Michel Sidibé was sworn in as new Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters in New York yesterday. Mr Sidibé took up his post as head of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations on 1 January.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met French minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner at the Quai d’Orsay, Paris. They exchanged views on accelerating the global AIDS response to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services.

Visiting France this week, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé met with Secrétaire général de la Francophonie, Abdou Diouf. They discussed the need for political mobilization on the AIDS response in French-speaking countries, as well as the need to promote a human rights agenda as the core of this response.

On 15 December 2008, the Thematic Segment of the 23rd meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board took place at CICG, Geneva, Switzerland. The theme discussed was: “The Relationship between UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: issues of relationships with the international technical support architecture and Public-Private Partnerships”

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot paid a visit to Mali 7 – 11 December 2008 where he met with leaders including the President of Mali Amadou Touré, civil society and the newly appointed UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador and African music star Toumani Diabaté.

The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa takes place in Dakar on 3-7 December 2008. This year’s theme for Africa's leading forum for discussion of HIV developments and trends is “Africa’s Response: Face the facts.”
UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and UNAIDS and UNICEF Special Representative HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium spent 6 December learning firsthand the successes and challenges faced in Dakar in providing HIV prevention and treatment services, in particular for women, children and young people.

The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa takes place in Dakar on 3-7 December 2008. This year’s theme for Africa's leading forum for discussion of HIV developments and trends is “Africa’s Response: Face the facts.”
Princess Mathilde and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot opened the first session on youth leadership, which was moderated by UNAIDS Special Representative Gaetano Kagwa, a Ugandan national and well-known AIDS advocate. They were joined by representatives of youth non-governmental organizations from Cameroon, Botswana, Senegal, and Zambia.

Also Religious and traditional leaders reflected on their roles and responsibilities in the response to the HIV on Friday in a session moderated by UNAIDS Director of Partnerships and External Relations Mr Elhadj Amadou Sy. The session took the form of a debate, where the audience posed questions to the panel.

The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa takes place in Dakar on 3-7 December 2008. This year’s theme for Africa's leading forum for discussion of HIV developments and trends is “Africa’s Response: Face the facts.”
During a plenary session at ICASA on Thursday Dr Piot emphasized the need to maintain an exceptional response to AIDS, not only as a short term emergency but as a long-term event that requires broad partnerships, leadership and commitment. “We can not predict the future but we can certainly influence it,” said Dr Piot.

The 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa takes place in Dakar on 3-7 December 2008. This year’s theme for Africa's leading forum for discussion of HIV developments and trends is “Africa’s Response: Face the facts.”

Youssou Ndour and Angelique Kidjo opened the conference on Wednesday night by singing the official ICASA 2008 song.

The President of the Republic of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade welcomed delegates and a series of speeches were delivered by Professor Souleymane Mboup (President of ICASA) ; Dr D.M.Owili, Secretaire generale de la societe africaine anti SIDA (SAA) ; Miss Souadou Ndoye, ICASA Youth Representative ; Madame Jeanne Gapiya spoke on behlf of civil society. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and Dr Rufaro Chatora, Representative of the WHO Regional Director also spoke. A message from His Highness the King of Morocco was delivered by Her Highness Princess Lalla Salma.

In Geneva, a fundraising solidarity lunch and bake sale took place at the UNAIDS Secretariat. The co-organizers were UNAIDS, WHO, ILO, UNESCO, UNPlus, UNAIDS Staff Association, International AIDS Society, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, International Bureau of Education, UN Cares, World YWCA and World Alliance of YMCA. It was followed by a film festival and later in the evening the UN family, missions, people living with HIV, faith communities and civil society groups joined together for a torchlight march and inter-religious service to commemorate World AIDS Day.