On 17 November UNAIDS hosted a reception for the opening of an exhibition at the United Nations in New York entitled The House Is Small But The Welcome Is Big, a project of the Los Angeles-based Venice Arts of over 40 extraordinary photographs made by South African women living with HIV and Mozambican children who lost
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe was awarded the Order of Saint Charles along with UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in the Principality of Monaco during the country s National Day. The order rewards merit and service to the state or Prince of Monaco and is one of the countr
The success of the global response to AIDS will rely on tackling not only the encroaching virus itself but also the affects of climate change such as food and water shortages, growth in poverty and an increase in natural disasters. This is a key argument in The State of World Population 2009, released today by the Unit
UNAIDS and the All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV came together for the second time to support the international project Art Against AIDS that unites well-known artists in the response to the HIV epidemic in Russia. This year, proceeds from the sale of art at the exhibition went to low-income families raisin
New campaign to be broadcast by television across Brazil highlights rights of students, gay men, lesbians, people living with HIV, the Afro-Brazilian population, sex workers, refugees, transsexuals and transvestites and drug users. Equal rights and a call to Brazilian society on the issue of the discrimination experien
U.S. and European philanthropic funding for HIV/AIDS has decreased among most funders since 2006. New York, N.Y. and Brussels, 17 November 2009 - Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) and the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) released new reports today documenting that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy in 2008 totaled $6
The World Summit on Food Security opens 16 November in Rome. In many parts of the world, lack of food security and poor nutrition are worsening the effects of the HIV epidemic. Although HIV testing is increasingly available and efforts to support the nutritional needs of people living with HIV have intensified apprecia
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria s Board of Directors has approved new grants with a two-year commitment of US$2.4 billion. The Global Fund Board concluded its 20th meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 11 November. High on the agenda were discussions on the implications of the global financial cri
A new report by Health Canada s International Affairs Directorate has called for a greater focus on rights of people with disabilities in HIV policy. The report makes recommendations for policy change and follows an International Policy Dialogue held in March 2009 as part of a Partnership Arrangement between Health Can
In a supplement of the Journal of AIDS December issue published yesterday, UNAIDS explores some of the current challenges to monitoring the progress towards global HIV targets. The supplement, called Progress Towards Global HIV Targets: Challenges in Monitoring National Indicators[http://journals.lww.com/jaids/toc/2009
Numerous studies from around the globe confirm the links between violence against women and HIV. These studies show that women living with HIV are more likely to have experienced violence, and that, women who have experienced violence are more likely to have HIV infection. From 27-29 October the World Hea
In a landmark report on the health of women and girls across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that AIDS-related illness is the leading cause of death and disease among women of reproductive age in low and middle income countries, particularly in Africa. Also, globally, unsafe sex is the single lead
Studies in Asia indicate that most women in the region acquire HIV because of their partners who engage in unsafe behaviours. It is estimated that more than 90% of women living with HIV acquired the virus from their husbands or boyfriends while in long-term relationships. An effective AIDS response must address intimat
UNAIDS Executive Director, Mr Michel Sidibe took part in a meeting earlier this week organized by the Netherlands Multi Party Initiative on HIV/AIDS. The meeting was co-organized by the Dutch NGOs STOP AIDS NOW! and Aids Fonds under the banner AIDS in a Time of Financial Crisis, to explore together how to face the ch
People living with HIV who are following an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen can achieve undetectable viral loads - the amount of virus in a body fluid such s blood, semen or vaginal secretions - at certain stages of their treatment. Research suggests that when the viral load is undetectable in blood the risk o
Often prices set by pharmaceutical companies are out of reach for developing countries. With a growing need for second-line treatment for millions of people living with HIV, how can access to currently expensive drugs be assured? On 29 October, the UNAIDS Liaison Office to the European Union organized a roundtable to d
South Africa s response to AIDS received a powerful boost with President Jacob Zuma s landmark speech to the National Council of Provinces on 29 October 2009. The speech heralds the beginning of a new movement to accelerate access towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the country wh
Geneva/New York, 31 October 2009 -- UNAIDS welcomes President Obama s announcement of the final rule removing entry restrictions based on HIV status from US policy. The removal of HIV-related travel restrictions in the US overturns a policy that had been in place since 1987. Such restrictions, strongly opposed by UNAID
Washington DC, 30 October, 2009 -- UNAIDS welcomes President Obama s announcement of the final rule removing entry restrictions based on HIV status from US policy. The removal of HIV-related travel restrictions in the US overturns a policy that had been in place since 1987. Such restrictions, strongly opposed by UNAIDS
When AIDS first emerged in the 1980s, it mainly affected men. Today, according to UNAIDS figures, women account for about half of the 33 million people living with HIV worldwide, and 60 per cent of those infected in sub-Saharan Africa. Most of these women acquired the virus through heterosexual intercourse, often throu
The 3rd HIV/AIDS Conference in Eastern Europe and Central Asia opened in Moscow today with a ceremony attended by senior representatives of Russian Duma, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Academy of Sciences and the US Ambassador to the Russian Federation. The meeting brings together political leaders, scien
In a move to counter social exclusion and change discriminatory practices, a dialogue has begun in Pakistan between the government, parliamentarians and communities often overlooked by policymakers. An historic meeting was held late last month when a number of parliamentarians began a dialogue with community members on
A strategic combination of private sector know-how and technologies with public sector expertise and funding could lead to improved health and a more efficient AIDS response in West and Central Africa. This was the message from a one day workshop held in Ghana focusing on the role of the private sector in Global Fund p
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe earlier today met with Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland . UNAIDS and IOC have a long standing partnership to enhance the role of sports organisations in the AIDS response which was formalized
A version of this story was first published on unicef.org Famous Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera and Lasith Malinga recently visited young people living with HIV at the WITSECHO Adolescent Sprint Holiday Programme near Johannesburg, South Africa . The visit took place a
The European Development Days opened yesterday in Stockholm by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria, the President of the EU Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. The three day event brings together more than 1500 organizations and 400 individuals from the deve
To mark World Post Day on 9 October, Nigeria held a national launch of a global awareness campaign in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union, UNAIDS , the ILO and UNI Global. Nigeria s Minister of State for Information and Communication, Mr Alhaji Aliyu Ikra Bilbis, launched the campaign by calling for the invol
The yearly AIDS Vaccine Conference opened in Paris today. High on the agenda are discussions on the progress made in vaccine development and implications of trial results for the future. In a keynote address to the conference, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibe said access and affordability were the first chall
The Zhaoqing Vocational School in Guangdong, China , provides basic technical skills to several thousand migrant workers a year. It is also one of the first schools of its kind in the country to include information on sexuality, reproductive health and HIV in its core curriculum. This model has now been scaled up natio
The Executive Director of UNAIDS , Michel Sidibe took part in a meeting on prevention and early treatment of HIV and TB in young children. The conference is being held at the Pontificia Universita della Santa Croce in Rome, and is organized by Caritas Internationalis and the Embassy of the
Concluding his official visit to India yesterday, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe visited the HIV treatment centre at Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospitals in Bangalore. The government run centre is the largest and oldest in Karnataka and has the highest rate of integrated HIV and TB services in India.
