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 Organization’s annual report on global TB control launched today.

HIV is dramatically fuelling the TB epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 80% of TB patients are co-infected with HIV according to the report. A respiratory infection that spreads like the common cold, TB exploits an immune system already weakened by HIV.

“We have to stop people living with HIV from dying of tuberculosis,” said Mr Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support must include TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment. When HIV and TB services are combined, they save lives.”

Global Tuberculosis Control 2009 provides an up-to-date assessment of the TB epidemic and progress in controlling the disease. It notes that globally only 16% of TB patients know their HIV status and so the majority of HIV-positive TB patients do not know that they are living with HIV and are not accessing HIV treatment.

However, there has been progress in this area with increased HIV testing among people being treated for TB, especially in Africa. In 2004, just 4% of TB patients in the region were tested for HIV; in 2007 that number rose to 37%, and in some countries (Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda and Swaziland) over 70% of all TB patients know their HIV status.

Because of increased testing for HIV among TB patients, more people are getting appropriate treatment though the numbers still remain a small fraction of those in need. In 2007, 200 000 HIV-positive TB patients were enrolled on co-trimoxazole treatment to prevent opportunistic infections and 100 000 were on antiretroviral therapy.

Need for integrated TB and HIV services

For many years efforts to tackle TB and HIV have been largely separate, despite the overlapping epidemiology. Improved collaboration between TB and HIV programmes will lead to more effective prevention and treatment of TB among people living with HIV and to significant public health gains.

The release of the report today coincides with World TB Day and a 1500-strong gathering at the 3rd Stop TB Partners’ Forum in Rio.

Click on the image to start video

(from left) Executive Director, UNAIDS Michel Sidibé and Director, Stop TB Department WHO, Dr Mario Raviglione during the press conference launch of Global TB Control 2009, 24 March 2009.
Credit: UNAIDS/D. Ramalho

The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibé, 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.

Earlier today in Rio de Janeiro, Mr Sidibé joined the international launch of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual report on global TB control.

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 Global TB Control 2009 report.

“We have to stop people living with HIV from dying of tuberculosis,” said Mr Sidibé. “Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support must include TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment. When HIV and TB services are combined, they save lives.”

(from left) Assistant Director-General, World Health Organization Dr Hiro Nakatani, Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr Marcos Espinal; and Executive Director, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Dr Michel Kazatchkine during the press conference launch of Global TB Control 2009, 24 March 2009.
Credit: UNAIDS/D. Ramalho

The UNAIDS Executive Director was joined at the launch by the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Dr Michel Kazatchkine, the Assistant Director-General of the HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Department at WHO, Mr Hiroki Nakatani, the Director of the Stop TB Department, Dr Mario Raviglione, and the Executive Secretary of the Stop TB Partnership, Dr Marcos Espinal.

The report launch is part of World TB Day events taking place during the 3rd Stop TB Partners Forum, which opened in Rio de Janeiro on 23 March. Mr Sidibé will deliver an address at the Forum’s closing on 25 March.

Later in the week, Mr Sidibé will travel to Brasília where he will meet with senior Government of Brazil officials including the National Congress Parliamentary group on HIV and the ministers for foreign affairs, women’s policies, health, and human rights, respectively.

To amplify UNAIDS’ messages of standing with people living with and affected by HIV and stopping laws that block the AIDS response, Mr Sidibé will meet with several key civil society actors active in promoting HIV awareness, protecting human rights, and ending stigma and discrimination, especially for those most vulnerable to HIV. One meeting will bring together national level representatives of groups representing people living with HIV, youth, women, and lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to discuss these issues within the national and local context.

In Rio de Janeiro, visits are planned to organizations providing vital services to children and young people. One such organization is Sociedade Viva Cazuza, a non-profit that supports children, young people and adults living with HIV through a broad range of services, from HIV counselling and testing to the administration of antiretroviral treatment under the auspices of Rio de Janeiro’s municipal health care system. Besides physical support, Sociedade Viva Cazuza also maintains a website where people can pose their HIV and other sexual health questions to experts.

