Geneva, 18 December 2009 – The Parliament of Rwanda is currently meeting to consider the Draft Penal Code of Rwanda, which contains two proposed provisions of concern to UNAIDS. One is a provision which criminalises ‘engaging in, and inciting, homosexual acts’, and the other provides for criminal penalties for sex...
Paris, 15 December 2009 - This Tuesday, 15 December 2009, Michel Sidibé, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and Abdou Diouf, the Secretary-General of La Francophonie, signed a Framework Agreement on Cooperation between their respective organizations.
Geneva, 1 December 2009 – On World AIDS Day, as we reflect on universal access and human rights, UNAIDS calls on governments to refrain from passing criminal laws that fuel discrimination, prevent effective national responses to HIV and violate human rights. 2009 has seen some important advances in creating a...
1 December 2009–– On this year’s World AIDS Day the UNAIDS family and the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010) are announcing a global call for nominations for the 2010 Red Ribbon Award. The Award honours community-based organisations for their contributions in responding to the AIDS epidemic.
UNAIDS is fully committed to stop violence against women and girls. The response to HIV provides an opportunity to reduce intimate partner and sexual violence and develop comprehensive responses to gender-based violence and HIV prevention within and beyond the health sector.
Geneva, 19 November 2009 – The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé has been awarded one of Monaco’s most prestigious awards, the Order of Saint Charles, for services rendered to the state or the Prince.
NEW YORK, 19 November 2009 – A special edition issue of UNICEF's flagship The State of the World's Children report, tracking the impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the challenges that remain, was released today on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Convention’s...
In two reports released today Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) and the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) document that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy in 2008 totaled $618 million among U.S.-based philanthropies and €91 million ($134 million) among European-based philanthropies. U.S. and European philanthropic funding for HIV/AIDS has decreased among most funders since...
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...
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) ahead of...
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...
HIV prevention interventions must reach men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, clients of female sex workers as well as their long-term female partners, according to a new report released at the 9th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.
AMSTERDAM / BALI / GENEVA / LONDON / NEW YORK, 9 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...
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-related legal services...
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.
A new report on investment in HIV prevention research in 2008 finds that HIV vaccine research funding levels decreased for the first time since investment trends have been tracked. This may have been influenced by shifts in scientific priorities, the declining economy and competing priorities in the larger global health...
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 parliamentarians...
Geneva/Washington, July 7, 2009 — UNAIDS welcomes the notice from 2 July 2009, issued by the US Government of a proposed rulemaking to remove entry restrictions based on HIV status of individuals. UNAIDS is opposed to restrictions on entry, stay and residence based on an individual’s HIV status. Such restrictions...
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.
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...
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 violated Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21...
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 of the Programme Coordinating Board (Board).
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...
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.
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'.
During the week of the World Health Assembly, UNAIDS’ executive director met with Health Ministers to underscore UNAIDS’ commitment in supporting countries to achieve their universal access goals.
UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé 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.
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 approaches to HIV, specifically focusing on men who have sex with men...
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 that ensure...
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...
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.
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.
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
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.
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 importance of...
GENEVA, 18 March 2009 – UNAIDS’ number one priority is universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
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.
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 Sidibé outlined his vision and priorities for UNAIDS in the township of Khayelitsha.
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...
