UNAIDS calls for global freedom of movement for people living with HIV in 2010

GENEVA, WASHINGTON DC, 4 January 2010 - UNAIDS strongly welcomes the elimination of travel restrictions based on HIV status by the Republic of Korea, effective 1 January 2010. It also commends the United States for full implementation of the final rule that removes entry restrictions which means that travellers living with HIV can freely enter the United States of America as of today.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated President Lee Myung-bak on the Republic of Korea's decision. "I applaud President Lee for his country's leadership in ending restrictions towards people living with HIV that have no public health benefit," said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"I repeat my call to all other countries with such discriminatory restrictions to take steps to remove them at the earliest."

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Map of countries, territories and areas that have some form of HIV-related restriction on entry, stay or residence

Johannesburg, 14 December 2009 - Some 30 judges from the highest national and regional courts from 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa met in South Africa on 10-12 December to discuss the role of the judiciary in the AIDS response.

The meeting, convened by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS together with the United Nations Development Programme, the International Association of Women Judges and the International Commission of Jurists included discussions around the latest scientific and juridical developments relevant to the legal response to HIV. In addition to the judges, participants included people living with HIV, representatives of sex workers and men who have sex with men, members of regional parliamentary institutions and non-governmental organisations working on HIV and the law in the region.

2009 marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. Every year, on the first of December the world comes together to commemorate those who have died and to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.

This year's theme "Human Rights and Universal Access" addresses the critical need to protect human rights and ensure universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The day is also a call to countries to remove laws that discriminate against people living with HIV, women and marginalized groups. A series of events are planned globally to mark the Day.

NEW YORK/GENEVA/BARCELONA - 30 November 2009 - National efforts to combat AIDS, particularly preventing mother-to-child transmission, are showin positive results, but mnay HIV and AIDS affected children still struggle to have their basic needs met, according to a report launched today by four United Nations agencies.

The report, titled Children and AIDS: The Fourth Stocktaking Report, 2009 and published jointly by UNAIDS, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), features data on interventions that protect women and children from HIV and AIDS and a set of principles to guide accelerated action.

The data shows there has been significant progress in some countries in both treatment to avoid mother-to-child transmission and testing of pregnant women for HIV. Treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission is now provided to 95 per cent of those in need in Botswana, 91 per cent in Namibia and 73 per cent in South Africa -- all countries with high HIV prevalence. Progress is particularly evident in South Africa, where coverage was risen from just 15 per cent in 2004.

Downloadable documents

• Children and AIDS: 4th Stocktacking Report
• One page summary - Children and AIDS: 4th Stocktacking Report
• Key Facts - Children and AIDS: 4th Stocktacking Report

Geneva, 30 November 2009 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new recommendations on treatment, prevention and infant feeding in the context of HIV, based on the latest scientific evidence.

WHO now recommends earlier initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adults and adolescents, the delivery of more patient-friendly antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), and prolonged use of ARVs to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. For the first time, WHO recommends that HIV-positive mothers or their infants take ARVs while breastfeeding to prevent HIV transmission.

"These new recommendations are based on the most up to date, available data," said Dr Hiroki Nakatani, Assistant Director General for HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the World Health Organization.  "Their widespread adoption will enable many more people in high-burden areas to live longer and healthier lives."

An estimated 33.4 million people are living with HIV, and there are some 2.7 million new infections each year. Globally, AIDS is the leading cause of mortality among women of reproductive age.

Download the recommentations:

Use of antiretroviral drugs for treating pregnant women and preventing HIV Infection in infants
HIV and infant feeding. Revised principles and recommendations
Antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection in adults and adolescents

Efforts towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support are bringing AIDS out of isolation

Geneva / Shanghai, 24 November 2009 - According to new data in the 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update, new HIV infections have been reduced by 17% over the past eight years. Since 2001, when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed, the number of new infections in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 15% lower, which is around 400,000 fewer infections in 2008. In East Asia, new HIV infections declined by nearly 25% and in South and South-East Asia by 10% in the same time period. In Eastern Europe, after a dramatic increase in new infections among injecting drug users, the epidemic has leveled off considerably. However, in some countries there are signs that new HIV infections are rising again.

The report, released today by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights that beyond the peak and natural course of the epidemic, HIV prevention programmes are making a difference.

Download Outlook 2010
Download AIDS Epidemic Update

Pretoria 23 November 2009 - Although little research has been conducted on the role of same-sex HIV transmission in Africa, recent studies presented at international AIDS conferences in Mexico and Canada indicate HIV prevalence is considerably higher among men who have sex with men than in the general population.

According to an article published in the Lancet in July, the proportion of HIV incidence (i.e. the number of new HIV infections) is estimated to be as high as 20% in osme west African countries. However, the latest UNGASS country reports (2008) show that only 12% of men who have sex with men are accessing HIV prevention services across Africa.

Johannesburg. 19 November 2009 - Worldwide, the high rates of HIV in prisons pose a serious threat for prison populations and in turn, the broader community. The lack of knowledge and education amongst prisoners regarding the risks of contracting and transmitting HIV, along with the absence of protective measures and proper health services in prisons, increases their risks of infection. Upon release, despite having been at high risk of exposure for HIV transmission whilst in prison, most return to the community where they may engage in pre-existing high risk activities for the transmission of HIV such as sexual behaviour of multiple concurrent partners and Injecting Drug Use (IDU), and as a result increasing the risks of HIV infection for the broader community.

In this light, UNODC, in partnership with WHO, the World Bank and UNAIDS launched the African HIV in Prisons Partnership Network (AHPPN) with the objective of supporting relevant stakeholders in their efforts to mount effective, human rights-based responses to HIV in prisons in Africa, through advocacy and facilitation of international, national and multi-sectoral cooperation and action.

In order to support the Networks activities, the AHPPN website has been released to facilitate information sharing and ideas generation. Please register as a user at www.ahppn.org to access the meeting presentations and any other information generated by the Network's members.

Downloadable documents:

• Situation Analysis: HIV in Prison and HIV and Injecting Drug Use in Africa
• HIV and AIDS in places of detention. A toolkit for policymakers, programme managers,  prison officers and  health care providers in prison settings

30 October 2009 - South Africa's response to AIDS received a powerful boost with President Jacob Zuma's landmark speech to the National Council of Provinces on 29 October 2009. The speech heralds the beginning of a new movement to accelerate access towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support in the country which has the largest number of people living with HIV. In his speech the President calls on all leaders to work together and use evidence to inform the country's AIDS response.

Congratulating the President on his bold leadership, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé said, "President Zuma has shown extraordinary vision in prioritizing AIDS as an issue of national importance. His call to end denialism and embark on a national mobilization campaign will saves thousands of lives."

30 Septmeber 2009 - Geneva / Paris -- More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the close of 2008, representing a 36% increase in one year and a ten-fold increase over five years, according to a new report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

Towards Universal Access: Scaling Up Priority HIV/AIDS Interventions in the Health Sector highlights other gains, including expanded HIV testing and counselling and improved access to services to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child.

"This report shows tremendous progress in the global HIV/AIDS response," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan. "But we need to do more. At least 5 million people living with HIV still do not have access to life-prolonging treatment and care. Prevention services fail to reach many in need. Governments and international partners must accelerate their efforts to achieve universal access to treatment."

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Full report
Executive summary
Fact sheets
Highlights from Eastern and Southern Africa
Press release