[hivaids-twg] Fwd: Today's News (2009.11.17ex)

Wed Nov 18 07:53:54 GMT 2009

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Diaz, Clara <diazc at unaids.org>
Date: Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Subject: Today's News (2009.11.17ex)
To:

 Please find attached the following AIDS-related articles compiled by UNAIDS

*UNAIDS*

1. ISRIA - *UN - Exhibition of Photos by African Women, Children Affected by
HIV/AIDS Opens at Headquarters on 17 November *

*AFRICA** AND MIDDLE EAST*

1. Daily Monitor, Uganda - *Museveni warns against homosexuality *

2. Vanguard, Nigeria - *WACN Tackles HIV Transmission *

3. UN IRIN - *Mozambique**: Mobile Unit to Fight Aids in Niassa  *

4. Public Agenda, Ghana - *60 Ghanaians Contract HIV Daily *

*ASIA** AND PACIFIC*

1. Times of India - *City women fare poorly on AIDS awareness meter *

2. The Nation, Thailand - *No promotion for HIV/Aids workers : study*

3. The Natio, Pakistan - *'25 years into epidemic, people still unaware of
AIDS'*

4. The Rising Nepal Daily - *Law demanded against passing HIV deliberately*

*EUROPE***

1. AFP - *Experts propose new ways to slow Africa's population growth*

2. Reuters AlertNet, UK - *UGANDA**: AIDS Commission takes new direction in
prevention *

3. AFP - *Buenos Aires, première à autoriser les mariages gays en Amérique
latine*

4. El País, Spain - *Sanidad ya tiene responsable del plan antisida *

*LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN*

1. Daily Herald, St. Martin - *PMT says population becoming more aware about
HIV/AIDS *

2. Clarín, Argentina - *Por primera vez, el Registro Civil dio turno para
casarse a dos gays *

3. O Imparcial-AM, Brazil - *Luta contra a AIDS em discussão nesta segunda
na Univima *

*NORTH AMERICA*

1. Washington Post - *D.C. AIDS office ordered to answer HUD*

2. IPS Terra Viva - *Hunger Summit Passes Toothless Declaration *

3. IPS Terra Viva - *Q&A: "Truly Exciting If the U.S. Could Ratify CEDAW" -
Part 2 *

4. Canadian Press - *AIDS researchers say immunity to deadly virus is key to
finding vaccine*

*UNAIDS WEB.SITE*

1. UNAIDS - New reports on U.S. and European philanthropic support to
HIV/AIDS in 2008

===========================

*UNAIDS*

===========================

*UN - Exhibition of Photos by African Women, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS
Opens at Headquarters on 17 November**
**ISRIA*

17/11/2009

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is hosting an
exhibition of more than 40 extraordinary photographs by South African women
living with HIV and Mozambican children orphaned by AIDS.

A project of Los Angeles-based Venice Arts, the exhibition is entitled “The
House Is Small but the Welcome Is Big”. It opens formally at 6 p.m. on
Tuesday 17 November, in the South Gallery of the Visitors Lobby at United
Nations Headquarters.

Making statements at the opening will be Bertil Lindblad, Director of the
UNAIDS New York Office, and Neal Baer, M.D., Emmy-nominated writer/executive
producer of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a co-founder of the
project. Also attending will be stars of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,
including Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Dann Florek, Richard Belzer,
Ice-T, Stephanie March, BD Wong and Tamara Tunie.

The name of the project comes from one of the photographs, taken by
28-year-old Funeka Nceke of Cape Town, South Africa. On the wall of her
friend's home hangs an embroidered cloth that reads, “The House Is Small but
the Welcome Is Big”.

Living with her two children and two other family members in a shack with no
electricity or running water, Funeka learned she was HIV-positive in 2003.
That and other compelling stories convey the daily lives of 15 women and 18
children who face tremendous challenges because of HIV/AIDS.

“HIV is about everyone. It is not about ‘us versus them’. There is no ‘them’
-- only ‘us’, together,” says United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The exhibition is sponsored by UNAIDS and Venice Arts. UNAIDS is an
innovative joint venture of the United Nations family, bringing together the
efforts and resources of 10 of the Organization’s bodies in response to AIDS
so as to help the world prevent new HIV infections, care for people living
with the AIDS-causing virus and mitigate the impact of the epidemic. Venice
Arts is a non-profit organization running innovative programmes in
documentary photography, filmmaking and digital media/arts since 1993

===========================

*AFRICA** AND MIDDLE EAST*

===========================

*Museveni warns against homosexuality**
**Daily Monitor, Uganda*

16/11/2009

Emmanuel Gyezaho

Kampala - President Museveni has joined the anti-gay crusade, saying he had
received reports suggesting that “European homosexuals” had launched a
recruitment drive in Africa.

