The 5th Meeting of the Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America on Women and AIDS was opened on 2 August 2008 by Mrs. Margarita Zavala, wife of the President of Mexico, First Lady of Mexico
The meeting brought together more than 150 women leaders and activists from across Latin America.
Executive Director of UNAIDS Dr Peter Piot delivered a speech on the international response to the impact of the HIV epidemic on women and the Coalition made a personal tribute to him in recognition of his committed work on women and AIDS.

The 1st Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to prevent HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministers of Education and Health took place on 1 August 2008 and was co-hosted by Canciller Patricia Espinosa Cantellano (México), Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dr. José Ángel Córdova Villalobos (México), Minister of Health and Lic. Josefina Vázquez Mota (Mexico), Minister of Public Education.

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot delivered an address on HIV prevention.

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot attended "Living 2008", the 2 day Positive Leadership Forum which took place in Mexico 31 July-1 August 2008. 350 HIV-positive global leaders and advocates from 88 countries came together to discuss a range of issues including criminalization of transmission of HIV, sexual and reproductive rights of people living with HIV, positive prevention, women and most at-risk groups as a major cross-cutting issue.

The 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic was launched at a series of press conferences around the world. Launches took place on 29 July at UN Headquarters New York, Geneva, Johannesburg, Mexico City, and Port of Spain.

The use of condoms in Brazil is preventing the spread of HIV and it might also be helping to save the rainforest thanks to a condom factory opened in April in the Amazon region.

The 2008 United Nations High-level Meeting on AIDS concluded Wednesday evening, 11 June 2008. The meeting was attended by stakeholders from across the global AIDS response, including leaders from national governments, civil society groups and United Nations agencies.

The 2008 United Nations High-level Meeting on AIDS concluded Wednesday evening, 11 June 2008. The meeting was attended by stakeholders from across the global AIDS response, including leaders from national governments, civil society groups and United Nations agencies.

The General Assembly gathering was held to review progress made in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. Discussions focused on the important progress made to date, the challenges that remain, and recommendations for ensuring a sustainable response for the future.

UNAIDS brought together a group of successful women from Russia and Ukraine to help dispel the taboos and prejudice that often surround AIDS and to reduce discrimination against people living with HIV.

The Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference concluded on May 5 after three-days of dialogue centred on better responding to the region’s HIV epidemic.

Hundreds of participants from across the region as well as representatives from the UN and other international organizations gathered in Moscow to share ideas and map-out action on the challenges facing it.

The region is home to one of the world’s fastest growing HIV epidemics; in 2007, some 1.6 million people in the region were living with HIV, a 150% increase since 2001.

Representing UNAIDS, Executive Director Dr Peter Piot addressed the opening plenary together with Dr Gennadiy G. Onischenko, Head of the Russian Federation’s federal health division, Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of The Global Fund, and Craig McClure, Executive Director of the International AIDS Society.

What is an HIV implementer? Depending on whom you ask at the 2008 Implementers’ Meeting in Kampala, Uganda, which starts today, June 3, you may get varying responses. But one common thread is likely to run throughout – the drive to share lessons learned and best practices on how HIV services are delivered to people affected by the AIDS epidemic.

Over the next five-days, some 1,700 participants – from governments, NGOs, international organizations, including UNAIDS and other UN partners, the private sector and groups of people living with HIV – will exchange ideas and give examples of efforts to overcome obstacles in implementation of HIV treatment, prevention, care and support.

A co-sponsor of the meeting, UNAIDS, together with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund, UNICEF, the World Bank, WHO, and the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), will share examples of its work, and that of its cosponsors and other partners, in supporting countries in HIV programme implementation.