In Bangalore earlier today, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe joined the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B.S. Yediyurappa at the official launch of the Ashodya Academy – the first learning site on HIV in the Asia-Pacific region run entirely by sex workers. The Chief Minister welcomed the opening of the centre in Mys
During his visit to The Humsafar Trust site in Mumbai, Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibe shared with its founder, gay activist Mr Ashok Row Kavi, his vision of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment in India by 2010. Mr Sidibe was visiting Mumbai during his first visit to India as
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe attended an event in Delhi today to recognize the activists whose efforts contributed towards the recent annulment of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The law, which criminalized consensual sex between men and transgendered people, was overturned in a historical judgment b
NAIROBI, 9 October 2009 - Music stars participating at the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMAs) ceremony, being held tomorrow in Nairobi, Kenya , can have a significant impact in educating young people about HIV and changing their behaviour, according to UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. The event will be aired w
Today, October 7 2009, we mark World Day for Decent Work. The International Labour Organization, a Cosponsor of UNAIDS , works towards achieving the globally endorsed goal of Decent Work. Rights at work include freedom from discrimination, expansion of employment opportunities, social protection for all and social dial
In his first visit to India as Executive Director of UNAIDS , Michel Sidibe has held a series of meetings with the Government in which he emphasized the role of political leadership to ensure that the country s universal access goals to HIV prevention, care and treatment are achieved in India by 2010.
Across the world sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, and other sexual minority groups are disproportionally affected by HIV yet often face considerable challenges in accessing healthcare and other services. To address the technical and political challenges of securing resources for these key pop
Digital and technological revolutions have dramatically changed the way in which people communicate around the world. Many communities in developing countries don t yet have access to computers and the internet however according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) an estimated 2.2 billion mobile phone u
In adopting the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, Member States committed themselves to regularly report to the United Nations General Assembly on the progress made in their country s response to the AIDS epidemic. Member States submit Country Progress reports to the UNAIDS Secretariat every two years and t
By Michel Sidibe, Executive Director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) Geneva, Switzerland The promise of a vaccine against HIV has got one step closer. Results from the largest vaccine trial ever conducted show a modest but encouraging 31% efficacy in preventing new HIV infections in
Joint press release issued by WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF Geneva / Paris -- More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the close of 2008, representing a 36% increase in one year and a ten-fold increase over five years, according to a new report released toda
This story has also been published at www.who.int A brightly coloured van known as the Tutu Tester has become a familiar sight in Cape Town, South Africa , as part of an accelerating drive to persuade people to know their HIV status. More than 10 000 people have been tested and counselled since May 2008 when the mobile
This story has also been published at www.who.int Despair is giving way to cautious optimism even in the most HIV-affected African nations as antiretroviral drugs become more widely available to stop HIV-positive women from infecting their unborn child or infant, thus edging closer to United Nations targets for an HIV-
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe concluded an official visit to Lebanon on 29 September. Mr Sidibe recognized and supported the country s achievements in the HIV response and efforts to target key populations at risk of HIV. He also welcomed the Government of Lebanon s strong commitment
The UNFPA-supported Y-PEER initiative is a groundbreaking youth programme that raises HIV prevention awareness through street art, music and dance. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe had the opportunity this week to attend a dance performance by the Youth Peer Education Network during the Jeux de la Francophonie.
The Jeux de la Francophonie (the Francophone Games) have been opened in Beirut by His Excellency Michel Suleiman, the President of Lebanon . The Jeux de la Francophonie is an event where sport and culture combine to foster dialogue and understanding among French speaking nations. The games are organized by a national o
UNAIDS and cosponsors UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO have joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNIFEM and private sector supporters through the Clinton Global Initiative to address the injustices and health impact of sexual violence against girls. The initiative, launched in New York by the partners, will fo
As leaders convene at the G20 summit in Pittsburg, the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign, spearheaded by UNICEF and also supported by UNAIDS among other partners, is encouraging a discussion on the role of social protection for children and families affected by AIDS, families like Margaret Nyambura s.
Geneva, 24 September 2009 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) are optimistic about the results, announced today, of the largest ever HIV vaccine clinical trial held to date. The study results, representing a significant scientific advance, are the first de
As a sign of consistent and growing partnership on the AIDS response, UNAIDS signed a multi-annual agreement with the Government of Australia on Monday 21 September 2009. The agreement includes shared goals and objectives for the cooperation between UNAIDS and Australia in the Asia Pacific region and includes funding o
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy echoed UNAIDS call to virtually eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission by 2015 while addressing the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leaders at a side event to the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The President of Burkina Faso Mr Blaise Comp
A report published today by the AIDS, Security and Conflict Initiative (ASCI) provides new evidence and outlines recommendation for actions on the links between security, conflict, peacebuilding and HIV. The report entitled HIV/AIDS, Security and Conflict: New Realities, New Responses is the result of a three year rese
UNAIDS and the Millennium Villages Project signed an agreement in New York to strengthen efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa. The aim of the partnership is to help local governments create Mother to child transmission-free zones in 14 Millennium Villages across ten African countries.
GENEVA/New York, 21 September 2009 – The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) and the Millennium Villages Project are entering into a partnership in a bid to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mothers to their children in Africa. The agreement is being signed at a ceremony in New York today in the
Strengthening efforts towards a stigma-free work environment for United Nations staff living with HIV and their families, UN Plus has launched a new Friends of UN Plus initiative in Swaziland . Keeping up the momentum to break down barriers and silence around HIV in southern Africa, this will be followed by the launch
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe met yesterday with Metro TeenAIDS (MTA), a community health organization in Washington, DC dedicated to supporting young people to overcome the impact of AIDS. Currently, 1% of young people ages 13-24 in Washington, DC are confirmed to be living with HIV. Metro TeenAIDS is
South Africa captain Graeme Smith encourages youngsters to be aware and take responsibility to reduce the spread of HIV Johannesburg, 17 September 2009 - Some of the world s best-known cricketers will appear in the latest THINK WISE public service announcements, which have been released today (Thursday 17 September)
As part of his official visit to Washington, D.C., UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe participated in the Forum on HIV, Human Rights and Men Who Have Sex with Men on 16 September 2009. The event was organized by UNAIDS in collaboration with the HIV Policy Working Group on Men Who Have Sex with Men and Other Sexual
GENEVA, 16 September 2009 - UNAIDS welcomes the adoption of a resolution by the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations calling for the creation of a new UN agency on women. This is a historic opportunity to advance the rights of women and girls, said UNAIDS executive director Mr. Michel Sidibe. UNAIDS will work c
UN Plus, the advocacy group of United Nations staff members living with HIV, is launching three country groups in Southern Africa - Pretoria, Johannesburg and Lesotho - after an increase in membership of UN Plus in the region. UN Plus members are undertaking a road trip across southern Africa where they will later laun
A version of this story was first published at www.unodc.org Loon Gangte is President of the Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) and a strong advocate of HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention. In an interview with the Regional South Asia office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), he explains why
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Health Policy Center invited the UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe to share his vision for the future direction of UNAIDS, including prospects for accelerated global action in support of universal access to HIV services. In his first public addr
Having 12 children and a very old mother to support, Vincent, middle-aged Ugandan single father living with HIV, knows that his death would spell disaster for the whole family. If I had died, where would these people go? said VincentN perched on a stool with his legs outstretched Fortunately, Vincent has survived. He s
Male circumcision among heterosexual men in high HIV prevalence and low male circumcision settings is beneficial and cost effective, says a new article in the open access journal PLoS Medicine. The report is based upon the findings of a series of meetings, convened by UNAIDS , the World
Speaking with many voices and representing many different perspectives, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in the response to the AIDS epidemic in countries around the world. As key partners in the development of national AIDS responses, NGOs are well positioned to provide quantative and qualitat
Dr Jorge Sampaio, the UN Secretary General s Special Envoy to Stop TB and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe together witnessed, first-hand, delivery of integrated HIV and TB services during a visit to the Socio-Medical Centre in Biryogo. It is gratifying to be at this clinic, which has intensified TB case finding
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe has met with President of Rwanda , H.E. Paul Kagame, and the First Lady of Rwanda, H.E. Jeanette Kagame, as well as representatives of civil society organizations. Yesterday he addressed the 59th session of the World Health Organization s (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe is paying his first official visit to Rwanda from 27 August to 3 September to recognize and support the achievements of the Government of Rwanda in the HIV response and conduct high-level advocacy for universal access to HIV services and the Millennium Development Goals.
