World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 33.2 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005, of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.
The concept of a World AIDS Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. Since then, it has been taken up by governments, international organizations and charities around the world.
From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations. In 2005 this responsibility was turned over to World AIDS Campaign (WAC), who chose Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise as the main theme for World AIDS Day observances through 2010, with more specific sub-taglines chosen annually. This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts “in-country” campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.

World AIDS Day banner, European Commission building, Brussels

A large red ribbon hangs between columns in the north portico of the White House for World AIDS Day, November 30, 2007

A 67 m long "condom" on the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina, part of an awareness campaign for the 2005 World AIDS Day
It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995 the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.
World AIDS Day Themes 1988 - present
1988
Communication
1989
Youth
1990
Women and AIDS
1991
Sharing the Challenge
1992
Community Commitment
1993
Act
1994
AIDS and the Family
1995
Shared Rights, Shared Responsibilities
1996
One World. One Hope
1997
Children Living in a World with AIDS
1998
Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign With Young People
1999
Listen, Learn, Live: World AIDS Campaign with Children & Young People
2000
AIDS: Men Make a Difference
2001
I care. Do you?
2002
Stigma and Discrimination
2003
Stigma and Discrimination
2004
Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS
2005
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise
2006
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Accountability
2007
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Leadership
2008
Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise - Leadership

Videos and Interviews.

General Information about the AIDS.

HISTORY OF THE AIDS

AIDS was first reported June 5, 1981, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded a cluster of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (now still classified as PCP but known to be caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii) in five homosexual men in Los Angeles. In the beginning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did not have an official name for the disease, often referring to it by way of the diseases that were associated with it, for example, lymphadenopathy, the disease after which the discoverers of HIV originally named the virus. They also used Kaposi's Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections, the name by which a task force had been set up in 1981. In the general press, the term GRID, which stood for Gay-related immune deficiency, had been coined. The CDC, in search of a name, and looking at the infected communities coined “the 4H disease,” as it seemed to single out Haitians, homosexuals, hemophiliacs, and heroin users. However, after determining that AIDS was not isolated to the homosexual community, the term GRID became misleading and AIDS was introduced at a meeting in July 1982. By September 1982 the CDC started using the name AIDS, and properly defined the illness.
A more controversial theory known as the OPV AIDS hypothesis suggests that the AIDS epidemic was inadvertently started in the late 1950s in the Belgian Congo by Hilary Koprowski's research into a poliomyelitis vaccine. According to scientific consensus, this scenario is not supported by the available evidence.
A recent study states that HIV probably moved from Africa to Haiti and then entered the United States around 1969.

WHAT IS THE AIDS?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a set of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk. This transmission can involve anal, vaginal or oral sex, blood transfusion, contaminated hypodermic needles, exchange between mother and baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, or other exposure to one of the above bodily fluids.
AIDS is now a pandemic. In 2007, an estimated 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and it killed an estimated 2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. Over three-quarters of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and destroying human capital. Most researchers believe that HIV originated in sub-Saharan Africa during the twentieth century. AIDS was first recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 1981 and its cause, HIV, identified by American and French scientists in the early 1980s.
Although treatments for AIDS and HIV can slow the course of the disease, there is currently no vaccine or cure. Antiretroviral treatment reduces both the mortality and the morbidity of HIV infection, but these drugs are expensive and routine access to antiretroviral medication is not available in all countries. Due to the difficulty in treating HIV infection, preventing infection is a key aim in controlling the AIDS epidemic, with health organizations promoting safe sex and needle-exchange programmers in attempts to slow the spread of the virus.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M HIV POSITIVE?
You might not know if you get infected by HIV. Some people get fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomach ache, swollen lymph glands, or a skin rash for one or two weeks. Most people think it's the flu. Some people have no symptoms.
The virus will multiply in your body for a few weeks or even months before your immune system responds. During this time, you won't test positive for HIV, but you can infect other people.
When your immune system responds, it starts to make antibodies. When this happens, you will test positive for HIV.
After the first flu-like symptoms, some people with HIV stay healthy for ten years or longer. But during this time, HIV is damaging your immune system.
One way to measure the damage to your immune system is to count your CD4 cells you have. These cells, also called "T-helper" cells, are an important part of the immune system. Healthy people have between 500 and 1,500 CD4 cells in a milliliter of blood.
Without treatment, your CD4 cell count will most likely go down. You might start having signs of HIV disease like fevers, night sweats, diarrhea, or swollen lymph nodes. If you have HIV disease, these problems will last more than a few days, and probably continue for several weeks.