In Latin America, Brazil has the region’s largest HIV epidemic, home to more than 40% (730,000) of people living with the virus, followed by Mexico with 200,000 HIV-positive people. But the country also benefits from a commitment to ensuring access to both HIV prevention and treatment services, which has helped keep its epidemic stable and halved AIDS mortality rates between 1996 and 2002.

On 30 March, Mr Sidibé will join the Brazilian Minister of Women’s Policies, Ms Nilcéa Freire, in inaugurating the first centre that focuses on rehabilitating men who abuse women. Located in Nova Iguaçu, a municipality in Rio de Janeiro, the centre will place emphasis on education programmes to put a stop to domestic violence. Ten other centres are planned for the country.

Mr Sidibe will conclude his official visit later that day by addressing delegates at the opening of the Global Symposium on Engaging Men and Boys in Gender Equality.

This is Mr Sidibé’s first official visit to Brazil since becoming executive director of UNAIDS.

The President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Mr Óscar Arias signing the HIV prevention and education agreement.

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 information among their peers in two provinces: Limón and Puntarenas. The young leaders will provide education on a wide range of issues such as modes of HIV transmission and how to use a condom.

UNAIDS Regional Director Dr César Núñez emphasized that only timely information and HIV prevention can stop the spread of HIV. “It is urgent to provide young people with HIV information and to include sexual education in the school curriculum, as well as to develop specific strategies for the population outside schools,” he said.

The agreement was signed on 24 February 2009 by the President of the Republic Mr Óscar Arias and the Deputy Minister of Youth Karina Bolaños together with Dr César Núñez, UNAIDS Regional Director, Nils Kastberg, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luis Mora, UNFPA Regional Adviser in Gender and Masculinities, and young people from the Limón and Puntarenas provinces.

A 2008 study carried out by UNFPA and UNICEF with support from UNAIDS showed that the majority of young people in Costa Rica were sexually active at the age of 16. The study also highlighted that there was lack of HIV information and knowledge among Costa Rican youth.

For that reason, President Arias, who received a Nobel Peace prize in 1987, emphasized on the occasion of the signing the need to speak about sexual education openly and without prejudices. “Talking about sex cannot continue to be taboo in Costa Rica,” he said.

The President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Mr Óscar Arias (centre) talking with the United Nations representatives that signed the agreement.

The study shows that in Limón only about 28% of the young people interviewed know how to use a condom correctly whereas in Puntarenas the percentage drops to about 17%. Furthermore, in both provinces, more than 50% of the adolescents find that asking a partner to use a condom could be interpreted as a sign of mistrust. Finally, 43% in both provinces think that a young girl carrying condoms in her purse is a woman with a “doubtful reputation.”

The agreement signed will look at strengthening the capacity of the health and education institutions as well as youth and adolescents in the country to promote HIV prevention. UNICEF, UNFPA and UNAIDS will provide technical and financial assistance to the programme which plans to directly benefit 73,000 adolescents.

This agreement is a direct result of the Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to prevent HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, that took place in Mexico in August 2008 ahead of the International AIDS Conference, when Ministers signed an historic declaration pledging to provide comprehensive sex education as part of the school curriculum in Latin America and the Caribbean.

By Rodrigo Pascal, UNAIDS Partnerships Officer

Allan Dunaway, Founder and President of Honduras National Association of people living with HIV.

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 country.

Allan and his beloved wife Rosa González were the first couple in Honduras to publicly declare that they were living with HIV. They were co-founders of Fundacion Llaves, which provides care and support for people living with HIV and Allan was the founding member and President for two consecutive periods of the Honduras National Association of people living with HIV. He was also the Chair of San Pedro de Sula National AIDS Forum.

The words of his wife Rosa resonate with my memories of Allan as being by nature a quiet person but who was determined to highlight important issues on behalf of others: “Allan never doubted that he had to give a face to AIDS; and he made it clear from the beginning days of his activism that he had a responsibility to speak for those who had no voice.” Allan was tireless in his efforts to make a difference. He reached out to local organizations and community groups building capacity and empowering them to organize events, marches and workshops. He also conducted workshops on managing funds and administration. He believed in the power of collaboration and worked hard to ensure that different organizations were informed of each other's activities and so strengthen the overall impact of their projects.

