Several events and activities took place around the world on 1st December to commemorate World AIDS Day.

Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, marked the 20th World AIDS Day at a ceremony in Durban, together with South Africa’s Deputy President, Ms Baleka Mbete and South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan.

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot visited India this week where he held a series of meetings and engagements with Government and civil society.

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and UNAIDS Special Representative, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway were in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv this week to call for strengthened leadership in the AIDS response in the country which has Europe’s most severe AIDS epidemic.

During the visit in Kiev, Dr Piot and the Crown Princess met with key representatives from government and civil society to support efforts to stop the spread of HIV and address the growing needs of people living with HIV in Ukraine.

Dr Piot later addressed the Presidential Council of Ukraine. President Yushchenko also addressed the meeting.

Portraits of Commitment” is a stunning and thought-provoking book of photographic portraits which was launched by the Asia Pacific leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and Development (APLF). The book features people from all walks of life in South Asia who, for a range of different reasons, are working to raise awareness among their communities about HIV.

In Ghana attending the Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot also visited the headquarters of the Ghana Network of Persons Living with HIV (NAP+) on 3 September where he met civil society groups active in responding to the country's AIDS epidemic.

Representatives of 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning communities were guests of honour at a formal Award Ceremony and Dinner, held in Mexico City and attended by government officials and global AIDS leaders.

At the very heart of the XVII International AIDS Conference is the Global Village, an area of over 8,000 square metres open to everyone attending AIDS 2008, including community organizations from around the world, local and national groups and the general public.

The XVII International AIDS Conference opened on Sunday 3 August in Mexico City. Thousands of delegates from all over the world will spend the next week participating in conference sessions, satellite meetings, exhibitions as well as the Global Village and a wide cultural programme.

Representing the United Nations, Secretary General of United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon; Executive Director of UNAIDS Dr Peter Piot and Director General of World Health Organization Dr Margaret Chan addressed the opening ceremony.

“The Invisible Men: Gay Men and other MSM in the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic”, was hosted by Global Forum on men who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV on 1-2 August in Mexico City.

The two day forum focused on coordinating a response to the large gaps in funding and services that currently exist for MSM living with and at risk for HIV and call for a scale up HIV funding and human rights protections for men who have sex with men. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot addressed the forum.