The AIDS is a disease that has his origin of the virus of the VIH, disease is what it provokes is that in your body they get down the defenses of the immunological, and like that system as the time passes and the immunological system is weakening our body is affected by more facility by virus that normally they would not be a problem for an immunological system in normal conditions. It is possible to say that a case of AIDS has developed in you when your level of lymphocytes TD4 they are below 200 cells for milliliter of blood. The virus of the VIH can be contracted by the different types of corporal fluids (blood, semen vaginal secretions, mother milk and in some cases it salivates), a person infected with VIH can feel healthy well and even this way you are infected and inclusive it can transmit the virus.

Relationship between drugs and the AIDS.

What should you know about drugs and aids?

Since the beginning of the pandemic of HIV, one of the central factors in its spread has been the behavior associated with drug abuse, including the sharing of needles for injecting drugs and unsafe sexual behavior that can occur after poisoning with alcohol or drugs. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS is a virus that lives and multiplies primarily in white blood cells (CD4 +), which are part of the immune system. Some important things you should know about AIDS is to know which way it spreads, HIV is transmitted through contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected person. In addition, pregnant women with HIV can transmit it to their babies during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding to them.
You can get infected in your first time, if your partner has HIV and you have unsafe sex, then you can become infected.
The difference between HIV and AIDS is that HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV stands for the 'Human Immunodeficiency Virus' and AIDS stands for the 'Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome'. AIDS is a serious condition in which the body's defences against some illnesses are broken down. This means that people with AIDS can get many different kinds of diseases which a healthy person's body would normally fight off quite easily.
The drugs have a lot to do with the spread of AIDS and that drugs and AIDS are interrelated in the spread and harm to humans. In people who abuse drugs, HIV transmission can occur when they share needles and other injection paraphernalia as flakes of cotton, and rinse water heaters not sterilized. However, these individuals are also at greater risk of HIV infection simply by using drugs, regardless of whether they are administered with a needle and syringe or not. Research supported by NIDA and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have shown that consumption of drugs and alcohol can interfere with the process and lead to risky sexual behaviors that put users at risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. Among the consequences of drug abuse include: Physiological and psychological disorders such as seizures, changes in heart rate, the deterioration of the central nervous system, hallucinations, paranoid tendencies, depression, etc.Deterioration and weakening of the will, deterioration of personal relationships, Baja performance at work or in the studio, Social and economic effects because the drug can be very expensive, leading the addict to devote all its resources to maintain consumption.
AIDS can be transmitted in many ways, but equally can be avoided by that here are some ways to prevent the spread of the virus already mentioned HIV / AIDS.
Early detection of HIV can help prevent its transmission. The research indicates that routine tests to detect HIV in health care between populations with prevalence rate as low as 1 percent, are a very viable from an economic point of view, testing other diseases such as breast cancer and high blood pressure. These findings suggest that testing for HIV can reduce medical costs by preventing high-risk practices and decreasing virus transmission.
The sex safer is a good option; safer sex also means using a condom during sexual intercourse. Using a condom is not absolutely safe as condoms can break, but condoms can be effective if they are used correctly. To find out more about this, see our condoms page.
Oral sex (one person kissing, licking or sucking the sexual areas of another person) does carry some risk of infection. If a person sucks the penis of an infected man, for example, infected fluid could get into the mouth. The virus could then get into the blood if you have bleeding gums or tiny sores somewhere in the mouth. The same is true if infected sexual fluids from a woman get into the mouth of her partner. But infection from oral sex alone seems to be very rare. Research has shown that a cumulative total of HIV prevention, which includes treatments for drug abuse, community outreach, testing and counseling for HIV and other infections in addition to treatment for HIV, is the most effective in reducing the risk of infections transmitted by blood.
The combination of behavioral and pharmacological treatments for drug abuse has a proven impact on risk behaviors for HIV and the incidence of HIV infection. For example, recent research has shown that when combined with behavioral therapies methadone treatment, about half of the participants who reported injecting drugs at the start of the study, reported that they no longer did so at the end of the study. Also, the exit survey, more than 90 percent of all participants reported that they did not share needles, while these findings show great promise for achieving reductions in risk behaviors for HIV, now studies are needed to improve the long-term effectiveness of these interventions.