Allan was an assiduous advocate of human rights and worked closely with the National Commissioner for Human Rights to end discrimination against people living with HIV.

One of the proudest moments for Allan was to hear his 13-year-old daughter Keren deliver a breathtaking speech on behalf of young people living with HIV to thousands of delegates from around the globe at the opening of 2008 International AIDS Conference.

Allan also attended the High Level Meeting in New York in June 2008 when he and Rosa and a group of women living with HIV met with the UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Speaking of the loss, Richard Stern of Agua Buena Human Rights Association said: “Allan was a hero in a political struggle for human rights, but most of all he was a devoted husband and father. He will be sorely missed by all of us who worked with him for so many years.”

This is indeed a sad loss for Rosa and Keren. As a family, the Dunaways have been passionate advocates for universal access to care, support and treatment for those living with HIV, particularly in Latin America. I have no doubt Rosa and Keren by continuing their advocacy will keep Allan’s memory alive.

Aside from the individual pain homophobic attitudes inflict, the continuing stigma attached to same-sex relations is complicating hugely the task of slowing the spread of HIV. Credit: L. Tanabe, National STD/AIDS Programme, Brazil

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 or bisexuals -  or transgender people.

But if Brazil and Mexico top the table of violence against men who have sex with men in Latin America, this may be because rights groups there monitor the situation more closely than elsewhere in Latin America. Much violence simply goes unreported elsewhere, gay activist organizations say.

“Brazil and Mexico are the only countries which have a register, which keep track of the murders. That does not mean necessarily that there is more violence there,” says Arturo Díaz Betancourt of the Mexican National Council for the Prevention of Discrimination.

It is notable that when the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Killings made an official mission to Guatemala in 2006 his attention was drawn to a series of murders of gay and transgender people, and his subsequent report to the Human Rights Council stated “There has been impunity for murders motivated by hatred towards persons identifying as gay, lesbian, transgender, and transsexual. Credible information suggests that there were at least 35 such murders between 1996 and 2006. Given the lack of official statistics and the likely reticence if not ignorance of victims’ family members, there is reason to believe that the actual numbers are significantly higher.”

Many Latin American countries boast socially advanced legislation when it comes to defending sexual freedom and orientation. With law reform in Nicaragua and Panama over the past 12 months, there are now no states in Latin America which criminalize homosexual relations, for example.

Yet perhaps influenced by a lingering “machismo”, prejudice and discrimination continue to flourish, whatever the laws say. Latin America is widely regarded as having a long way to go to successfully counter homophobia, or “fear or hatred of homosexuals.”

“There is a real contrast between reality and theory. This is the developing region of the world with the highest number of laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation,” says Dr. Ruben Mayorga, UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Aside from the individual pain homophobic attitudes inflict, the continuing stigma attached to same-sex relations is complicating hugely the task of slowing the spread of HIV in a region where sex between men is a leading mode of HIV transmission, health experts say.

Stigma and homophobia increase the isolation of gays, bisexuals and transgender people making them more reluctant to come forward, be identified and get advice.

“Homophobia represents a threat to public heath in Latin America,” the Pan American Health Organization affirmed in a report. “This form of stigma and discrimination based on sexual orientation does not just affect the mental and physical health of the homosexual community, but contributes to the spread of the HIV epidemic.”

UNAIDS has long campaigned against discrimination whether against those infected by the HIV virus or against a person for his or her sexual orientation.

Main source of new HIV infections

Stigma and homophobia increase the isolation of gays, bisexuals and transgender people making them more reluctant to come forward, be identified and get advice. Credit: L. Tanabe, National STD/AIDS Programme, Brazil

The urgency in Latin America is underlined by official reports on the state of the HIV epidemic in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru where sex between men is acknowledged as being the main source of new HIV infections. HIV prevalence is far higher than in the general population with rates of between 10% and 20% in many Latin America’s main cities.

In its 2008 report to the UN General Assembly (UNGASS) on the state of the HIV epidemic, Brazil stated that MSM are 11 times more likely to be HIV positive than the population as a whole.

