LONDON, Dec 1 (AFP) - The European Union signalled a split with the United States over curbing the AIDS pandemic by urging African governments to ignore the US campaign promoting sexual abstinence, as it marked World AIDS Day on Thursday.
The 25-member EU's statement highlights the importance of sex education, condoms and access to sexual health services.
"We are profoundly concerned about the resurgence of partial or incomplete messages on HIV prevention which are not grounded in evidence and have limited effectiveness," said the statement, released in London as Britain is the current EU president.
"We, the European Union, firmly believe that, to be successful, HIV prevention must utilise all approaches known to be effective, not implementing one or a few selective actions in isolation."
The EU said that universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services was "critical".
"Overturning the AIDS pandemic requires having the courage to do what is known to be effective," it said.
The United States backs the "ABC" programme, which stands for abstinence, be faithful and use a condom if necessary.
Hilary Benn, Britain's International Development Secretary, was asked if there was a disagreement with the US emphasis on abstinence.
"Abstinence works if people can abstain, but I don't think people should die because they have sex," he told The Guardian newspaper.
"We need to make sure people have all the means (of prevention) at their disposal -- condoms and clean needles. It includes education and access to sexual and reproductive health services. We are very clear about that."
Britain's six-month term as president of the EU concludes at the end of the year, as does its 12-month presidency of the Group of Eight leading economic powers, during which it has championed African development.
Britain announced a 27.5-million-pound (40.4-million-euro, 47.5-million-dollar) boost for global AIDS prevention, with 20 million pounds going to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and the rest going towards the International Partnership of Microbicides.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a statement: "The AIDS crisis represents a human tragedy for the more than 40 million men, women and children suffering from the disease around the world."
He said Britain was showing leadership in the fight against AIDS through a "strong commitment" to increased prevention and treatment.
"Today's funding looks to the long-term and will encourage the development of vaccines and microbicides that will benefit both the developing and developed world."
He said it was up to Britain as G8 president to "build on these commitments and move towards an AIDS-free generation".
The 18th World AIDS Day was marked around the world with special concerts and the launch in major capitals of new awareness programmes on the disease, which has no known cure and is spread largely by sexual intercourse and the sharing of needles by drug addicts.
051201
AF051202
Copyright ©AFP 2005. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission. obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1990, 2005 - AEGiS. AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
