Press release and statement archive
December
- 2008 HIV Implementers’ meeting announces call for abstracts
- The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, along with the Government of Uganda; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; UNAIDS; UNICEF; the World Bank; the World Health Organization; and the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, is pleased to announce a call for abstracts for the 2008 HIV Implementers’ Meeting.
- UNAIDS statement on Algiers bombing
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) joined other UN agencies and the Secretary General in stating its shock at the tragic bombing of the UN offices in Algiers, and great sadness at the loss of life.
- World Bank Seeks Innovative Ideas to Fight HIV and AIDS Stigma and Discrimination in South Asia
- The World Bank with United Nations and private sector partners today launched a competitive Development Marketplace aimed at identifying and funding innovative approaches to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS in the South Asia region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
- Statement by UNAIDS Executive Director Human Rights Day, 10 December 2007
- Today, the world marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a focus on “universality”.
- World AIDS Day - Message of Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA
- Today, on World AIDS Day, we are called upon to be leaders in the fight against AIDS. Where there is strong and committed leadership, the response is more effective.
November
- UNAIDS commends Parliamentarians for bold leadership in their response to HIV
- On the eve of World AIDS Day recognizing the theme of leadership, Parliamentarians from around the world have adopted bold recommendations to guide their response to HIV at the national level.
- Red Ribbon Award calls for nominations to honour community leadership and action on AIDS
- On the occasion of World AIDS Day the global call for nominations for the Red Ribbon Award 2008 will be announced in Mexico City. The biennial award, which will be presented at next summer’s International AIDS Conference in Mexico, will honour 25 community-based organisations for their contributions in responding to the AIDS epidemic.
- Message on World AIDS Day
- Today, on the 20th World AIDS Day, we are again beseeching leadership to ‘Stop AIDS and keep the promise.’ We asked them to do so last year, and we are asking them to do so again. Although much has been done since the last World AIDS Day, AIDS clearly has not stopped. Stopping AIDS is the ultimate measure of progress in the AIDS response, but we must remember that it is not the only one.
- UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot praises religious groups’ action on AIDS at Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit
- Speaking at the Saddleback Church Global AIDS Summit, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot paid tribute to the contribution religious leaders have made to the global AIDS response, and the key role religious groups have played in providing HIV treatment, care and support in some of the remotest parts of the world.
- Statement on World AIDS Day 2007
- Today is a fitting time to acknowledge and celebrate the leadership of thousands of women and girls all over the world who, on a daily basis, take on the challenges of the AIDS epidemic with courage and conviction.
- Statement by Kemal Derviş, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme On the occasion of World AIDS Day 1 December 2007
- The World AIDS Campaign has selected “leadership” as the 2007 World AIDS Day theme highlighting the need for innovative and visionary leadership in response to the epidemic. It calls on all of us to renew our commitment at the individual, family, community, national and international level to support empowering leadership on AIDS.
- MESSAGE ON WORLD AIDS DAY
- The theme of this World AIDS Day is leadership. Without it, we will never get ahead of the epidemic.
- Message on the occasion of World AIDS Day
- Today, millions of people around the globe are marking the 20th World AIDS Day. For some, this may be the only day in the year they think about AIDS. For many, however, AIDS is part of daily life.
- Hunger, health and HIV: A critical connection
- As communities gather to mark World AIDS Day, and governments take stock of the progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is urging that more attention be paid to the fundamental connection between hunger and health, which lies at the heart of the pandemic.
- Global HIV prevalence has levelled off; AIDS is among the leading causes of death globally and remains the primary cause of death in Africa
- New data show global HIV prevalence—the percentage of people living with HIV—has levelled off and that the number of new infections has fallen, in part as a result of the impact of HIV programmes. However, in 2007 33.2 million [30.6 – 36.1 million] people were estimated to be living with HIV, 2.5 million [1.8 – 4.1 million] people became newly infected and 2.1 million [1.9 – 2.4 million] people died of AIDS.