In parts of Central America, where there is major political and social resistance to recognising the rights of gays, lesbians and transgender people, HIV incidence rates amongst MSM are particularly high.

And the impacts of these high rates of HIV extend beyond men who have sex with men themselves. In Peru, for example, most women who get infected by the virus get it from men who have had sex with other men, according to a Health Ministry study, thus prevention among MSM is crucial for effective prevention of HIV transmission to women.

Prevention fails to keep pace

Spending on HIV prevention amongst MSM in Latin America is well below what is called for by the extent of the epidemic within that group. On average, less than 10% of the money spent on prevention goes into campaigns aimed specifically at MSM, according to UNAIDS.

In Bolivia, it was estimated in 2005 that fewer than 3% of MSM had access to prevention services, compared with 30% coverage for sex workers.

“All these years, prevention has not been carried out where it needs to be, which is where the epidemic lies,” said Díaz. “They have not worked with gays, with trans (gender people), on the contrary there is rejection and deep discrimination,” he said, referring to the situation across the region.

The explanation lies in a mix of political, cultural and even religious factors, rights activists and health officials say.

“Politically, MSM is not something to make a lot of noise about. In most countries and by many institutions it is not sees as a political gain,” says Mayorga.

Religious groups, whether Roman Catholic or evangelical, which regard sexual relations between people of the same sex as “sinful” have often strenuously opposed attempts to pay special attention to MSM.

“Governments are highly influenced by religious sectors that mobilise against policies that benefit gays, bisexuals or trans,” says Orlando Montoya, who works in Ecuador with ASICAL, an organization promoting the health of gays, other MSM and lesbians in Latin America.

However, it is hard to generalize. Some churches have been at the forefront of outreach to men who have sex with men and many local religious organizations in Latin America have responded to HIV with tolerance and compassion, including among the most marginalized populations.

Internationally overlooked

But it is not just a question of country governments not paying due attention to MSM. Latin America has not attracted the level of international investment in stemming HIV epidemics that has been seen in other parts of the world -- in Asia and in Africa.

To some extent, the region has been victim of the three “nots” when it comes to receiving international financing for its HIV efforts, Mayorga says. It is ‘not’ very populated, it is ‘not’ very poor and it is ‘not’ a very big epidemic.

Rules covering assistance by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the principal international financing arm against the diseases, have worked against the region because they have tended to exclude middle and upper middle income countries, such as Argentina and Chile.

However, the Fund has recently agreed to study proposals for assistance for programmes in better-off countries facing concentrated epidemics with HIV prevalence rates of over 5 % in groups at risk, such as MSM, drug users, transgendered people or sex workers.

Renewing the focus

In the face of the persistent evidence of neglect, there are some positive signs in the region that MSM epidemics will be responded to with more adequate measures and policies.

In the past four or five years, Brazil and Mexico, and to a more limited extent Argentina and Colombia, have run campaigns against homophobia. These countries, together with others, have also sought to incorporate special MSM action into programmes to contain the spread of HIV.

The official programme “Brazil without Homophobia” was launched in 2004, with the aim of improving the service given to gays, other MSM and transgender people within state health institutions. It will also scale up coverage and the response to the HIV epidemic within these groups.

Peru has launched a national plan giving priority to prevention programmes for what are defined as “most-affected” groups – which include MSM, sex workers and prisoners. With financing from the Global Fund, the plan aims to extend prevention coverage to at least 25% of MSM and 50 percent of sex workers.

Similarly, Bolivia has drawn up a national plan to cut HIV infection rates by half by 2015, which includes campaigns to strengthen rights of MSM and transgender people and to combat discrimination and stigma.

Despite these promising developments, Latin America is still a long way from getting its MSM epidemics under control and homophobia and stigma remain significant stumbling blocks to achieving it.