A version of this story was first published at UNICEF.org Manchester United stars Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra and Federico Macheda, along with Manchester United Foundation Chief Executive John Shiels, took time out of the club s pre-season tour of Asia in mid-July to help UNICEF champion the rights of vulnerable children
UNAIDS and its cosponsor UNFPA have been ranked as best performers in a recent assessment of four UN agencies, including UNDP and WHO, conducted by UK s Department for International Development (DFID). As a result, both organizations will receive full additional funding to further support projects on the ground.
Thirty civil society organizations involved in the HIV response in West and Central Africa (WCA) identified six priority areas for action to accelerate the movement towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the region. This decision was the outcome of a regional consultation organized b
Six Asian countries experiencing rapid economic transition have yet to prioritize HIV prevention resources for high-impact programmes. Political will and social acceptance will be needed to allocate resources for HIV services for sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. These a
Tuberculosis is one of the commonest causes of illness and death among people living with HIV globally. One of the major problems is that TB is particularly difficult to diagnose in people living with HIV. We have to rely on an outdated, inaccurate test that is over one hundred years old and is especially insensitive i
Participants in a discussion on young people s role in AIDS response at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) reached a clear and unanimous agreement: young people are essential to halting the spread of HIV. Young people need to be on board to turn the tide, as it is their decision-maki
Legal barriers and criminalization are blocking the empowerment of groups at high risk of HIV infection such as injecting drug users, sex workers and men who have sex with men by denying or obstructing the rights to live healthy and safe lives. To explore and address this global social issue, UNAIDS organize
With millions of people around the world forced to move by conflict and natural disasters, examining the relationship between humanitarian crises and HIV is becoming increasingly critical. This key issue, and its implications for Asia, was highlighted in a satellite session at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in
The global economic downturn is having an adverse effect on migrants as they are excluded from stimulus packages and AIDS programmes are threatened, concludes a UN report released at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and Pacific (ICAAP). As in the 1997 Asian crisis, negative impacts on health and migration
Bali, 11 August 2009 - An estimated 50 million women in Asia are at risk of becoming infected with HIV from their intimate partners. Evidence from many Asian countries indicates that these women are either married or in long-term relationships with men who engage in high-risk sexual behaviours. These findings are publi
The 2009 International Day of the World s Indigenous People was observed at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday 10 August 2009. This year s International Day focused on the theme of Indigenous Peoples and HIV/AIDS . The Deputy Secretary-General, the President of the General Assembly, the Under-Secretary-General f
During a satellite session at the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), held in Bali, Indonesia , the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners explored the vital role of nutrition and food security for people living with HIV. Participants examined models of integrating thi
AMSTERDAM / BALI / GENEVA / LONDON / NEW YORK, 11 August 2009 - People living with HIV and their advocates today launched a groundbreaking guidance package, Advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Human Rights of People Living with HIV . Now, policy makers, programme managers, health professionals, donors and
It is estimated that more than 90% of the 1.7 million women living with HIV in Asia became infected from their husbands or partners while in long-term relationships. By 2008, women constituted 35% of all adult HIV infections in Asia, up from 17% in 1990. A new report by UNAIDS , its Cosponsors and civil society partner
In general, HIV prevention services in the Asia region are currently not reaching young people who are most at risk of infection, which include those who inject drugs, who engage in unprotected male to male sex and those involved in sex work and their clients. In order to address this situation the Asia Pacific Regiona
More than a thousand people become infected with HIV in Asia each day. If only we had invested in reaching populations at higher risk and their partners, most of these infections could have been averted - at a cost of less than half a US dollar per person. We are beginning to see success in some parts of the region, bu
The lives of injecting drug users and the HIV-related stigma and discrimination they face was one focus of the IX International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific as the film Suee (Needle) was launched by Response Beyond Borders, the Asian consortium on drug use HIV, AIDS and poverty. Unveiled during the satellit
The President of the Republic of Indonesia , H.E. Hj. Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has officially opened the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), which this year takes place in Bali, Indonesia from 9-13 August under the theme Empowering people, strengthening networks . At the opening c
The 10 UNAIDS Cosponsors are presenting a strong showing as thousands of delegates converge in Bali, Indonesia , to share ideas, knowledge, best practices, lessons learned and research findings at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP). The Cosponsors are an integral part of the UN s
Ahead of the official opening ceremony of the 9 th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), a high-level meeting of AIDS Ambassadors took place in Bali. The gathering was co-hosted by the First Lady and National AIDS Ambassador of Indonesia , Mrs Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, and AIDS Ambassador of
This year s conference will bring together more than 3,000 delegates from Asia and the Pacific to address HIV issues in the region and to build synergies. The congress s theme is Empowering People - Strengthening Networks . UNAIDS will participate in several sessions and Mr Prasada Rao, Director, UNAIDS Regional Suppor
Bali, 8 August 2009-- Sixty legal experts, people living with HIV, and representatives from key populations in thirteen countries in the Asia and the Pacific region today called on governments to fight HIV discrimination by strengthening and expanding HIV-related legal services. The experts attended a seminar on HIV-re
GENEVA, 6 August 2009 - UNAIDS welcomes the two separate price reduction agreements reached by the Clinton Foundation with pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Matrix to improve access to AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) medicines for people in need of second line treatment. These medicines are required when people living wit
A new shared blog for the development community The burning issues in the world today demand discussions among the whole UN family and the development community. This is why the UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is launching a series called Conversations for a Better World. It is based on the idea that if the
In many parts of the world, young people are receiving inadequate sexuality education, making them vulnerable to HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancy, and sexual exploitation and abuse according to UNESCO. To address this challenge, they have commissioned the preparation of International Gu
A year ago Latin America and the Caribbean Ministers pledged to provide comprehensive sex education in schools. The historic Prevention through education declaration was signed at the end of the First Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to prevent HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Ministers committed
The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has for the first time awarded consultative status to a Latin-American non-governmental organization representing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. The organization, the Brazilian national Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Associatio
The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) passed a resolution on UNAIDS by consensus at its 2009 substantive session on 24 July. Negotiations on the text were led by the Delegation of the Netherlands , in its capacity as Vice Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board and ECOSOC member, and 31 countries - from
Phones for Health is a partnership between a healthcare software provider Voxiva, a phone producer Motorola, a telecom company MTN, the GSMA Development Fund, PEPFAR, CDC Foundation, Accenture Development Partnerships and several governments. The integration of mobile technology and health applications enables health
An estimated 4 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the end of 2008, compared to 3 million in 2007 and 400,000 in 2003, according to preliminary data compiled by WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF. Three quarters of those accessing treatment live in sub-Saharan Africa, a 40% increase over 2007. Approximate
When the Executive Director of UNAIDS took office he called for a renewed commitment to universal access. From January to May 2009, a transition team led by Norwegian AIDS Ambassador Sigrun Mogedal engaged in a process of consultations and dialogue with key partners and stakeholders in the HIV response to obtain insigh
According to a new study led by the World Health Organization (WHO), if HIV-positive pregnant women are given a combination of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs from late in pregnancy until six months into breastfeeding, rather than a short course of drugs that ends at delivery, their babies are over 40% less likely to become
The International AIDS Society (IAS) and its partners have announced this year s winner of the Young Investigator Prize: Women, Girls and HIV. This year s recipient is Dr Linnet N. Masese, Kenya , for her abstract, A prospective cohort study of the effect of antiretroviral therapy on sexual risk behaviour in a high-ris
The Deputy President of South Africa , Kgalema Motlanthe has pledged to strengthen work on eliminating mother to child transmission of HIV. His declaration came during his welcoming address at the opening session of the 5th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, taking place in Cape Town, South A
GENEVA – 20 July 2009 – The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) welcomes the appointment of Dr Marrike Wijnroks as the AIDS ambassador for the Netherlands . Dr Wijnroks has been involved in the global AIDS response and other health issues for more than two decades. Dr Wijnroks is a champion of global
New report finds first decline in HIV vaccine R&D investment in a decade A new report on investment in HIV prevention research in 2008 finds that HIV vaccine reearch funding levels decreased for the first time since investment trends have been tracked. This may have been influenced by shifts in scientific prioritie
Strengthened services for maternal health, for reproductive health and for paediatric health will mean we can prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV in Lesotho and around the world, said Mr Michel Sidibe, UNAIDS Executive Director. Mr Sidibe was speaking during his official visit to
Transport corridors in sub-Saharan Africa, as elsewhere, enable movement of people and goods, increasing economic activity and spreading wealth. But they also facilitate the spread of HIV. In response, the Africa Transport Sector of the World Bank has published a practical new booklet on how to implement HIV prevention
The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) have issued a new report on 2008 funding for global AIDS efforts from the Group of Eight nations, European Commission (EC) and other donor governments.
