World AIDS Day 2009
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.
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President Zuma and UNAIDS Executive Director call for mass prevention movement at World AIDS Day commemoration in Pretoria
Mr Sidibé was in the company of the President of the Republic of South Africa Mr Jacob Zuma and Minster of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi at the Tshwane Events Centre in Pretoria for an event attended by thousands of participants. At the event, President Zuma made a commitment to take an HIV test, personifying the theme of the South African celebrations-I am Responsible. Mr Sidibé, in his World AIDS Day address referred to South African President Mr Zuma's landmark speech in October to the National Council of Provinces in Parliament. That speech, praised by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, marked a fundamental break from the past outlining bold and ambitious goals to turn the tide on AIDS epidemic. Read UNAIDS Executive Director's speech |
 "Universal Access and Human Rights"Statement by Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS On this World AIDS Day we are filled with both hope and concern. Hope because significant progress has been made towards universal access. New HIV infections have dropped. Fewer children are born with HIV. And more than 4 million people are on treatment. Concern because 28 years into the epidemic the virus continues to make inroads into new populations; stigma and discrimination continue to undermine efforts to turn back the epidemic. The violation of human rights of people living with HIV, women and girls, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and sex workers must end. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on "all countries to live up to their commitments to enact or enforce legislation outlawing discrimination against people living with HIV and members of vulnerable groups". On this World AIDS Day, let us work urgently |
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Reflecting on the World AIDS Day theme of 2009 of Universal Access and Human Rights, I was struck how much more needs to be done to ensure that women and girls across Sub‐Saharan Africa can access comprehensive HIV prevention, care and support services. In 2008, Sub‐Saharan Africa accounted for 91% (of the 1.4 million) pregnant women living with HIV worldwide; and a further 61% of people living with HIV on the continent1. Yet, only 44% of the people living with HIV in Africa are able to access antiretroviral treatment, and less than half of HIV positive pregnant women in Africa are receiving medicines to prevent their child of becoming HIV infected.
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The world is seeing signs of progress in reversing the AIDS epidemic in some countries. Investments in the AIDS response are producing results and saving lives. At the same time, in global terms new infections are outpacing the gains achieved in putting people on treatment, and AIDS remains one of the leading causes of premature death globally. On World AIDS Day this year, our challenge is clear: we must continue doing what works, but we must also do more, on an urgent basis, to uphold our commitment to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. |
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Today communities around world will remember the millions who have died of AIDS and speak out in solidarity with those living with HIV. While many of us, thanks to access to treatment, are able to lead full and productive lives, the global response is still not meeting the needs of the vast majority of those living with HIV. Of the almost 10 million people living with HIV in need of treatment, only around 4 million have access, and availability of second and third line therapies is still a challenge. |
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To mark World AIDS Day, UNAIDS Executive Director Mr Michel Sidibé joined President Jacob Zuma and South Africans in their national commemoration in Pretoria where he called for the forging of a mass prevention movement. 
Statement by UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon
World AIDS Day Statement 2008 - from UN Plus