GENEVA, April 28, 2006 (AFP) - Russian cello virtuoso Mstislav Rostropovich is to become special representative of UNAIDS, the joint United Nations programme fighting AIDS, the organisation announced Friday.
"Every day, children die because they do not have access to prevention, treatment, care, and support that could have saved their lives," Rostropovich said in a statement.
"This is not only a health issue, it is an issue of fundamental equity and human rights," he said. "I will help save children's lives by making the world leaders and international communities commit responsibility to meet the AIDS response."
UNAIDS recalled that since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Rostropovich had been active on behalf of children's health in countries of the former Soviet bloc.
The UN describes the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, or UNAIDS as the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV epidemic.
Its mission is to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to HIV and AIDS that includes preventing transmission of HIV, providing care and support to those already living with the virus, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.
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