Within the means of transmission of the disease, the biggest today is related to the conduct of drug abuse. Use or share non-sterile needles, cotton balls, water rinsing and spoons or containers for cooking drugs, such as those used to inject heroin, cocaine and other drugs, leaves the addict with a higher risk of contracting or transmitting HIV. On the other hand, simply taking drugs, there is more risk of contracting the disease, as there are studies showing that the use of drugs and alcohol interferes in the trial of the person about their sexual behavior or other risky activity, making them candidates to have sex without taking appropriate preventive measures, raising the risk of contracting HIV from infected sex partners. In its relationship with the world of AIDS drugs, you can highlight certain data: Spain is the European country with largest number of AIDS cases per year. More than ¾ of AIDS cases in the year 99 have direct or indirect relationship with the consumption of intravenous drugs, being higher in men than in women. Over 60% of cases of women infected by heterosexual transmission, were unprotected by maintaining relationships with people who injected or had injected some kind of drug. Since the beginning of the HIV / AIDS epidemic until December 31, 1999, have been registered in the National Registry of AIDS cases, 31,027 deaths from AIDS patients, of whom approximately 64% in people addicted to drugs injectors.
There is no cure for HIV. HIV is a virus, and no cure has been found for any type of virus. Recently, doctors have been able to control the virus once a person is infected, which means that a person with HIV can stay healthy for longer, but they have not managed to get rid of the virus in the body completely.
America’s HIV prevention strategic plan.
At the end of 2007, an estimated 33 million people were living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This number includes men, women and children of all ethnic and social backgrounds. Virtually every country in the world has been affected.

At the end of 2007, an estimated 33 million people were living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This number includes men, women and children of all ethnic and social backgrounds. Virtually every country in the world has been affected.
Pictures of people infected with HIV:

HIV positive couple in South Africa.

HIV positive man with his mother.

AIDS orphans in zambia.

Finally, the drugs have a relationship with AIDS, to spread and infect the virus to drug addicts and others, causing many problems, in addition to increasing the number of infected from this pandemic in the world.

Reporter number #2: What should you know about drugs and aids?
My Opinion

AIDS is a virus that lives and multiplies primarily in white blood cells, affecting the immune system and eventually cause a depletion in these cells, the owner of this virus may appear and feel good for years without knowing who is infected, however this individual becomes more prone to infections and diseases more common, which can lead to death. I think that drugs have a lot to do with the spread of HIV, since the use of needles or syringes or flakes of cotton and boiled water not sterilized, can cause a person to be infected, although the person who consumes drugs is prone to infection, although this person will injected with a syringe or not.
The relationship between the world of drugs to HIV / AIDS has a great connection in the spread of the virus, increasing deaths and people infected with the disease, but AIDS does not destroy your dreams and visions for the future, there is much for which to live and if you have AIDS, must learn and find out everything you can, in addition to say before it’s too late.

what are the riks if you are an homosexual a heterosexual person?

What happens when a person is HIV positive and what may be its evolution?

We can separate three phases that may occur after infection with HIV:

- Primary: infected people are beginning to produce anti-HIV antibodies that may be detectable with the serological test. People are then infected.

- Evolution: in a second phase of the infection, from 6 months to 10 years or more, clinical manifestations may occur in some people and in others, evolution towards AIDS (severe form of infection with HIV), while another third group can maintained without any demonstration. Among the minor symptoms of infection with HIV can be found persistent clinical symptoms, such as an increase in the volume of the nodes in various parts of the body, weight loss greater than 10% of body weight, fever and night sweats, and severe forms of herpes, Persistent diarrheic and abundant. These symptoms are not specific to AIDS because many diseases, usually benign, can cause these events. People who have a low percentage of T4 cells are at high risk of evolving into the disease.

- AIDS: People who develop AIDS, because the immune system is severely damaged, they can submit the following events:
•OpportunisticAJJInfections;
•some cancers (lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma);
•other conditions: neurological syndrome thinning, and so on.