- STATEMENT FROM THE WHO-UNAIDS HIV VACCINE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (VAC) ON NIH/HVTN/MERCK RELEASE OF NEW DATA FROM THE ANALYSIS OF STEP TRIAL RESULTS
- On 7 November 2007 at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) meeting in Seattle, NIH, HVTN and Merck released updated results based on post hoc analysis of data from a large-scale STEP trial with a Merck candidate vaccine (MRK-Ad5).
- The impact of HIV in Central America: The United Nations Report
- United Nations agencies and programs are committed to taking all the necessary measures to intensify Central America’s response to the HIV epidemic. This announcement was made by the Regional Directors for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNAIDS and UNICEF, participating in the 5th Central American Congress on HIV – CONCASIDA 2007.
- The V Central American Congress on STI, HIV and AIDS opens in Nicaragua
- Managua, 4 November 2007––Central America is preparing to host the V Central American Congress on STI, HIV and AIDS, to be held in Managua, Nicaragua from 4 to 9 November 2007 under the theme ‘For Equality, Diversity and Non-Discrimination’. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is providing technical and financial support for the meeting and welcomes the congress’ efforts to advance scientific and technical responses to AIDS in the region.
October
- Statement of the United Nations System Chief Executive Board
- The United Nations System Chief Executive Board Meeting on 27 October under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, expressed its serious concern over the increasing number of violent attacks against humanitarian workers and other UN staff operating under the auspices of the United Nations in various regions of the world.
- More information needed on the impact of AIDS on children, says UNAIDS
- At the Second Pan-African Forum on Children in Cairo, UNAIDS called for more work to be done in gathering strategic information on children and AIDS. The call came in efforts to increase the understanding of the AIDS epidemic in children and the impact it is having on their lives.
- Message from Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2007, 1 December 2007
- AIDS, a disease which was not even known a quarter of a century ago, is now the fourth leading cause of death in the world. Today, approximately 40 million people are living with HIV, and in every region of the world, the proportion of women among those who are becoming newly infected with HIV is increasing.
- African media personality Gaetano Kagwa appointed as UNAIDS Special Representative
- African media personality Gaetano Kagwa has been appointed as a Special Representative for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). In this role, the popular host of the M-NET African lifestyle television program Studio 53 and former Big Brother Africa contestant will raise awareness and carry out advocacy work on AIDS.
September
- UNAIDS Special Representative Rupert Everett visits Russia to raise AIDS awareness
- Rupert Everett, renowned film and theatre actor and Special Representative of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, is travelling in Russia from 23-26 September.
- Message from the UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot to staff on the death of former Senior Advisor, Julia Cleves
- UNAIDS mourns the death of former colleague Julia Cleves who lost her battle against cancer on Wednesday 5 September.
- Joint International Health Partners Statement
- Joint International Health Partners Statement on behalf of the GAVI Alliance, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), UNICEF, United Nations Population Fund, World Bank and the World Health Organization.
August
- UNAIDS and OHCHR express concern at reports of violence against people living with HIV in Papua New Guinea and supports the Government's call to investigate
- Alarmed by recent reports that people living with HIV have been buried alive in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) express their serious concerns that gross violations of human rights may have been committed against HIV positive people.
- Prioritizing Male Sexual Health in Asia Pacific
- A groundbreaking coalition aiming to build, strengthen, and increase interventions addressing HIV-related vulnerabilities of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Asia and Pacific region was launched at the 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and Pacific (8th ICAAP).
- UNAIDS calls for renewed vigour on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
- Asia-Pacific nations will face a serious challenge in
- New estimates: the face of the HIV epidemic in Papua New Guinea
- The National AIDS Council and National Department of Health have released the latest estimates on national HIV prevalence in Papua New Guinea (PNG)
July
- UNAIDS announces appointment of new Director of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has announced the appointment of Kristan Schoultz as the new Director of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS.
- UNAIDS encouraged by decision by Libya’s High Judicial Council to revoke death penalty for health care professionals
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the ruling by the High Judicial Council of Libya to revoke the death sentence previously imposed on six healthcare workers by the Supreme Court. The Council announced yesterday that it would commute the death sentence for the medical professionals to life imprisonment.