Geneva, 10 July 2009 – The Assembly of parliamentarians of Francophone countries have adopted a resolution reaffirming their commitment to the AIDS response. The resolution, which was adopted during their annual assembly which was held from 3 to 6 July 2009 in Paris, gave a strong message that Francophone parliamentari
The world of work is a key arena for successfully challenging the AIDS epidemic, which affects the most economically active in every population. The majority of those living with the virus across the globe are workers. To promote this challenge in Morocco , the Ministry of Employment, in collaboration with the Internat
The official registration of the All-Russian Union of People Living with HIV has become a major breakthrough in the national response to AIDS in the Russian Federation. The All-Russian Union was officially registered in May 2009 and had its first conference in June 2009 under the theme All -Russian Union of People Livi
US First Lady Michelle Obama visited St. Dimitry Sisterhood Medical Nurses College in Moscow, a nursing school that cares for people living with HIV on 7 July. While there, she stressed the need for more information and education to reduce stigma and raise awareness about how to care for people living with HIV. Ms. Oba
A version of this story was written by Faryal Mirza, Universal Postal Union (UPU) Halting the spread of HIV by 2015 is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To contribute towards this goal, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and UNAIDS together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and
GENEVA, 7 July 2009 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ), the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNI Global Union are launching a global HIV prevention campaign in post offices around the world. In an initial roll out, the campaign is being launched in s
Geneva/Washington, July 7, 2009 -- UNAIDS welcomes the notice from 2 July 2009, issued by the US Government of a proposed rulemaking to remove HIV from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance. The presence of HIV on the list has made people living with HIV inadmissible to the
Geneva, July 6, 2009--In 22 countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and Asia and Pacific, disruption of HIV prevention and treatment programs is expected over the course of this year as a result of the global economic crisis, according to a new report from UNAIDS and the World Bank, released toda
The high-level segment of the annual session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) opened this morning in Geneva with addresses by Sylvie Lucas, President of the Economic and Social Council; Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of Switzerland . The focus o
A joint Word Bank/ UNAIDS report looks at the potential impact of the global financial crisis on HIV prevention and treatment programmes worldwide. Using data collected in March 2009 from 71 countries, the analysis looks at how the crisis could affect the nearly 4 million people living with HIV on treatment, and the 7
Bacille Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, is one of the most widely given vaccines globally and is safe in people with healthy immune systems. WHO recently published further research on the finding that this standard tuberculosis vaccine has a higher risk of causing death in babies living with HIV.
Leaders and representatives from some 50 African countries, as well as guests from the international community are gathered in Sirte, Libya from 1 - 3 July for the 13th ordinary session of the African Union taking place under the theme Investing in Agriculture for Economic Growth and Food Security .
Recently published op-ed by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe
When African leaders discuss economic growth in Africa at this week s African Union Summit, their options will be constrained by the growing AIDS epidemic and slow progress on reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). For example, over the years we have seen agriculture output being impacted by people unable to
New Delhi, 2 July 2009--The Delhi High Court in India today annulled a 150-year-old law criminalizing carnal intercourse against the order of nature, commonly known as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The court declared that section 377 of Indian Penal Code violted Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitu
This story first appeared at www.who.int On his last mission as Director of the WHO HIV/AIDS Department, Dr Kevin De Cock visited the Katutura State Hospital in Windhoek, Namibia , where he praised efforts by national authorities and health-care providers to expand antiretroviral treatment (ART) to those in need. Here
For information and tools on the AIDS response in French as well as community fora, web users will find much of interest on vih.org. This information portal offers a wide range of tools and services in French to community service professionals working in the field of HIV around the world including doctors, researchers,
Thirty young leaders from around the world came together in Oslo June 23 - 25 for the 2009 aids2031 Young Leaders Summit. aids2031, in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway , ho
UNAIDS welcomes four Youth Fellows who arrived this month in Geneva for the second round of the UNAIDS Special Youth Programme. Remmy Malawa Shawa, Esther Ekechukwu, Rumbidzayi Masiyiwa and Tim Scully were among almost 1800 candidates who applied for this year s programme. They will be with UNAIDS Geneva for 5 months
UNAIDS programme coordinating board approves 2010-2011 budget and work plan, highlighting prevention among injecting drug users and gender issues as priority areas GENEVA – 24 June 2009 – The governing body of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) met in Geneva from 22-24 June for the 24th Meeting o
More than 250 people from business and NGO sectors, government and multilateral bodies are gathering in Washington, D.C. for the annual conference of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The Coalition, know as GBC, has convened the two-day event to help ensure that private sector initia
GENEVA, 23 June 2009 – The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Dr Paul De Lay and Ms Jan Beagle as the Deputy Executive Directors of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ). Dr De Lay will be responsible for overseeing UNAIDS programmatic aspects and Ms Beagle for management and external re
UNAIDS Governing body, the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), is holding its 24th meeting in Geneva from 22-24 June 2009 where Mr Michel Sidibe, addressing the board for the first time as UNAIDS Executive Director, will present progress made and his vision for future action. The focus of thematic session of this PCB
GENEVA , 20 June 2009 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) welcomes the confirmation by the United States Senate of Dr Eric Goosby as the next US Global AIDS Coordinator. Dr Goosby has more than 25 years of experience on AIDS issues. His experience ranges from his early years treating patients wh
Ahead of the 24th meeting of the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) which opens on 22 June 2009, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has published the UNAIDS Governance Handbook. The Handbook is collection of key documents pertaining to the governance of UNAIDS including the founding ECOSOC resolutions, Memo
Noe Sebisaba knows how to turn an adverse situation into something life-affirming. In 1996 he and his family were forced to flee a Burundi in turmoil and ended up in the Kanembwa refugee camp in Tanzania . While in the camp, in 1998, he discovered that he was living with HIV. His wife, who was also HIV positive, died o
In response to the urgent need to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs to fight tuberculosis (TB), a landmark collaboration between the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), a non-profit, product development partnership, and Tibotec Inc., (Tibotec), a global pharmaceutical company, was
Top United Nations officials today urged countries to maintain and strengthen their commitments to tackle HIV and AIDS in the midst of the global economic downturn, warning that slashing resources now could mean greater costs and suffering in the future. Addressing a meeting of the General Assembly convened to assess p
As the HIV response represents one of the soundest of all possible global investments, it is critical that commitment to HIV efforts be maintained and strengthened in the midst of these economic challenges - Report of the Secretary-General to the 63rd General Assembly. At the 63rd session of the General Assembly held i