He urged the youth to reject the advances. Expressing his homophobia, Mr
Museveni said the youth must stand firm and abhor the divergent sexual
orientation.

“I hear European homosexuals are recruiting in Africa,” said Mr Museveni on
Saturday, to an audience of mainly youth at the Kampala Serena Hotel that
homosexuality is un-natural.

“We used to have very few homosexuals traditionally. They were not
persecuted but were not encouraged either because it was clear that is not
how God arranged things to be.”

The NRM leader was speaking at the inaugural Young Achievers Awards
ceremony, an event organised by Tetea Uganda, a private firm, to honour the
country’s youth who have excelled in various disciplines.

The President’s comments follow efforts by lawmaker David Bahati (NRM,
Ndorwa West) who moved a private members Bill last month—The
Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009, to outlaw homosexuality in the country.

Included in the draft text are not only condemnations of same-sex relations,
but a new crime that carries the death penalty, and a criminal sentence for
having sex while HIV positive.

Taboo subject

Homosexuality remains a taboo subject in many African societies and if
passed in its current state, the Anti Homosexuality Bill, condemned by
rights groups, would make Uganda one of the most dangerous places for gay
people.

“You should discourage your colleagues [involved in homosexuality] because
God was not foolish to do the way he arranged,” said Mr Museveni, adding,
“Mr and Mrs, but now you have to say Mr and Mr? What is that now?”

The President’s comments will enrage Uganda’s gay community which has
strongly protested the new Bill, and will put Mr Museveni’s regime on a
collision path with several of Uganda’s critical donors who are strong
proponents of homosexuality and the ideals of civil liberties.

Rights advocates have said the government’s stance on homosexuality is
illegal, not to mention an outrage.

Mr Museveni also cautioned the youth against drug abuse, and said, “If you
know, tell your friend who is being tempted to smoke those drugs; counsel
them. Aids and drugs are here.”

Tennis ace Duncan Mugabe, 19, scooped the overall Young Achiever of the Year
award for his exploits on court, while the late Yvonne Namaganda was
awarded, posthumously, a hero’s award for her heroic endeavours in saving
the lives of fellow pupils at the tragic Budo Junior School inferno.

Mr Museveni was himself a beneficiary of an award, scooping the Life Time
Achievement Award for what Tetea Uganda Managing Director Awel Uwihanganye
said was the President’s contribution in providing an “enabling environment”
for Uganda’s youth to exploit their talents.

“The future of Uganda is in the hands of you young people,” Mr Museveni
said. “I implore you young people to have love for your nation and embrace
patriotism, discard sectarianism, tribalism and religious bigotry.”

*2*

*WACN Tackles HIV Transmission**
**Vanguard, Nigeria*

17/11/2009

Chioma Obinna

In as much as mother-to-child-Transmission (MTCT) of HIV is almost entirely
preventable where services are available, infant feeding choices for the
HIV-infected women remains one of the most contentious issues in efforts to
prevent MTCT of HIV in resource poor countries like Nigeria.

Statistics have shown over 7400 new HIV infections daily, about 1000 are in
children less than 15 years of age while 90 percent are acquried during
pregnancy, child birth and the post natal period through breast feeding.

However, a high percentage of MTCT of HIV can be attributable to breast
feeding and yet breast feeding is known to confer several protective health
benefits to the infant and it is the cultural norm in many communities in
Nigeria.

These facts alone, according to the Chairman of the West African College of
Nursing (WACN), Nigeria Chapter, Prof Mildred John pose a dilemma both to
health care provider and to the infected pregnant mother.

In recognition of these and others, the Nigerian chapter of WACN organised a
2- day sub - regional workshop on the Prevention of MTCT of HIV/AIDS for
nurses in Lagos.

Giving insight into the problem of infant feeding choices, John lamented
that HIV infection is wreaking havoc and taking a toll on the population.

Without intervention 15- 45 per cent of infants born to mothers living with
HIV will become infected,while 5-10 per cent would occur during pregnancy,
20 per cent during labour and delivery and 20 per cent through breast
feeding.

John noted that PMTCT can be acvhieved through giving the HIV positive
pregnant women a combination of antiretrovirtal (ARV) drugs from late in
pregnancy until six months inmto breast feeding as well as ensuring safer
infant feeding practices.

In her key note address entitled; "Mother - To - Child - Transmission:
Implication on infant Feeding and Nutrition in Children:, Dr. Dayo Lajide
from the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, (LSACA) recommended that infant
feeding should depend on a mother's individual situation as replacement
feeding can be much nmore hazardous in resources constrained countries like
Nigeria.

