Feature story

The 31st meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board opens

11 December 2012

Credit: UNAIDS

The 31st UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) meeting is taking place in Geneva from 11-13 December.

During the opening session, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé will present his report outlining the progress made since the last Board meeting in June 2012, as well as the challenges ahead. At the invitation from Mr Sidibé, Dr Richard Horton, Editor in Chief of the Lancet, will share his views on the AIDS response in the Post-2015 Framework and its contribution to global health and development.

The Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet will participate in the meeting for the first time since the UNAIDS Board approved the appointment of UN Women as the 11th Cosponsor to the Joint Programme in June 2012. The UNAIDS Board will also receive a mid-term review on the implementation of the Agenda for Accelerated Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV.

The thematic segment of the meeting will take place on Thursday and will focus on Non-Discrimination. Participants will examine policy and programmatic actions that reduce HIV-related discrimination in various sectors, including health care, employment, education, justice and the community. The segment will also be an opportunity to discuss strategies for expanding these policies and programmes in the context of national HIV responses.

The 31st meeting of the UNAIDS Board is being chaired by Poland.