The Mozambican chapter of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP/COREM – Conselho das Religiões em Moçambique), UNICEF and UNAIDS are joining forces as part of an initiative to strengthen the capacities of faith-based organizations in Mozambique to better respond to families and communities affected by HIV and AIDS.

The United States and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today congratulated China on its increased efforts to strengthen its response to AIDS and called for further commitments at all levels and through all sectors, as they commence a three-day mission to the south western province of Yunnan.

Today on the occasion of the granting of an honorary doctorate to UNICEF at the University of Antwerp, HRH Princess Mathilde announced her acceptance to become a UNICEF and UNAIDS Special Representative for children affected by and living with HIV/AIDS.

Despite encouraging signs that the AIDS epidemic is beginning to be contained in a small but growing number of countries, the epidemic continues to expand worldwide, according to a report released by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Three United Nations leaders today called for the world to refocus its attention on the chronic problems and humanitarian needs of millions of people in southern Africa, especially children.

A recent advertising campaign is touting the benefits of vitamin therapy above antiretroviral therapy and claiming that antiretroviral therapy is toxic. These advertisements, placed in the international press, are wrong and misleading, reiterated the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today.

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot, today announced the appointment of Ms Deborah Landey, currently the United Nations Resident Coordinator to the Philippines, as the new Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS.

The Flemish Government and the United Nations in Mozambique today announced the launch of a four year programme to combat the growing feminization of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Mozambique.

Two years after a historic Special Session of the UN General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, despite considerable progress, many UN Member States will not meet basic AIDS prevention and care goals established at the 2001 meeting unless efforts are dramatically scaled up, according to reports released today by the UN Secretary-General and UNAIDS.

Today, India’s Ministry of Defence and the UNAIDS Office on AIDS, Security and Humanitarian Response announced the signing of a partnership agreement committing both parties to work together to reduce the impact of HIV and increase prevention efforts among military personnel, particularly young men and women.