Feature story

UNAIDS and the South American Football Confederation sign memorandum of understanding to advance HIV prevention

01 August 2013

The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to combine efforts to promote UNAIDS' Protect the Goal campaign and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, particularly among the youth. The signing ceremony took place on the occasion of the special session of South America's soccer governing body in the presence of CONMEBOL President Eugenio Figueredo and Dr Djibril Diallo, on behalf of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.

The main objectives of the MoU are to carry out joint advocacy and communication activities in competitions organized by CONMEBOL —one of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) six continental confederations— in support of the "Protect the Goal" campaign, a brand new initiative within the framework of UNAIDS' sport for global advocacy that was launched at the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Globally, an estimated 4.6 million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 2300 young people are infected with HIV each day.

Quotes

We are pleased to work alongside UNAIDS to improve HIV education and facilitate access to HIV prevention, care, treatment and counselling services. Through this innovative campaign we plan to reach a broad spectrum of audiences in our region, particularly young people.

Eugenio Figueredo, CONMEBOL President

The campaign we are launching today with CONMEBOL aims at reaching zero new HIV infections and ensure that no baby is born with HIV. We will work closely together in the lead-up to the upcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Dr Djibril Diallo, UNAIDS Senior Adviser to the Executive Director