The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store launched the 2009 report of the Global Campaign of the Health MDGs, Leading by Example - Protecting the most vulnerable during the economic crisis. The launch coincided with the High-Level Forum on Advancing Global Heal
NEW YORK, 16 June 2009 - Ahead of this year s World AIDS Day, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the World AIDS Campaign and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) have come together to announce the theme of Universal Access and Human Rights . The theme has been chosen to address the c
The High-Level Forum on Advancing Global Health in the Face of Crisis is taking place at United Nations Headquarters on Monday, 15 June 2009. The Secretary-General is hosting the day long forum in order to elevate the global health debate and engage multisectoral representatives from around the world. A short report by
Education can play a critical role in the global challenge to HIV simply by doing more of what it is doing already and doing it better, and ensuring that all children have access to good quality learning. This is a key conclusion emerging from a new publication by the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on Education w
As part of the 2009 HIV/AIDS Implementers meeting being held in Windhoek, Namibia , delegates had the opportunity to visit HIV projects in the area to find out what is being done on the ground to support people living with HIV.
International football icon and Stop TB Ambassador Luis Figo is the main character of an educational comic book that provides key information on tuberculosis (TB). Luis Figo and the World Tuberculosis Cup was produced by the Stop TB Partnership, an international health partnership whose secretariat is housed by the
From June 10-14, more than 1,500 implementers from around the world will gather in Windhoek to share best practices and lessons learned during the implementation of multi-sectoral AIDS programs with a focus on optimizing the impact of prevention, treatment and care programs; enhancing program quality; promoting coordin
A version of this story was first published at wfp.org Dressed in his smartest suit, Vusie Maphalala waits patiently in the tiny health clinic in Mpolonjeni, located in Swaziland s capital Mbabane, to collect his life-saving antiretroviral drugs. As a man with HIV, he knows that they are the key to survival – to living
In 2007, around 40% of new infections were in the 15-24 age group and more than 5 million youth are living with the virus, around 60% of whom are girls.
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe met with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark at UNDP headquarters in New York on 3 June 2009. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a Cosponsor of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Mr Sidibe and Ms Clark discussed maximising UNDP s comparative adv
Leading cricketing stars are launching THINK WISE, a new global AIDS awareness campaign designed to provide young people with information about how to protect themselves from HIV.
A version of this story was first published at UNICEF.org A UNICEF-supported programme called Kicking AIDS Out (KAO) has recently begun in Speyside, northern Tobago , by the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TT
Some four thousand representatives of governments, workers and employers organizations from 183 states around the world are meeting in Geneva for the annual conference of the International Labour Organization. Challenging the AIDS epidemic is high on the agenda and the development of a new international labour standard
Strengthened cooperation between UNAIDS and Monaco was the aim of Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS, on his first official visit to the Principality. Mr Sidibe met with representatives of the government and civil society and had a private audience with His Serene Highness Prince
Leonard is the father of five daughters, one of whom, recently turned 14, was born HIV positive. In addition to juggling with the responsibility of raising a family of girls, Leonard is becoming very concerned about the new challenges he s facing with having a positive teenage girl at home. She is growing and as a fath
Africa Day, the official day of the African Union, is observed every 25 May. It is an opportunity to celebrate African diversity and success, but also a time to reflect on the challenges remaining in Africa s road to development.
A version of this story first appeared at unicef.org Loud and Clear , the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS video, shows how early infant diagnosis of HIV can save lives
If national HIV prevention strategies are to succeed, countries must understand the character and drivers of their epidemic and focus on proven need through sustained and effective interventions. However, there is often a mismatch between HIV prevention efforts and the actual factors driving new infections. This can le
Eric Sawyer, veteran AIDS activists and cofounder of Housing Works.
This week, I got the unexpected news that my friend, the legendary AIDS activist Rodger McFarlane had taken his own life. I was in shock and deeply saddened.
UNAIDS executive director meets Ministers of Health and the UN Secretary General during the World Health Assembly in a bid to accelerate progress towards universal access GENEVA, 21 May 2009 - During the week of the World Health Assembly, UNAIDS executive director met with Health Ministers to underscore UNAIDS commitme
UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibe met on Wednesday 20th May with a delegation of the Caribbean community (CARICOM) at the 62nd World Health Assembly to discuss the Caribbean priorities for collaboration with UNAIDS. Dr Edward Greene, Assistant-Secretary General of the CARICOM Secretariat and Mr Karl Hood, Mi
The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon held a meeting in Geneva with HIV positive UN staff members and the UNAIDS Executive Director. The staff are part of a UN system-wide advocacy group called UN Plus which was set up in 2005 to promote the rights of HIV-positive staff and provide peer support.
Ministers of Health of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, gathered for an informal meeting on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly (WHA) on 19 May 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland .
International labour migration, or the movement of people across national borders for employment, is a growing phenomenon and an increasingly important aspect of global, regional and national economies. However, HIV has become a key issue of concern with cross border and overseas migration.
UNAIDS and UNDP in West and Central Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Forum of Arab and African Parliamentarians for Population and Development (FAAPPD) formalizing the commitment of the Parliamentarians to work towards the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and suppor
May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia which is an initiative to end discrimination and demand respect for the rights of homosexuals, transsexuals and lesbians.
UNAIDS and UNDP launch plan to increase access to HIV information and services GENEVA, 15 May 2009 - Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (17 May), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are launching a plan to encourage new and better
GENEVA, 15 May 2009 - Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), being observed worldwide this Sunday, I urge all governments to take steps to eliminate stigma and discrimination faced by men who have sex with men, lesbians and transgender populations. They must also create social and legal environments
Ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia (17 May), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new UNAIDS Action Framework on Universal Access for Men who have Sex with Men and for Transgender People. The Framework sets out how UNAIDS
As a sign of its long-term commitment to the AIDS response and partnership, the Government of Finland has committed to increase its contribution to UNAIDS by 25% in 2009. The news of this increase in contribution was personally delivered to UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe by the Ambass
By signing the 2006 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, governments committed to removing legal barriers and passing laws to protect vulnerable populations. However, over 80 countries still criminalize consensual same sex acts among adults.