Dr Murilo Moreira, President CEN AIDS Brazil addresses the First regional Workshop of Business Coalitions from Latin America and the Caribbean Credit: UNAIDS

São Paulo - Business Coalitions on AIDS have emerged as an effective platform for the private sector response to the epidemic. AIDS has already claimed the lives of 25 million in the global workforce and remains a serious threat to business. Although some companies are already effectively addressing AIDS in the workplace, others simply do not know how or where to start mitigating risks. Business Coalitions have emerged to fill this gap and provide the private sector with the tools and processes it needs to effectively address AIDS in the workplace and in their surrounding communities.  

Emergence of Business Coalitions on AIDS

Business Coalitions also act as a voice for the private sector, often through representation on national AIDS committees and by interacting with other key stakeholders. Coalitions have formed partnerships with international donors, civil society groups, governments, other regional and national Business Coalitions. These relationships are critical in delivering a coordinated response to the epidemic.

UNAIDS has supported the development of a number of national business coalitions on HIV in regions heavily impacted by the epidemic. UNAIDS is currently working with over 30 national business coalitions, helping to support the private sector response to AIDS.

First regional Workshop of Business Coalitions from Latin America and the Caribbean

Brazilian Business Council on HIV-AIDS Prevention (CEN)

On October 6 and 7 2008, UNAIDS and the Brazilian Business Council on HIV-AIDS Prevention (CEN) convened a regional workshop of business coalitions and initiatives from Latin America and the Caribbean in Sao Paulo to recognize the critical role that the private sector play in the response to HIV, exchange experiences and discuss challenges and opportunities.

The workshop was attended by coalitions from Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and Suriname as well as the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, the Barbados Workers Union, the Brazilian national AIDS Program, several companies members of the CEN, a state company from Paraguay, the national council of private companies from Panama and Venezuela, Futures Group, Impulso - a network of Mexican NGOs working on AIDS, the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP), and the ILO.

Participants discussed best practices, issues of funding, brainstormed on how to improve the coordination with labour unions and on how to optimize the integration of the private sector and workplace into national AIDS plans as well as the development of national HIV anti-discrimination workplace regulations.

“Too often we see companies developing lovely policies but falling down on the implementation side. You need to work on behaviour change education to leave something significant and sustainable behind,” noted Madhuri Supersad, HIV/AIDS technical adviser for ILO in the Caribbean region.

The workshop provided a forum for stakeholders working with business coalitions such as the ILO to reiterate the importance of the tripartite mechanism involving workers, employers and governments as well as to present the current process undertaken by the ILO leading towards a global standard on HIV/AIDS in the workplace in 2010.

Civil society was represented by a Mexican NGO and participants felt that much more needed to happen in many countries to build partnerships between the private sector and civil society to mutually benefit one another.

Participants at First regional Workshop of Business Coalitions from Latin America and the Caribbean Credit: UNAIDS

It was decided to revitalize some Latin American coalitions especially in the Mercosur region, or improve the visibility and impact of the existing ones - having in mind that there can not be a “one size fits all” approach in the region. These efforts could lead to the establishment of a Pan Latin America business coalition in the near future. The upcoming regional AIDS conference in Peru next April 2009 could be a great platform to launch such an initiative.

Participants committed to continue the dialogue started during this workshop by exchanging materials and activities and seeking advice from each other on specific topics.

The workshop was followed by the 10th anniversary celebrations of the CEN an anniversary which is a landmark for the private sector response not only in Brazil but for whole Latin America.

For further information, please contact UNAIDS focal points:

Marie Engel
Partnerships Adviser Private Sector Partnerships UNAIDS
Tel: +41 22 791 554
Email : engelm@unaids.org

In the Caribbean region: Dawn Foderingham, Tel. +1 868 623 7056 x 278,
email foderinghamd@unaids.org

In the Latin American region: Rosemeire Munhoz, Tel. +507 302 4509,
email munhozr@unaids.org

In Brazil: Naiara Garcia da Costa Chaves, Tel. +55 61 3038 9222,
email costan@unaids.org  

The XVII International AIDS Conference has ended in the Mexican capital today after five days of spirited participation involving an estimated 22,000 people engaged in the global response to AIDS.

Leaders, policymakers, academics, scientists and activists from around the world descended on Mexico City from 3-8 August 2008 to assess progress in the AIDS response and to identify future priorities in scaling up global efforts to stop the HIV epidemic.