She advocated for support for mothers who choose replacement feeding as it
could be challenging even in the best of circumstances.

In her words, "Replacement feeding is the only 100 per cent effective way to
prevent Mother - To- Child Trasnmsission of HIV after birth. This benefit
however, must be weighed against practical difficulties and the risk from
other illnesses"

Lajide stressed that as part of efforts to support mothers who choose
replacement feeding, counsellors must emphasise the need for sterile
equipment and correct dilution and the dangers of keeping prepared formula
for long periods in a room temperature.

"Mothers should also be taught how to prevent breast engorgement,
particularly without drugs and how to to recognise and treat dehydration
when it occurs".

*3*

*Mozambique: Mobile Unit to Fight Aids in Niassa  **
**UN IRIN*

16/11/2009

Maputo — A multimedia mobile unit is now on the road in the northern
Mozambican province of Niassa with the task of making communities aware of
AIDS and how to prevent the disease,

According to a press release from the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF), the vehicle was provided by the Niassa Cotton Company (SAN), which
is part of the Portuguese Joao Ferreira dos Santos (JFS) group.

It is equipped with a computerised video and sound amplification system that
was provided by the Association of Business People against HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria (ECOSIDA), and by the National Aids Council (CNCS).

The crew of the mobile unit hopes to promote healthy attitudes, by involving
communities in interactive debates, and providing pertinent information on
HIV/AIDS and more general issues of health, education and child protection.

ECOSIDA has trained a group of local activists to operate the equipment and
to act as peer educators among the communities.

"The use of mobile multimedia units in several other parts of the country
has proved a powerful and efficient means of reaching remote communities,
with low levels of schooling, and of access to audio-visual means of
communication", said the release. "It helps them acquire more knowledge,
promote dialogue and seek solutions for their own development". This form of
fighting AIDS results from a "public-private partnership" established in
June between SAN/JFS, ECOSIDA, the CNCS and UNICEF, and falls within a
UNICEF strategy for the increasing involvement of private business in
programmes to benefit women and children.

The project seeks to use the existing SAN/JFS network in the rural
communities, through which about 100,000 peasant producers sell their raw
cotton to SAN.

*5*

*60 Ghanaians Contract HIV Daily **
**Public Agenda, Ghana*

13/11/2009

Gifty Mensah

Atimpoku — Over 15,000 Ghanaians are estimated to die annually of the HIV
and AIDS disease and a total of 33 milllion people globally live with HIV,
according to worldwide statistics as disclosed by Dr Richard Amenyah of the
Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC).

Dr. Amenyah further revealed that 45 Ghanaians die of HIV daily and 60
persons are infected daily with the virus. Among these are sex workers,
young people between the ages of 15-24; but the most affected are between
the ages of 25-34.

He also disclosed that about 240,802 children in Ghana are estimated to be
living with the virus. It also on record that the prevalence rate is high
among the youth. Similarly 52.2% of sex workers in Accra are living with
HIV.

He made these disclosures at a three -day workshop for journalists organized
by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with GAC at
Atimpoku in the Eastern Region.

It was under the theme, "Using the Media to Create Public Awareness on HIV
and AIDS" and aimed at employing necessary mass communication strategies to
educate the public on the epidemic, helping to reduce stigmatization against
people living with HIV (PLHIV). It also sought to equip the media with
analytical skills in HIV and AIDS.

In her keynote address, the Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission,
Dr. Angela El-dans, said that the GAC recognizes the media as an important
partner in educating the public on healthy lifestyles. There is therefore
the need for journalists to deepen their knowledge so as to give accurate
reports on HIV-related issues.

In a related development, journalists visited Mathew Chapter 25 House, a
non-governmental association of people living with HIV at Koforidua.There,
they met an inmate, Eunice Sackey, a 30-year-old woman living with HIV,
explained that she discovered that she had the disease three years ago after
visiting the hospital due to diarrhea. With tears streaming down her cheeks,
she lamented how her husband divorced her and told all her family members of
her dilemma.

Rev Alex Bobby Benson, the founder of the association, told the media that
he chose to assist people living with HIV because of the increase in
stigmatization. He appealed to the general public to assist with funds for
the smooth running of the Association.

*=======================*

* *

*ASIA** AND PACIFIC*

* *

*=======================***

*City women fare poorly on AIDS awareness meter**
**Times of India*

17/11/2009

CHANDIGARH: One may think that those residing in rural areas lack knowledge
on HIV/AIDS. However, surprisingly, a major chunk of urban women know little
on the disease which has become a world-wide threat.