Teachers have a critical role to play in mounting a successful response to HIV in schools and yet evidence of effective teacher involvement in the challenge to the epidemic is scarce and scattered and lessons learned have not been universally discussed and shared.
A version of this story first appeared on unicef.org The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, praised the efforts of the UN Country Team and its partners to support prevention, treatment, care and support activities for people living with HIV, and to raise knowledge and understanding of the issue in Lao PD
During an official visit to Bucharest, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe yesterday met with Mr Ion Bazac, Minister of Health of Romania . The Executive Director praised Romania s significant achievement of universal access to HIV treatment for all people living with HIV in need of it. The meeting was an oppor
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe praised Viet Nam s efforts to reach its universal access goals in a meeting with Viet Nam s Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Mr Truong Vinh Trong in Paris. The meeting took place on 28 April during a study visit to the Netherlands and Fran
The Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami and the Fogarty International Training Programme on AIDS and TB organized in collaboration with UNAIDS the Health Research in the Americas V Conference on 7 and 8 May 2009, in Miami, Florida. The aim of the conference was to highlight current evidence on HIV prev
The Nordic countries are staunch supporters of the global AIDS response and have supported UNAIDS both politically and financially since its inception. This week UNAIDS met with four Nordic countries, Norway , Sweden , Denmark
AMSTERDAM / GENEVA, 8 May 2009 - At an international technical consultation on positive prevention convened by the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and UNAIDS on 27-28 April 2009 in Tunisia , experts outlined the ways in which people living with HIV should be central to HIV responses, in particular
A milestone for civil society mobilization among the communities living with, affected by, and working on issues relating to HIV, TB and malaria in China has been reached. In March two participatory meetings held in Wuhan, in Hebei province, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and people living with HIV, TB or malari
The 19th Board Meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) concluded yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland . Opening a technical session on The Global Fund s role as a strategic and responsible investor in HIV/AIDS earlier, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe reaffirm
Experience in the response to AIDS has shown that access to legal services is an important part of guaranteeing protection from discrimination, getting redress for human rights violations, and expanding access to HIV prevention and treatment. Yet such programmes are not sufficiently supported by national AIDS responses
The negative impact of HIV is felt on education systems and schools, learners and teachers around the world from children dropping out of school to care for sick parents to the loss of teachers in their most productive years. As part of efforts to support governments, donors, NGOs, education planners and managers, scho
There are many questions concerning the potential impact of emerging influenza A(H1N1)* on people living with HIV, as they are more susceptible to opportunistic infections. There is no documented information on clinical interactions between HIV and influenza A(H1N1) virus, whose transmission, incubation period and clin
Zhang Xiao Hu is one of China s estimated 200 million migrant workers. He is also one of the stars of Never abandon, never give up , a short Charlie Chaplin-style film aimed at reducing HIV stigma and promoting condom use among the country s migrant workers. Beginning on 4 May, the International Labour Organization (IL
The worldwide economic downturn may already be causing hardship in supplying life-saving drugs to people with HIV, according to a new World Bank report which highlights the clear and rising human cost of the current financial climate.
GENEVA, 27 April 2009 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) welcomes United States President Barack Obama s announcement naming Dr Eric Goosby as the next US Global AIDS Coordinator. Dr Goosby has more than 25 years of experience on AIDS issues. His experience ranges from his early years treating
Ever since HIV testing was developed in the early days of the epidemic, the role of people living with HIV in HIV prevention has been an important aspect of the AIDS response. Following the advent of combination antiretroviral treatment which significantly prolongs life and improves quality of life for people living wi
GENEVA, 27 April 2009 - The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) is concerned and disappointed with regard to the move of Burundi ’s National Assembly to criminalize same sex relations. UNAIDS was optimistic that such a law would not be passed, when in February this year, Senators in Burundi overwhelmi
Geneva, 27 April 2009 - The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the global response to the confirmed human cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 and is monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic related to this situation.
AIDS presents a political opportunity to spark changes in society and talk about issues like human rights, homophobia and sex education according to UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. You will never make a difference if you look at AIDS in isolation, Mr Sidibe said during his first meeting with the head of the Wo
It has long been suggested that concurrent sexual partnerships are one component responsible for creating sexual contact networks conducive to the rapid spread of HIV. Recently the idea has gained prominence and momentum, with national HIV programmes beginning to plan prevention campaigns targeted at reducing concurren
The V Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STD s, FORO 2009 was officially announced on Thursday 16th April in Lima. The Forum will take place in Peru s capital from 22nd to 26th June under the theme Health is our right, universal access is our goal, no discrimination our challenge . FORO 2009 was officia
A version of this story is also published at UNODC.org Much more needs to be done to improve AIDS prevention, treatment and care services in Brazil s prisons. This was the major conclusion emerging from the first national consultation on HIV in prison settings which took place in Brasilia between 31 March and 2 April.
The HIV organizational landscape has evolved and grown more complex over the past decade. UNAIDS , donors and civil society, including networks of people living with HIV, have rightly demanded greater clarity on the relationships between needs, financing, activities and outcomes. Also demanded is greater specificity ab
Across Ethiopia , community initiatives and local government are coming together to make a difference in the AIDS response. During his official travel to the country, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé visited some of the programmes and projects putting into action the goals of universal access to HIV prevention,
SENEGAL/GENEVA, 20 April 2009 – UNAIDS welcomes the decision by Dakar s court of appeal to release nine members of a Senegalese AIDS awareness organization, imprisoned since December 2008.
Delegates are gathering in Thailand s capital this week for the 20th international conference on harm reduction running from 20 to 23 April. Organized by the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA), the conference s theme is human rights, underscoring the necessity of injecting drug users universal access to HI
(A version of this story was first published on UNICEF.org) Nene Gallé Barry sells charcoal in a very poor area of the Koloma quarter in Conakry, Guinea ’s capital. She is 18 now, but left her home village four years ago to earn a living in the city. She has a boyfriend and is sexually active and, until recently, she h
Ajama Kalacha works hard on his small agricultural plot in Ethiopia ’s highlands to provide an income for the extended family he supports. Even though life is tough, Ajama is an optimist - his community treats him well and he believes his prospects for making a living from the land are good. But he was not always so co
UNAIDS estimates that one per cent of adults in Senegal are living with HIV. In 1992, at a time when the full impact of AIDS on society was only beginning to be recognised in the country, the Catholic church in Senegal founded “SIDA Service,” an organization to support and care for people living with or affected by H
An estimated 650 million people, or 10% of the world s population, have a disability. Although people with disabilities are found within the populations at higher risk of exposure to HIV, not much attention has been paid to the relationship between HIV and disability.
[A version of this story was first published on UNESCO.org] Last month audiences in selected Cambodian provinces had the chance to see the Khmer film Palace of Dreams as part of the Love and Relationships film festival sponsored by UNESCO in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre (CCF). This drama, produced in 200
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ) brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system organizations in the AIDS response. The UNAIDS Committee of Cosponsoring Organizations (CCO) serves as the forum for these Cosponsors to meet on a regular basis to consider matters of major importance to
Ministers from the 27 countries with the highest burden of multi-drug resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) have jointly endorsed a Call for Action on TB control and care to urgently address this alarming threat. The meeting in Beijing, China , on 1-3 April 2009, was organized by the
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance of El Salvador approved, as part of its National Plan on HIV prevention, a set of actions to reduce homophobia and any type of discrimination based on sexual orientation in the health services.
