07. June 2006
HIV/AIDS – too little money, too many deaths
...and new infections
About 100 ministers and 10 presidents attended the 2006 AIDS conference in New York. The conference which lasted from May 31st to June2nd 2006 was the biggest gathering since the last five years and generated a 53-point official statement from the participants. A special focus was made in formulating a global strategy in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Moreover, the participants called for the protection and education of women. The original format of the declaration can be downloaded here:www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2006/declaration.htm.
It has been over 25 years , specifically on June 5th 1981, since the first Aids-case was documented. Today, the gnawing fear is that this pandemic will turn out as the worst in history. Up until now, 25 million people have lost their lives because of virus, according to the actual UNO Aids Report. About 40 million people are affected worldwide, half of them are women. Every day 8,500 persons die and 13,500 new persons get infected.
UN general secretary Kofi Annan has demanded more commitment to the struggle against HIV/AIDS proclaiming that the Community of States did not fullfill its promises and that the efforts to stop the spread amongst women has failed.
Despite efforts of world leaders in the said conference, NGOs are criticising not only the missing of straight plans for financing in the above-mentioned declaration, but also a certain tendency from mostly Islamic countriesto deny the problem.
For further information and links:
Download the 2006 Report on the Global Aids epidemic www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2006GlobalReport/default.asp
UNAIDS : www.unaids.org
UNFPA- www.unfpa.org/