Message from UNAIDS Executive Director Mr. Michel Sidibé

GENEVA, 8 March 2011—Today is the 100^th anniversary of the International Women’s day and I salute all women.

There is much to celebrate and there is so much more we can and should do.

30 years into the AIDS epidemic, women and girls are still the most affected—nearly 16 million are living with HIV and the number continues to rise every day. 

We must not accept this.

I hope for a world where; all women can protect themselves and their children from HIV; all women have access to HIV treatment; and women  and girls do not fear rape, violence and HIV infection.

I hope for a world where there are Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination and Zero AIDS–related deaths among women and girls.

We must make this a reality, not in the next 100 years, but now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt2s86NrF8k

Sustained global investment is needed to ensure people most in need have access to life-saving HIV services.

GENEVA, 4 February 2011— Investments in AIDS are showing results, but the gains are fragile. Declines in international investments will affect low-income countries the most—nearly 90% rely on international funding for their AIDS programmes. Investing in the AIDS response is a shared responsibility—of donors and developing countries–and must deliver results for people.

Global Fund grants have helped save millions of lives by making billions of dollars available for HIV prevention, treatment care and support. Three million people have access to antiretroviral treatment through Global Fund grants. The financial mechanisms and systems of the Global Fund are transparent and have delivered value for communities and people affected by AIDS, TB and malaria. 

The United Nations values accountability and transparency. UNAIDS fully supports the policy of zero tolerance for corruption and calls for systems to ensure resources are utilized efficiently and appropriately. There is an urgent need to use and strengthen existing systems of countries and implementing partners to prevent misuse before it occurs.