Under the theme “Universal Action Now!”, AIDS 2008 has called for a renewed commitment from the international community to strengthen the scale up of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support programmes worldwide, with the aim to provide universal access to these services by 2010 and to work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals – which includes the target of halting the spread of HIV by 2015.

Preventing the transmission of HIV received significant focus during the five-day conference, as participants contributed to sessions that addressed the complexity of the epidemic and underlined the importance of “knowing your epidemic and knowing your response”. HIV prevention successes and failures to date were analyzed, leading to a greater understanding that “combination prevention” is as necessary as “combination treatment” when it comes to stopping the HIV epidemic– because for every two people that began antiretroviral treatment last year, five became newly infected.

Providing antiretroviral treatment, combating HIV-related stigma and discrimination, strengthening health systems, finding an HIV vaccine, as well as responding to broader human rights for people living with HIV were some of the other top issues discussed at the conference, the first to be held in Latin America.

While AIDS 2008 has followed the release of the UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, which points to significant progress in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in the past two years, the conference underscored the fact that AIDS is not yet over in any part of the world – a point stressed by UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot and other leaders involved in the AIDS response.

At the very heart of the XVII International AIDS Conference was the Global Village, an area of over 8,000 square metres open to everyone including community organizations from around the world, local and national groups and the general public. Open and active discussions took place highlighting stories of grassroots victories along with the challenges that communities face and opportunities to improve their response to the epidemic.

The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest HIV forum. It is held every two years and organized by the International AIDS Society, together with a series of partners including UNAIDS. The next conference will be in Vienna, Austria in July 2010.

2008 Red Ribbon Award Ceremony and Dinner was held 6 August 2008
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

Representatives of 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning communities were guests of honour at a formal Award Ceremony and Dinner, held last night in Mexico City and attended by government officials and global AIDS leaders. UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot addressed the Awards Ceremony at which five organizations were selected by a jury for special recognition in the following categories:

1. Providing access to treatment, support and care
2. Supporting children orphaned by AIDS
3. Promoting human rights
4. Empowering women and girls
5. Providing HIV prevention programs and services

The communities singled out for special recognition are:

1. Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana
2. Sanghamitra, A Women’s Collective, India
3. Hamyaran Mosbat – The Mashhad Positive Club, Iran 
4. Consol Homes, Malawi
5. Fortalecidendo la Diversidad, Mexico

The Red Ribbon Award is presented every
two years at the International AIDS
Conference to recognize and celebrate
outstanding community leadership and
action.
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

“These are extraordinary organizations helping to meet the needs of their own communities in often very difficult circumstances,” said Rebecca Grynspan, Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), during the awards ceremony.

“In doing so they have shown extraordinary creativity, courage and leadership in responding to the epidemic and achieving tangible results with limited resources.”

“All the Red Ribbon participants at this conference are winners,” said As Sy, Director of Partnerships and External Relations, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

“We hope that the knowledge and resources gained from AIDS 2008 will help inspire you in your own communities in taking your work to the next level. I know all of us have learned from you and your experiences. This knowledge is truly what the Red Ribbon Awards are about.”

AIDS 2008: Community Dialogue Space

This year, more 550 nominations were
received for the award from 140 countries
around the world.
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

The 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning organizations are also participating in the XVII International AIDS Conference, in Mexico City 3-8 August 2008 where they are hosting the Community Tequio in the heart of the Global village. “Tequio” is an Aztec word conveying a collective work that benefi¬ts the community and the goal is developing an enabling environment for community participation in the AIDS response.

The Community Tequio is a space for conference participants from around the world to interact and share their experiences to strengthen an international network of community best practices on HIV. Open and active discussions are taking place highlighting stories of grassroots victories, challenges communities face and opportunities to improve their response to the epidemic.

Red Ribbon Award

The Red Ribbon Award is presented every two years at the International AIDS Conference to recognize and celebrate outstanding community leadership and action that is helping to stop the spread of HIV and mitigate the impact of AIDS. This year, more 550 nominations were received for the award from 140 countries around the world.

