Joint UNAIDS/IAT Press Release - July 16, 2002
"As the most highly visible women and mothers of their nations, the First Ladies have the capacity to focus much needed attention on the challenges and opportunities of AIDS in Africa," said Sandra L. Thurman, President of the International AIDS Trust (IAT), which is facilitating the meeting with UNAIDS. "By joining forces for advocacy, resource mobilization and social change, these First Ladies are demonstrating true leadership. The organization they are creating here this week will be a powerful catalyst for action against AIDS - in their individual countries, across Africa and around the world."
According to UNAIDS, of the more than 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, an estimated 18 million are women. In sub-Saharan Africa, women account for 55% of adults infected with HIV.
"It is a great step forward to see African First Ladies so committed to fighting the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic on the worst-hit continent," said Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director. "Through their leadership and dedication, I am certain the First Ladies will inspire communities, families and individuals to play a more active role in turning back the epidemic."
"The First Ladies are champions for those most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS - women, children, youth and families -- and their organization will enable them to work together, beyond political and geographical boundaries, to give a voice to those who would otherwise be voiceless," commented Thurman.
Although the gathering in Geneva represents the official launch of the First Ladies Organization, members of the organization met informally on at least nine occasions in 2001 and 2002. These meetings culminated in a session convened by the IAT during the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children in May 2002 at which time the formation of an organization was actively discussed.
Participating First Ladies
To date, First Ladies from the following countries have confirmed their attendance at the meeting: Burundi, Cape Verde, the Congo, C|te d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, the Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe. In addition, the First Ladies of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mauritania, Namibia, the Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tunisia will send representatives to attend the conference on their behalf.
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The International AIDS Trust was established to create strategic opportunities for galvanizing leadership, mobilizing resources, and promoting effective interventions in the global battle against AIDS. The International AIDS Trust is a single-focused NGO with both long-range vision and rapid response capability. For more information, visit the web site www.internationalaidstrust.org.
As the main advocate for global action on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS leads, strengthens and supports an expanded response aimed at preventing the transmission of HIV, providing care and support, reducing the vulnerability of individuals and communities to HIV/AIDS, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic. For more information, visit the web site www.unaids.org.
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For more information, please contact Anne Winter, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791 4577, Dominique De Santis, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791 4509, Andrew Shih, UNAIDS, New York, (+1 212) 584 5024, Peter Paris, International AIDS Trust, New York, (+1 212) 886 2200, or Caroline Connolly, International AIDS Trust, Geneva, (+41 79) 470 1637.
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