By Sophie Dilmitis, World YWCA, HIV and AIDS Coordinator and International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW) European Regional Representative.
Many countries rely on The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) to finance their national AIDS programmes. As donors and partners come together for the Mid-Term Review meeting of the Second Voluntary Replenishment process taking place in Cáceres, Spain (30 March - 1 April),
To assist Member States in preparing and submitting their 2010 Country Progress reports, UNAIDS has released the new UNGASS Guidelines on Construction of Core Indicators for 2010 reporting.
A global symposium on engaging men and boys in achieving gender equality is taking place this week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . Addressing the opening ceremony last night, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé spoke of the need for all to “work over the long term to end the social acceptance of violence against wom
The upcoming Group of Twenty (G20) meeting in London, the global financial crisis, and universal access were some of the main topics Mr Michel Sidibé and Brazilian Government counterparts discussed during his first official visit to Brazil as the Executive Director of UNAIDS .
Viva Cazuza has been working for nearly two decades in Rio de Janeiro to give orphaned children and young people living with HIV a safe haven, antiretroviral treatment and access to programmes to gain confidence and build leadership skills.
This story was first published on UNFPA.org Barber shops across Georgetown, Guyana , are buzzing with chatter about the latest trends, community happenings, neighbourhood gossip and now, ways to protect young people from AIDS. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with
Mr Michel Sidibe, the Executive Director of UNAIDS , met with managers of national TB programmes and civil society representatives at the 3rd Stop TB Partners Forum to hear their views on ways to improve the joint response to TB and HIV. One participant, in sharing his experience of addressing TB and HIV co-infection i
The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa, and the Deputy Secretary General of the Islamic Republic of Iran s Drug Control Headquarters, Taha Taheri signed, on 19 March, two projects to provide HIV prevention and care services to Afghan refugees and female drug
Although it is mostly preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV globally. Of the 33 million people who are living with HIV, only 20% of know their status, and only a tiny fraction, 2% in 2007, were screened for TB according to the World Health Organiza
The Executive Director of UNAIDS , Mr Michel Sidibe, is in Brazil this week promoting greater awareness of the interlinked epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis, the need for universal access to HIV services for all people in need, and the necessity to address stigma and discrimination in Brazil s response to HIV.
Geneva, 23 March 2009 - Togolese football star Emmanuel Adebayor has been named as Goodwill Ambassador for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ). The Arsenal star and African Footballer of the Year will use his sporting popularity to raise awareness about the epidemic globally, including the importa
The 7th Steering Committee of the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum met today in the Thai capital Bangkok to discuss progress made and to design ways forward for work on HIV in the region. The meeting was opened by the Executive Director of UNAIDS Mr Michel Sidibe who encouraged the leaders to focus on partnership building
Picking her way through the crowds Surang Janyan waves a friendly hello to her friend Gop. This is one of the many people she will meet tonight in Pattaya s Walking Street - a long street running along the cost of one of Thailands red light areas. Surang Janyam is the Founder and Director of Swing, a small organization
GENEVA, 18 March 2009 - UNAIDS number one priority is universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. With more than 7400 new HIV infections each day the world can not stop the AIDS epidemic without stopping new HIV infections. Countries must know their epidemic and tailor their response to it. UNAIDS
This Position Statement provides the basis for condom promotion, documenting why condoms continue to be a critical element in comprehensive and sustainable approaches to HIV prevention and care. (WHO, UNAIDS , UNFPA) http://data.unaids.org/pub/BaseDocument/2009/20090318_position_paper_condoms_en.pdf
At the invitation of the Thai Government, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibe is in Thailand this week to discuss progress in the response to AIDS and visit projects to get a better understanding of how HIV prevention and treatment efforts are making a difference to peoples lives. Today in Bangkok Mr Sidibe
At least 3% of residents in Washington D.C. are living with HIV according to a report published today by US health officials at the District of Columbia s HIV/AIDS Administration. The leading mode of transmission of HIV in the district is men having sex with men. Heterosexual transmission and injecting drug use closely
UNAIDS announces the launch of a central repository of information on indicators used to track the response to the HIV epidemic. Through the Indicator Registry, professionals in monitoring and evaluation, for the first time ever have access to the complete definitions of all key indicators in one central database.
If more women are to avoid HIV infection, laws on inheritance and property rights should be revisited, revised or better enforced. This was one of the key messages emerging from a high-profile side-event on women s inheritance, land and housing rights in the context of HIV, which took place yesterday, 12 March, during
UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe met with UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi on 11 March. The Tenth Session of the Human Rights Council is currently taking place in Geneva. A progress report from the United Nations Secretary-General on HIV and human rights has been submitted to the T
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs is meeting in Vienna for its 52nd session. In a statement to the Commission, UNAIDS calls for a practical and proactive human rights response to HIV among injecting drug users to ensure universal access to harm reduction. http://data.unaids.org/pub/BaseDocument/2009/20090312_statement_c
In 1998, the UN General Assembly held a Special Session on the world drug problem. At the time there was little discussion on the linkage between HIV and drugs. Today of the estimated 16 million people world wide who inject drugs--3 million are HIV positive. Any discussion on drugs cannot ignore their needs and human r
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is meeting at the United Nations Office in Vienna for its 52 session, from 11-20 March 2009. At this session, governments will assess the progress achieved in meeting the goals defined in the 1998 UN General Assembly Special Session on Illicit Drugs. In an interview, Mr Michael Ba
A consultation on the progress, gaps and next steps towards achieving universal access to HIV prevention in the Russian Federation took place in Moscow on 25-26 February. The meeting was convened by the Russian Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection
The Islamic Republic of Iran hosted the second session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM) bringing together representatives from 57 member countries from 1 - 4 March to discuss health issues facing the Islamic community under the theme Health Equity in the Islamic Ummah. The aim of the conference
Asian women migrating to the Arab states often do so under unsafe conditions, are targets of sexual exploitation and violence and are highly vulnerable to factors that lead to HIV infection, according to a study launched today, produced in collaboration by UNDP, UNAIDS , CARAM Asia, IOM,UNIFEM, and Caritas Migrant Cent
On 7 March 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr Sergei Lavrov, hosted a meeting of UN Heads of Agencies in Geneva to focus on the impact of the global financial crisis. This was the first meeting of UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. At the discussion, Michel Sidibe expressed his concer
On 2 March 2009 UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe met with Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. During their meeting Mr Sidibe thanked Ambassador Rice and the US Government for their continued support to UNAIDS and shared his thoughts on how an effective HIV response will su
The co-chairs of the 3rd Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EEAC) AIDS Conference gathered today in Geneva to discuss the forthcoming event to be held in Moscow, 28-30 October 2009. The meeting took place at UNAIDS Secretariat and was hosted by Michel Sidibe UNAIDS Executive Director with the participation of Dr Gennady
Violence against women is increasing women and girls vulnerability to HIV in the Caribbean region. This is the stark message which emerged from the launch of the Caribbean Coalition on Women, Girls and AIDS (CCWA) hosted on 4 March by the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team at the National Library, in Port of
The AIDS epidemic may pose a considerable danger to the economic and social development of South Asian countries unless those at highest risk of infection are reached by scaled up prevention programmes, according to a new World Bank report. The publication, HIV and AIDS in South Asia: An Economic Development Risk, cont
Women and men: United to end violence against women is the theme of this year s International Women s Day which is observed at the United Nations on 5 March 2009 and celebrated internationally on 8 March. Sexual violence, and the threat of violence, increases women s vulnerability to HIV and in certain parts of the wo
Gender equality must become part of our DNA - at the core of all of our actions. This will require a social revolution. Addressing gender inequality as a human right and development imperative constitutes a main plank of this social revolution. This is not only necessary for social justice but also for achieving univer
Young people in Costa Rica will be receiving information on HIV prevention and healthy lifestyles from their peers thanks to a new agreement signed in San Jose by the Government of Costa Rica and the United Nations. The agreement establishes that young people, aged 15 – 25 years, will lead in sharing sexual health info
Equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care-giving in the context of HIV is the theme of the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) which opened today at UN Headquarters in New York. Addressing the opening of the 53rd session, UNAIDS Executive
The United Nations Special Envoys for HIV/AIDS are individuals specially selected by the UN Secretary-General to help advance the AIDS agenda in the regions they cover. In a series of interviews, we explore their motivation and commitment to ensuring that AIDS is kept high as a political priority within their respectiv
In a milestone in the political response to HIV in India , more than a 100 elected state legislators, from all major political parties in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have pledged to incorporate the goal of universal access to HIV services in their political manifestos. Legislators from 15 major political p
A new web site on male circumcision for HIV prevention was launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ), the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), and Family Health International (FHI). The site -- www.malecircumcision.org -- is designed to be a
On 3 February 2009, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe met for the first time with John Tedstrom, President of the Global Business Coalition on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC). At the meeting, Mr Sidibe explained his vision and priorities for UNAIDS and the business rationale for further engaging the private
The global response to AIDS must be significantly reoriented to address the unmet needs of millions of children and their families in the worst affected countries, according to a new report by the independent Joint Learning Initiative on Children and HIV/AIDS (JLICA). The report, Home Truths: Facing the Facts on Childr
GENEVA 18 February 2009 -- UNAIDS welcomes the Senate action in Burundi to reject a draft law that sought to criminalize homosexuality. Senators in Burundi overwhelmingly rejected an amendment of the penal code that included provisions for imprisonment of people who have sexual relationships with those of the same sex.