However, other people may remain without symptoms. It is clear that a number of HIV positive can maintain a state of incubation for more than 10 years, but they could develop the disease later because the maximum incubation time is still unknown.

Does it cure?

The eradication of HIV in infected patients does not seem possible with current treatments. Properly speaking, today AIDS is incurable. However, many of the processes necessary to undertake the lives of AIDS patients are treated effectively. In addition, the administration of anti-retroviral drugs has led to significantly prolong survival in zero positive patients, so that the disease had become a chronic process.
Despite the extensive development that has made the investigation of this disease in recent years, still does not seem to close the availability of an effective vaccine.

ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST AIDS

Share of UNAIDS in 2008

AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference 3-8 August 2008, Mexico City

The XVII International AIDS Conference has ended in the Mexican capital after five days of spirited participation involving an estimated 22,000 people engaged in the global response to AIDS.

This rally brought together HIV and human rights organizations from around the world to call for vastly greater attention to human rights in the response to HIV and express support for populations at higher risk for HIV. During the rally, a copy of “Now More than Ever”, a declaration on HIV and human rights endorsed by over 500 organizations worldwide was accepted on stage by Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine, IAS Executive Director Craig McClure and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot. 07 August 2008
Looking to the Future--The Epidemic in 2031 and New Directions in AIDS Research

Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS took part in a Special Session co-chaired by Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Director, Regulation of Retroviral Infections Unit, Institut Pasteur and Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet. Dr Piot spoke on the 2031 initiative: "Looking to the year 2031 and anticipating where we are likely to be in terms of the epidemic and the response."

Red Ribbon Award winners honoured

Representatives of 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning communities were guests of honour at a formal Award Ceremony and Dinner held last night in Mexico City.

International AIDS Society marks 20 years

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the IAS and to commemorate the last 20 years, the IAS held a special event bringing together a number of past IAS Presidents, including Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director and UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as well as Founding President of the IAS, Professor Lars O. Kallings.

The Lancet: Series on HIV prevention launched

The Lancet in conjunction with UNAIDS has produced a special series of six major articles on the future of global HIV prevention and held a lunchtime symposium with the authors on 5 August during the International AIDS conference Mexico City.

Special Session on the global financial architecture for AIDS

The shifting dynamics of the AIDS global financial architecture were explored in depth at a Special Session held on 5 August during the International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico. Michel Sidibe, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of Programmes, UNAIDS, discussed the challenges to ensuring that global standards are upheld as services are scaled up.

IAVI launches 2008 AIDS vaccine blueprint in Mexico City

With the release of its biennial AIDS Vaccine Blueprint 2008 at the International AIDS Conference today in Mexico City, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) seeks to reset both expectations and focus in the search for an AIDS vaccine.

Official opening of the Global Village at AIDS 2008

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot officially opened the Global Village at AIDS 2008, which for the coming week will be an open dialogue space where thousands of visitors will share knowledge and skills.

AIDS 2008 opens in Mexico

With great celebration and a characteristically warm Latin American welcome, the XVII International AIDS Conference opened on Sunday 3 August in Mexico City. Thousands of delegates from all over the world will spend the next week participating in conference sessions, satellite meetings, exhibitions as well as the Global Village and a wide cultural programme.

Leaders pledge to promote sexual health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean

At the conclusion of the 1st Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministers have signed an historic declaration committing to provide comprehensive sex education to adolescents and young people in the region.

Faith community reaches out to people living with HIV

Engaging in an act of “humility and repentance,” a world church leader began his presentation to an international ecumenical AIDS conference by washing the feet of two women living with HIV.

First Ladies and women leaders of Latin America meet in Mexico
The Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America on Women and AIDS met on 2 August and approved a statement reaffirming their commitment to advocate for improved HIV services for women and ’s health.

Dr Peter Piot attends opening ceremony of Positive Leadership Forum

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot attended "Living 2008", the 2 day Positive Leadership Forum taking place in Mexico 31 July-1 August 2008.

350 HIV-positive global leaders and advocates from 88 countries have come together to discuss a range of issues in the AIDS response impacting people living with HIV worldwide.