- UNAIDS acknowledges good progress on AIDS in China and urges continued commitment and community mobilisation
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today acknowledged that good progress has been made in China’s response to AIDS, presenting special awards to China’s Vice Minister of Health, Dr Wang Longde and Professor Zhang Beichuan from Qingdao University, for their leadership on AIDS issues.
- UNAIDS expresses serious concern over the decision by the Supreme Court of Libya to uphold the death penalty for health care professionals
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) expresses serious concern over the verdict delivered by the Libyan Supreme Court to uphold the death sentences imposed on six health care professionals.
- 2.5 million people in India living with HIV, according to new estimates
- The new 2006 estimates released today by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), supported by UNAIDS and WHO, indicate that national adult HIV prevalence in India is approximately 0.36%, which corresponds to an estimated 2 million to 3.1 million people living with HIV in the country. These estimates are more accurate than
- Women's leadership can change the course of AIDS: Unprecedented global women's summit opens in Nairobi
- Press release issued by the World YWCA on the occasion of the opening of the International Women's Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
June
- Governing board tasks UNAIDS with making the money work
- Board calls for greater accountability and coherence, urges the UN to deliver as one and stresses importance of country led responses to the AIDS epidemic
- UNAIDS praises First Lady of Ethiopia for her leadership role on
- UNAIDS commends the First Lady of Ethiopia, Mrs Azeb
- 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting Opens in Kigali, Rwanda
- The 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting opens today in Kigali, and is expected to draw over 1,500 delegates from around the world. Rwanda was chosen to host the meeting in recognition of the country’s leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the impressive results it has achieved.
- UNAIDS response to newly published book ‘The Invisible Cure’ by Helen Epstein
- The newly published book ‘The Invisible Cure’ by Helen Epstein reminds us of the complex and multi-disciplinary challenges posed by the AIDS epidemic, as well as the critical role of communities in the response, but it also makes numerous inaccurate statements which require correction regarding the work of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
- India expands monitoring of AIDS epidemic
- New estimates produced from improved data collection methods give better understanding of AIDS epidemic in India
- Response to the book The AIDS Pandemic: the collision of epidemiology with political correctness
- UNAIDS wishes to correct multiple mischaracterizations that appear in a book published by Radcliffe Publishing, entitled The AIDS Pandemic: the collision of epidemiology with political correctness by James Chin. These errors deal with the process and results of the estimations of the AIDS pandemic, made with technical assistance from the UNAIDS Secretariat and WHO.
- UNAIDS welcomes release of latest antenatal clinic survey by South Africa’s Department of Health
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the release of the latest antenatal clinic survey by South Africa’s Department of Health. South Africa has produced one of the world’s most comprehensive antenatal clinic surveys. In 2006 over 33 000 pregnant women participating in government antenatal clinics were surveyed, compared to over 16 500 women in 2005.
- UNAIDS welcomes G8 reaffirmation of commitment to universal access AIDS goals
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes G8 leaders reaffirmation of their commitment to work towards the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. UNAIDS also applauds the G8 announcement of a projected $US60 billion investment in AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and the strengthening of health systems in Africa, as part of their work towards realizing the Millennium Development Goals. Current estimates show that for AIDS alone, around US$70 billion will be needed from 2008 – 2010 to enable universal access to be achieved globally.
- UNAIDS Executive Director welcomes South Africa’s National AIDS Plan, highlights importance of agreeing and implementing priorities
- Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS and United Nations Under Secretary General, today welcomed South Africa’s new National Strategic Plan for AIDS and expressed optimism that the country stood on the brink of turning the tide against its AIDS epidemic. He congratulated South Africa on establishing the world’s largest antiretroviral treatment programme, and on having put together an ambitious and credible five-year plan.
- UNAIDS urges continued bold and decisive leadership from G8 countries on AIDS
- In 2005, G8 leaders made unprecedented commitments on AIDS that led the international community to work towards the goal of ensuring universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by the year 2010. Acting upon this, countries have made significant progress in setting ambitious targets to guide the acceleration of their national AIDS responses. However, as the G8 leaders meet this week in Heiligendamm, Germany for the 2007 Summit, UNAIDS remains concerned that commitments to reaching universal access will not be met at the current rate of progress.