This article first appeared in the official programme of the 23rd Teddy Award Film offers invaluable insights into the lives of different cultures, groups, and people. It is a medium that has a long history in addressing controversial topics and issues. For men who have sex with men, cinema has been a powerful platform
UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibe addressed the audience of the 23rd edition of the TEDDY Award in Berlin on 13 February with a strong message: universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support must be accessible to all people who are in need--including men who have sex with men and other popul
The Champions for an HIV-free Generation - an organization of African leaders including former African presidents and other influential personalities – visited Mozambique as part of their mandate to mobilize leadership in Africa and to promote effective policies and action on HIV prevention. The aim of the visit wa
Meeting in Geneva last week, participants in the first Ministerial Review Meeting of the International Health Partnership and related initiatives (IHP+) adopted a document laying out bold and concrete commitments to push forward the objectives of the Partnership. The official communique notes that the current severe gl
A new report released by UNAIDS , What countries need: Investments needed for 2010 targets, estimates that an investment of US$ 25 billion will be required for the global AIDS response in 2010 for low- and middle-income countries--US$ 11.3 billion more than is available today. It will not be easy to close this gap but
CAPE TOWN, South Africa , 10 February 2009--On his first country visit, the new executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS ( UNAIDS ), Mr Michel Sidibe outlined his vision and priorities for UNAIDS in the township of Khayelitsha. Speaking to community and political leaders, Mr Sidibe prais
The Executive Director of UNAIDS , Mr Michel Sidibe, is visiting South Africa where he will announce plans for the future direction of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This morning in Cape Town he met with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mrs Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge. Tomorrow he will outli
OneLove is a regional campaign running in Southern Africa that aims to get people talking about the trend of having more than one sexual partner at a time. The overall goal is change this behaviour which is a factor in the transmission of HIV in the region. Using mass media and social mobilisation to communicate its me
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems and activities are key to tracking what is being done in the field of HIV prevention, treatment and care and whether these activities are making a difference. A new platform (www.globalhivmeinfo.org) now allows M&E professionals worldwide to access and share information a
Across North Africa and the Middle East, UNAIDS estimates that 35,000 people acquired HIV in 2007, bringing to 380,000 the number of people living with HIV. An estimated 25,000 died of AIDS-related illness in the same year. Effectively coordinated HIV prevention, treatment, care and support strategies are vital to the
WHO and UNAIDS resource kit for writing Global Fund round 9 HIV proposals As applicants prepare their proposals for the next round of HIV funding, Round 9, UNAIDS and WHO have jointly developed an online resource kit to provide guidance in planning and writing strong Global Fund proposals. The Global Fund to Fight
It is indeed sad news to hear of the passing of Allan Dunaway who died in San Pedro de Sula, Honduras on 25 January 2009 at the age of 39. Allan was one of the earliest AIDS activists in Latin America and he dedicated 18 years to supporting people living with HIV struggle for the right to treatment access in his countr
Eric Sawyer, cofounder of ACT UP, Housing Works, Inc., & Health GAP, Inc.
Last week we lost one of the true heroes in the response to AIDS. Martin Delaney, the founder and longtime Executive Director of the HIV advocacy/education organization Project Inform, died of liver cancer at his home near San Francisco on January 23, 2009. Marty Delaney was 63. The world is truly a poorer place after
Judging by the official statistics, cases of HIV infection amongst men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ukraine , as in much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, are so rare as to seem scant cause for concern. No statistics means no problem, says Zoryan Kis of the All-Ukrainian Network of PLHIV (People Living with HIV).
Michel Sidibe 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 Sidibe took up his post as head of UNAIDS and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations on 1 January. After taking the o
China announced in 2008 plans for an extensive programme to tackle sharply rising rates of HIV amongst men who have sex with men (MSM), in the latest sign that the country may be starting to face up to a crisis which long seemed taboo. Announcing the MSM campaign, the ministry of health said that risky sexual behaviour
GENEVA, 15 January 2009 - UNAIDS deplores the arrest and imprisonment of nine members of an association called AIDES Senegal since December 22nd, 2008. On 6 January, 2009 they were tried before the court in Senegal and sentenced for acts against nature and the creation of an association of criminals.
According to the U.S. President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) 2009 Annual Report, PEPFAR has exceeded its five-year goals for treatment of two million and care of ten million people. PEPFAR has supported life-saving HIV treatment for more than 2.1 million men, women and children worldwide. It also supported
Every two or three days a person is killed in Brazil in violence connected with his or her sexuality, according to Brazil s oldest gay rights association, Grupo Gay da Bahia (GGB). In Mexico , the reported figure is nearly two a week. Most of the victims are men who have sex with other men (MSM) - whether they are gays
For every two people accessing HIV treatment, another five are newly infected with the virus. Given the gap, there is broad agreement among scientific, government and civil society communities on the need to intensify HIV prevention efforts. UNAIDS promotes HIV prevention responses that are tailored to local contexts a
Viet Nam s rapid economic development and growth over the last decade has resulted in increased levels of mobility both within the country and across its borders. Viet Nam s rapid economic development and growth over the last decade has resulted in increased levels of mobility both within the country and across its bor
Michel Sidibe is the Executive Director of UNAIDS , the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS brings together the efforts and resources of the UNAIDS Secretariat and ten UN system organizations in the AIDS response. The Secretariat headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland-with staff on the ground in more tha
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