MSM and the global HIV epidemic
Ahead of AIDS 2008, a two day forum being held in Mexico will focus on men who have sex with men and HIV. In many parts of the world social taboos largely prevent sustained discussion on the issue and have inhibited efforts to promote safer sexual relations.

Positive Leadership Summit 2008

Ahead of the Positive Leadership Summit which will begin in Mexico City on 31 July, unaids.org asked Kate Thomson, UNAIDS Chief of Civil Society Partnerships to reflect on the changing leadership role of the global positive community and today’s outstanding issues.

Anti-stigma campaign to be launched at Mexico AIDS Conference

AIDES, the French national AIDS association, and the International AIDS Society (IAS) have joined forces to denounce stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV through an awareness campaign titled “If I were HIV-positive”.

“YouthForce”: The Power of Youth at AIDS 2008

To promote and strengthen young delegates' meaningful participation in the AIDS 2008 conference, YouthForce is coordinating a three day event for approximately 250 young HIV activists.
The Life Initiative – Hotels addressing AIDS

UNAIDS and the Mexican hotel industry are launching an HIV prevention campaign entitled “The Life Initiative – Hotels addressing AIDS”. Aimed at hotel guests and staff the initiative will raise awareness about HIV prevention and non-discrimination of people living with HIV.

The XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) will be held in México City, México from 3-8 August 2008 under the theme Universal Action Now. The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest HIV forum, with over 20,000 participants and 3,000 international media expected and it is the first International AIDS Conference to be held in Latin America.

AIDS 2008 will provide many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS.

AIDS 2008 is convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS) with the support of local partners such as the federal government of Mexico, the Government of Mexico City and local scientific and community leadership. UNAIDS and its cosponsors are among the international institutional partners for AIDS 2008.

AIDS Foundation of San Francisco, SFAF - United States

Communication Strategies SFAF offers programs designed to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV / AIDS and to reduce the number of new infections happens every year.

Buenos Aires SIDA

Buenos Aires SIDA

Mission of the organization
a) and personalized telephone counseling
b) Training workshops and training of multipliers aimed at teenagers and young
c) Two hydrants free distribution of condoms (in the neighborhoods of Constitution and Flores): articulated with the Network of Distribution of condoms for AIDS Coordination belonging to the Ministry of Health, Government of the City of Buenos Aires, distributing 20,000 condoms a month especially:



Transvestites who perform sex work or in prostitution (as the very definition of each) or in situations of sexual exploitation (in the case of minors)


Massive youth events (articulated with the DINAJU and Dir. Youth City)


Public and Private Schools (skills articulated with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Provincial AIDS and the same schools), this activity requires 15,000 condoms a month are provided by the company Kopelco SA (Condoms tulip)


Drug users (prevention of sexual transmission in users / as drugs and their sexual partners and promoting strategies for reducing damage)
d) Campaigns Target developed in nightclubs
Distinct activities in:

Discos for teenagers Nightclubs of the Movida Bailantera Gay discos in attendance and / or transvestite e) Distribution of three video-clips of HIV / AIDS prevention (developed by the FBAS) Video I managed to gays, lesbians and transvestites "It's Good Taste Pamper yourself" Video II addressed to heterosexual (Techno-dance music), "fun and We Care" Video III addressed to heterosexual (music Bailantera-Tropical), "Bailamos fun and take care of us" f) "Every day can be Children's Day" activity in secondary prevention and solidarity with people living with HIV / AIDS who are being held at the Francisco Muniz Hospital g) prevention in high schools (polymodal and third cycle of EGB) in Capital Federal, Buenos Aires and Municipalities of the other

UNAIDS

AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference 3-8 August 2008, Mexico City

08 August 2008
AIDS 2008 closes in Mexico

The XVII International AIDS Conference has ended in the Mexican capital after five days of spirited participation involving an estimated 22,000 people engaged in the global response to AIDS.

07 August 2008
International Rally for Human Rights and HIV

This rally brought together HIV and human rights organizations from around the world to call for vastly greater attention to human rights in the response to HIV and express support for populations at higher risk for HIV. During the rally, a copy of “Now More than Ever”, a declaration on HIV and human rights endorsed by over 500 organizations worldwide was accepted on stage by Global Fund Executive Director Michel Kazatchkine, IAS Executive Director Craig McClure and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.

