Countries urged to review progress made in achieving national AIDS targets
- Ahead of the UN High-level Meeting on Millennium Development Goals, UNAIDS calls on all countries to review progress and barriers for achieving national targets for universal access.
- King of Swaziland calls for reinforced national response to AIDS
- UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé is in Swaziland on the first leg of a three-country tour of Southern Africa to gain insight on progress and challenges towards achieving the goals of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- Letter to Partners 2010: Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS
- Each day 7400 more people become infected with HIV—and five people become newly infected for every two people starting treatment.
- Civil society: Have your say on community systems strengthening!
- The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has developed a community systems strengthening Framework in collaboration with other stakeholders including UNAIDS to clarify the range of community strengthening activities the Global Fund is mandated to support. Civil society views on this framework, which will play an important role for anyone working at a community level, are sought.
- Vancouver Winter Games will strengthen UN-Olympic collaboration
- The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will kick off tomorrow night in Vancouver, marking the start of 16 days of intense competitions and celebrations, including a series of events where the United Nations family will celebrate its growing bonds with the Olympic family. Te IOC and UNAIS has a long-standing partnership and for the Vancouver Games have developed a toolkit on HIV for athletes participating.
- Brazil post offices join Global HIV Awareness Campaign
- For the first time in Brazil, post offices will join efforts to prevent new HIV infections. The local take on the global campaign “Post Offices Fighting Against AIDS”, was launched Tuesday 9 February in a post office in Brasilia, the capital of the country.
- Linking sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV prevention is key says Dutch AIDS Ambassador Marijke Wijnroks
- Netherlands AIDS Ambassador Dr Marijke Wijnroks recently visited UNAIDS Secretariat to meet with Michel Sidibé UNAIDS Executive Director and senior management of the Joint Programme. We took the opportunity to ask Dr Wijnroks about her role as her country’s AIDS Ambassador, and discussed some of the key issues in the Dutch approach to the global issue of HIV.
- Kenyan TV drama, ‘Shuga’, entertains as it raises AIDS awareness
- At its New York headquarters, UNICEF highlighted a recent collaboration with MTV through a screening of ‘Shuga’, a three-part TV drama about a group of young friends living in Nairobi, Kenya. As they explore the complexities of love, the characters confront the risk of HIV infection.
- Removing bottle-necks for Universal Access in Central African Republic
- The Central African Republic, one of the poorest countries in the world, has been heavily affected by the HIV epidemic. It is estimated that 160 000 people are living with HIV in the country, and only one in four of those in need have access to Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART).
- Lack of resources could undermine gains made in the HIV response in Pakistan
- Pakistan’s capacity to effectively respond to the HIV epidemic could be hindered due to the lack of resources to implement its revised National Strategic Framework. The framework, endorsed by partners involved in the response, provides evidence-based strategic direction to urgently address the increasing levels of HIV infection amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) and other populations through sexual transmission and avoid a spillover to the general population.
- Study: In Malawi, money in girls’ hands boosts school enrolment
- Small stipends paid directly to young girls have had a powerful impact on their school attendance in Malawi, reducing drop-out rates by around 40 percent and helping to protect them from HIV. That’s among the findings from a study, supported by the World Bank, of a two-year cash transfer programme targeting girls.
- UNDP engages Namibian communities in conversation on sexuality and HIV
- What causes people to have more than one sexual partner at a time? “Sexual desire and satisfaction”; “It’s a cultural and social norm”; “Poverty and hunger- it’s a way to survive.” These are just some of the perspectives that emerged when communities from the Caprivi region, in North East Namibia, came together to talk about multiple and concurrent partnerships.
January
- New UN-business website to bring about private sector partnerships
- Business.un.org the new UN-business partnership gateway, was introduced today at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland. The website will provide a single entry point for to match the capacities and resources of the private sector with the needs of the UN System, be it for humanitarian relief, poverty reduction or HIV programmes.
- Building Haiti’s AIDS Response Better
- As Haiti begins to rebuild after the destruction left by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck 10 miles outside Port-au-Prince on 12 January, first reports are coming in on the impact the tremble has had on Haiti’s AIDS response.
- Michel Sidibé urges Qatar to increase contributions towards AIDS response
- During his official visit to Qatar, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé encouraged the country to increase its contributions to AIDS, health and development at this critical time of the global recession.
- Spotlight on the Middle East and North Africa Region
- The HIV epidemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, while seldom highlighted, is steadily growing. In 2008 there were an estimated 310 000 people living with HIV, up from 200 000 in 2001. In that same year, approximately 35 000 people became newly infected with HIV in the region.
- UNAIDS staff member carries Olympic Flame in Calgary
- UNAIDS staff member Eric Sawyer will be carrying the Olympic Flame in Calgary, Canada on 20 January as part of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay leading up to the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, to be held from 12-28 February.
- WHO tool to integrate gender into AIDS programmes
- Half of all people living with HIV globally are now female. In order to offer women greater protection against the virus, WHO has designed a hands-on tool to integrate gender into AIDS programmes in the health sector.
- The UN stands as one in solidarity with people affected by Haiti Earthquake
- As part of the United Nations family, UNAIDS stands in solidarity with the people affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.
- Breaking down cultural barriers to address HIV
- Cultural structures and systems can facilitate or inhibit the success of HIV programs such as voluntary male circumcision, PMTCT and social protection. Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé visited the Luo Council of Elders in the western part of Kenya to discuss their role in social transformation, during his five day official visit to the country.
- Kenya Launches 3rd National AIDS Strategic Plan
- Kenya’s third generation National AIDS Strategic Plan was launched by the country’s Prime Minister Hon. Raila Odinga in Nairobi. Built on the recently undertaken Modes of Transmission analysis, the plan responds to the need to rethink some of the priorities of the HIV response to align them with the evidence now on hand.
- UN Secretary-General applauds the removal of entry restrictions based on HIV status by United States of America and Republic of Korea
- UNAIDS strongly welcomes the elimination of travel restrictions based on HIV status by the Republic of Korea, effective 1 January 2010. It also commends the United States for full implementation of the final rule that removes entry restrictions which means that travellers living with HIV can freely enter the United States of America as of today.