- New report shows increases in AIDS financing but funding still falls short of estimated need
- As the world’s leaders prepare to meet this week for the annual G8 Summit, which will take place in Heiligendamm, Germany June 6–8, 2007, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Kaiser Family Foundation are releasing a new report analyzing funding for AIDS in low- and middle- income countries provided by the G8 and other donor governments.
- UNAIDS condemns violence against peaceful gay rights activists
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) believes that the violence and abuse perpetrated against gay rights activists in the Russian capital on 27 May undermines fundamental human rights, as well as an effective response to AIDS in Russia..
May
- Launch of publication on response to AIDS in the Caribbean
- The CARICOM based Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) are today launching a consolidated analysis of national AIDS responses in the Caribbean.
- UNAIDS welcomes call for $30 billion to the AIDS response
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) applauds today’s announcement by United States President George Bush regarding his intention to extend and expand the U.S. government’s investment in the global AIDS response.
- UNAIDS welcomes Elizabeth Mataka as Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Africa
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the appointment of Elizabeth Mataka as the new Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Africa.
- UNAIDS calls for renewed leadership as UN General Assembly reviews progress made toward universal access
- Welcoming the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s commitment and personal pledge that the United Nations will continue to prioritize the response to AIDS, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) emphasized the critical need to build leadership in all sectors to sustain the global AIDS response.
- Day against homophobia
- Press release - Day against homophobia
- Urgent action needed to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services for people who inject drugs
- Despite increased political commitment and funding for the AIDS response, most people who inject drugs are still being denied access to basic HIV prevention and treatment services, said UNAIDS at the 18th Conference on Drug Related Harm in Poland.
- UNAIDS commends efforts to lower prices for AIDS treatment in low-and middle-income countries
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) applauds the announcement made today by the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) which puts in place new reduced prices for antiretroviral medicines in low-and middle-income countries.
- UNAIDS supports countries’ efforts to scale-up access to HIV
- The goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is a top global priority and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) supports countries’ efforts to ensure access to high quality and affordable medicines.
April
- UNAIDS mourns death of world-renowned musician and humanitarian, Maestro Rostropovich
- It is with great sadness that UNAIDS has learned of the death of Mstislav Rostropovich who just a month ago celebrated his 80th birthday.
- UNAIDS welcomes new Global Fund Board Chair and Vice-Chair
- “Turning to the private sector and to civil society to lead its Board is a real indication of the Global Fund’s commitment to both accountability and social justice. We welcome all efforts in this direction as we all work together to make the money work for people on the ground,” said Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
- Access to HIV therapy grew significantly in 2006, but significant obstacles remain to approaching universal access to HIV services
- These encouraging findings were released today in a new report, “Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health sector,” published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and UNICEF.
March
- The AIDS epidemic: walking the last mile to make the difference
- The AIDS epidemic: walking the last mile to make the difference , message on World AIDS Day 2006
- WHO and UNAIDS announce recommendations from expert meeting on male circumcision for HIV prevention
- Press release: In response to the urgent need to reduce the number of new HIV infections globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNAIDS Secretariat convened an international expert consultation to determine whether male circumcision should be recommended for the prevention of HIV infection.
- Statement of the UNAIDS Secretariat to the 4th Session of the Human Rights Council
- Geneva, 28 March 2007: Statement by the UNAIDS Secretariat to the 4th Session of the Human Rights Council on the importance of the Council’s engagement on HIV and human rights in the push towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
- Mozambique makes advances in fight against AIDS, but significant challenges remain
- Leaders from Norway, UK, Sweden, UNAIDS and the World Bank today praised Mozambique’s efforts to fight AIDS, but called for greater donor coordination and continued leadership from the government to strengthen the national AIDS response.
- GLOBAL TUBERCULOSIS EPIDEMIC LEVELLING OFF
- The global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic has levelled off for the first time since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared TB a public health emergency in 1993.