The Red Ribbon Award Secretariat is hosted and by UNDP and supported by the XVII International AIDS Conference, the Canadian International Development Agency, Irish Aid and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a UNAIDS family initiative.

The Lancet in conjunction with UNAIDS
has produced a special series of six major articles on the future of global HIV prevention and held a lunchtime symposium with the authors on 5 August during the International AIDS conference Mexico City.
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

25 years into the global AIDS response it is clear that advances made in HIV prevention have not been sufficient to get ahead of the epidemic.

The Lancet in conjunction with UNAIDS has produced a special series of six major articles on the future of global HIV prevention and held a lunchtime symposium with the authors and editors on 5 August during the International AIDS conference Mexico City.

The papers address the history of the global response to HIV, the evidence for biomedical interventions, how to improve behavioural approaches, addressing and understanding structural approaches, and how to make HIV prevention programmes work more effectively. They cite the successes and failures in HIV prevention to date, and conclude with a call to action for combination prevention to be implemented on a massive scale.

Coming to terms with complexity

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

The sixth article, by UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot*, argues that the key challenges to more effective HIV prevention lie in addressing sex, including being frank with young people; dealing with drug use rationally, and looking to the long term.

“Coming to terms with complexity” proposes that tailored “combination prevention” is as necessary as “combination treatment” when it comes to stopping the HIV epidemic. The paper explores the core technical, political and capacity gaps which stand in the way of fully effective combination prevention and is a call to action to overcome these challenges and to sustain an HIV prevention movement that mobilizes to curb HIV transmission globally.

*Authors of “Coming to terms with complexity: A call to action for HIV prevention”: Peter Piot (UNAIDS), Michael Bartos (UNAIDS) Heidi Larson (Clark University/Harvard University), Purnima Mane, (UNFPA), Debrework Zewdie (World Bank).

The Lancet

As a leading independent journal of global medicine, The Lancet is committed to advancing health for all people around the world. It publishes research aimed at changing medical practice and adding informed analysis and opinion to scientific and policy debates. The aim of the The Lancet Global Health Network site is to bring together international scientific and public health experts. The network synthesizes evidence, conducts new analyses, devises programmatic recommendations, and formulates proposals for action in international health and development. The series can be accessed on The Lancet Global Health Network web site

The Lancet Series on HIV Prevention

1. The history and challenge of HIV prevention Jeffrey O'Malley

2. Biomedical interventions to prevent HIV: Evidence, challenges and the way forward Nancy Padian

3. Behavioral strategies to reduce HIV transmission: How to make them work better Thomas Coates

4. Understanding and addressing structural factors in HIV prevention Jessica Ogden

5. Making HIV prevention programmes work Stefano M Bertozzi

6. Coming to terms with complexity: A call to action for HIV prevention Peter Piot

The International AIDS Society held a
special event during the XVII International
AIDS Conference to celebrate its 20th
anniversary.
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

In 1981 the first cases of unusual immune system failures were identified among gay men, women and injecting drug users. Some seven years later a group of prominent scientists from around the world came together to found the International AIDS Society (IAS) – an organisation which would organise international conferences on AIDS bringing together scientists, activists, researchers, people living with HIV and others working on AIDS issues to share knowledge and experiences in responding to the epidemic.

Since this time the IAS has convened the world’s largest meetings on HIV which are now held every two years.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the IAS and to commemorate the last 20 years, the IAS held a special event during the XVII International AIDS Conference which is taking place in Mexico from 3-8 August 2008.

Dr Pedro Cahn, IAS President and
Co-Chair of the XVII International AIDS
Conference (left) and former IAS President
and UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia Professor Lars O.
Kallings.
Credit: UNAIDS/agencialibrefoto

The event brought together a number of past IAS Presidents, including Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director and Founding President of the IAS, and UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Professor Lars O. Kallings.

Professor Kallings spoke about the IAS in the early years of the epidemic and Dr Piot looked to the future and spoke of the long term response to the epidemic. Kate Thomson, Chief of Civil Society Partnerships at UNAIDS gave a history of the involvement of people living with HIV in both the International AIDS Conference and the response to the epidemic