07 August 2008
Looking to the Future--The Epidemic in 2031 and New Directions in AIDS Research

Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS took part in a Special Session co-chaired by Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Director, Regulation of Retroviral Infections Unit, Institut Pasteur and Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief, The Lancet. Dr Piot spoke on the 2031 initiative: "Looking to the year 2031 and anticipating where we are likely to be in terms of the epidemic and the response."

06 August 2008
Red Ribbon Award winners honoured

Representatives of 25 Red Ribbon Award 2008 winning communities were guests of honour at a formal Award Ceremony and Dinner held last night in Mexico City.

06 August 2008
International AIDS Society marks 20 years

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the IAS and to commemorate the last 20 years, the IAS held a special event bringing together a number of past IAS Presidents, including Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director and UN Special Envoy for AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia as well as Founding President of the IAS, Professor Lars O. Kallings.

05 August 2008
Special Session on the global financial architecture for AIDS

The shifting dynamics of the AIDS global financial architecture were explored in depth at a Special Session held on 5 August during the International AIDS Conference taking place in Mexico. Michel Sidibe, Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of Programmes, UNAIDS, discussed the challenges to ensuring that global standards are upheld as services are scaled up.

05 August 2008
IAVI launches 2008 AIDS vaccine blueprint in Mexico City

With the release of its biennial AIDS Vaccine Blueprint 2008 at the International AIDS Conference today in Mexico City, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) seeks to reset both expectations and focus in the search for an AIDS vaccine.

05 August 2008
Official opening of the Global Village at AIDS 2008

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot officially opened the Global Village at AIDS 2008, which for the coming week will be an open dialogue space where thousands of visitors will share knowledge and skills.

04 August 2008
AIDS 2008 opens in Mexico

With great celebration and a characteristically warm Latin American welcome, the XVII International AIDS Conference opened on Sunday 3 August in Mexico City. Thousands of delegates from all over the world will spend the next week participating in conference sessions, satellite meetings, exhibitions as well as the Global Village and a wide cultural programme.

03 August 2008
Leaders pledge to promote sexual health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean

At the conclusion of the 1st Meeting of Ministers of Education and Health to stop HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, Ministers have signed an historic declaration committing to provide comprehensive sex education to adolescents and young people in the region.

03 August 2008
Faith community reaches out to people living with HIV

Engaging in an act of “humility and repentance,” a world church leader began his presentation to an international ecumenical AIDS conference by washing the feet of two women living with HIV.

02 August 2008
First Ladies and women leaders of Latin America meet in Mexico
The Coalition of First Ladies and Women Leaders of Latin America on Women and AIDS met on 2 August and approved a statement reaffirming their commitment to advocate for improved HIV services for women and ’s health.

31 July 2008
Dr Peter Piot attends opening ceremony of Positive Leadership Forum

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot attended "Living 2008", the 2 day Positive Leadership Forum taking place in Mexico 31 July-1 August 2008.

350 HIV-positive global leaders and advocates from 88 countries have come together to discuss a range of issues in the AIDS response impacting people living with HIV worldwide.

31 July 2008
MSM and the global HIV epidemic
Ahead of AIDS 2008, a two day forum being held in Mexico will focus on men who have sex with men and HIV. In many parts of the world social taboos largely prevent sustained discussion on the issue and have inhibited efforts to promote safer sexual relations.

30 July 2008
Positive Leadership Summit 2008

Ahead of the Positive Leadership Summit which will begin in Mexico City on 31 July, unaids.org asked Kate Thomson, UNAIDS Chief of Civil Society Partnerships to reflect on the changing leadership role of the global positive community and today’s outstanding issues.

The XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) will be held in México City, México from 3-8 August 2008 under the theme Universal Action Now. The International AIDS Conference is the world’s largest HIV forum, with over 20,000 participants and 3,000 international media expected and it is the first International AIDS Conference to be held in Latin America.

AIDS 2008 will provide many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and for productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to AIDS.

AIDS 2008 is convened by the International AIDS Society (IAS) with the support of local partners such as the federal government of Mexico, the Government of Mexico City and local scientific and community leadership. UNAIDS and its cosponsors are among the international institutional partners for AIDS 2008.

The AIDS