- UNFPA, UNAIDS welcome Purnima Mane as new UNFPA Deputy Executive Director
- UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) are delighted with the appointment of Ms. Purnima Mane as the new Deputy Executive Director (Programme) of UNFPA. Ms. Mane joins UNFPA from UNAIDS, where she served as Director of Policy, Evidence and Partnership.
- UNAIDS and WHO underline importance of evidence based approaches to treatment in response to AIDS
- Press statement: Following the recent claim of a new treatment which can cure AIDS in the Gambia, UNAIDS and WHO strongly encourage the Gambia to collaborate with international experts on efforts to assess the safety, efficacy and quality of the therapeutic intervention, according to standard practices in any product development.
- ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 to Shine Spotlight on Children and Young People Affected by HIV
- The International Cricket Council
- NGOs win $460,000 for innovative AIDS projects in developing countries : UNAIDS, World Bank fund initiative
- Washington, 9 December 2003—A global competition to find innovative new ways to fight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic has awarded $460,000 to teams of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya and Romania at a ceremony last week at the Washington headquarters of the World Bank.
- Kenya makes great advances in responding to the AIDS epidemic, but challenges remain
- Leaders from DFID, Norway, UNAIDS and the World Bank today praised Kenya’s response to AIDS, but highlighted that more needed to be done to ensure that it meets the needs of those vulnerable to, living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
- Joint WHO/ UNAIDS/ UNICEF statement on use of Cotrimoxazole as prophylaxis in HIV exposed and HIV infected children
- WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF, guided by recent evidence, have agreed to modify as an interim the current recommendations (1) for cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in children. This is based upon recent trial data from Zambia (2).
February
- WHO and UNAIDS Secretariat welcome corroborating findings of trials assessing impact of male circumcision on HIV risk
- Press Release 23 February 2007.
- UNAIDS welcomes new partnership to accelerate global HIV vaccine research and development efforts
- The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes a new collaborative initiative between the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate HIV vaccine research and development. The partnership entitled the ‘Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative’ (CHVI) will contribute to the global effort to develop safe, effective, affordable and globally accessible HIV vaccines.
- UNAIDS commends Merck ATRIPLA decision
- UNAIDS commends Merck’s decision to register ATRIPLA in developing countries. The registration of ATRIPLA, a once-daily single tablet regimen for treatment of HIV infection in adults, exemplifies the joint efforts of two research and development leaders, Merck Co. and Gilead Sciences to make essential medicines available to those in need.
- Arnaud Marty Lavauzelle
- UNAIDS mourns the death of french
- UNAIDS welcomes new public-private partnership
- The Joint United Nations Programme
- Michael Ballack – one of the world's most popular footballers - launches new UNAIDS public service announcement
- Be smart – protect yourself”- The German football star and UNAIDS Special Representative Michael Ballack speaks out on HIV prevention by featuring in new public service announcement (PSA) on AIDS that urges young people to make smart choices.
- UNAIDS welcomes appointment of new Global Fund Executive Director
- The Joint United Nations Programme
- Tragic death of leading AIDS advocate Professor Job Bwayo
- One of Kenya’s leading scholars and renowned AIDS advocate and researcher, Professor Job Bwayo was killed during a shooting in the outskirts of Nairobi on Sunday 4 February.
January
- Cellulose sulfate microbicide trial stopped
- A Phase III study of the candidate
- Ireland and UNAIDS sign new agreement on AIDS
- Conor Lenihan TD, Minister of State for Irish Aid, today signed a new €30 million, five year partnership with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). UN Under- Secretary and Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot, was in Dublin to sign the agreement.
- FOOD AID FOR CHILDREN, AIDS AND TB PATIENTS IN CAMBODIA SLASHED DUE TO FUNDING SHORTAGE
- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that beginning next month more than 700,000 hungry Cambodians – mostly young children and HIV/AIDS and TB patients – will not receive essential food. The situation is likely to worsen unless new donations are received soon.
- Decisive leadership urged for long-term response to AIDS in Southeast Asia
- “AIDS is not a passing storm but a long-run threat to development and national security in Asia,” the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reported at the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit ‘Special Session on HIV/AIDS’, held on Saturday 13 January in Cebu city in the Philippines.