This was evident when a majority of women failed to clear the general
awareness test conducted by the department of community medicine, GMCH-32,
on Monday.

According to information, around 260 mothers of medical graduates
participated in the study.

Surprisingly, 12% of the respondents stated that AIDS was curable, while 52%
did not know it could lead to other serious diseases.

In view of the responses, the study recommended that women across the social
spectrum should be targeted in the awareness campaign carried out by the
Centre under the National AIDS Control Programme, phase II and III.

Around 83% respondents were aware that HIV/ AIDS occurred mainly through
sexual intercourse, while 75% knew it spread through blood transfusion.

Meanwhile, 74.6% believed that prevention was better than cure. Likewise,
75.7% said sexual transmission could be avoided through correct use of
condoms, while 73% stated use of disposable syringes and needles should be
avoided.

A majority of respondents belonged to the middle and upper class.

Meanwhile, amongst 260 respondents, 193 (74.2%) were in the age group of
45-54 years, 50 (19.2%) were less than 45 years, 72.3% respondents belonged
to the middle class, while 72 (27%) were from the upper strata of society.

The study also found that 218 (83.5%) participants knew that HIV/AIDS was a
sexually transmitted disease, while 66% knew it was caused by HIV virus.

*2*

*No promotion for HIV/Aids workers : study**
**The Nation, Thailand*

17/11/2009

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

People living with HIV/Aids are now allowed to work at a company without
taking a blood test but it remains impossible for them to get promotion due
to their health problem, a study revealed yesterday

Associate Professor Dr Busaya Virakul, a researcher at the National
Institute of Development Administration, who conducted the study, said the
attitudes of employers towards employees living with HIV/Aids has been
improving over the past ten years.

She said employers now have a better understanding about HIV/Aids infection
and prevention in the workplace. Most employers decided to scrap blood tests
for new employees and allow them to attend job training and be reimbursed
for their medications. However, most employers do not promote employees
living with HIV/Aids because of their health condition.

"Employers reason that if an employee living with HIV/Aids is promoted, they
have to shoulder more responsibilities and this could cause their health to
deteriorate," Busaya said.

She presented her findings at a training course on HIV/Aids for the media
organised by Thailand Business Coalition on Aids.

Busaya conducted a study in 2007 and asked 534 companies listed on the Stock
Exchange of Thailand but only 211 of them responded to her questionnaire
about HIV/Aids in the workplace.

She said she found that HIV/Aids is not regarded as the as the main problem
in the workplace by many companies operating in Thailand.

Meanwhile, the number of companies that have a policy on HIV/Aids in the
workplace has increased from 6.7 per cent in 1997 to 11 per cent in 2008,
she added.

She said that ten years ago, employers did not accept people living with
HIV/Aids, candidates had to answer specific questions about their health and
undergo a blood test.

But now things have changed, Busaya said, most employers think HIV/Aids
infection is a private matter and welfare and medical benefits will be
provided in the same way people with cancer or heart disease are treated.

More than a million Thais are estimated to have been infected with HIV/Aids
over the past 20 or so years, with about 550,000 of them still living.

The Health Ministry has estimated that about 11,750 more people will
contract HIV this year, mostly through unsafe sex

*3*

*'25 years into epidemic, people still unaware of AIDS'**
**The Nation, Pakistan*

17/11/2009

By: Fozia Azam

ISLAMABAD - National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) Monday kicked off a
month-long campaign in connection with the World AIDS Day, falling on
December 1, with focus on creating awareness among the youth.

The launching session was chaired by the National Programme Manager of the
NACP Dr Hasan Abbas Zaheer. In his address, Dr Hasan Abbas highlighted the
role of media in prevention and control of HIV & AIDS.

The campaign will cover diverse range of audience including youth in and out
of school/universities, general public and advocacy at various levels.

The World Aids Day is observed every year on December 1, since 1988 all over
the world and the theme for this year is “Universal Access and Human
Rights.”

The main objective of this campaign is to prevent, reduce and ultimately
eliminate HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination and behaviour
change in the individuals especially youth. Addressing the gathering, Dr
Zaheer said although the disease prevalence rate was not alarming in
Pakistan.

“However, efforts are being made to control AIDS further spread, “ he said.

Across the country so far, 97,400 HIV and AIDS patients have been registered
with the NACP”, he added. Efforts are also being made to bring a mechanism
that would ensure safe blood transfusion, as infected blood is a major
source of causing this disease, he noted. About the role of media, he said,
media had played important role in creating awareness among masses for
prevention and control of HIV & AIDS in the country. He opined that after 25
years into the epidemic, public understanding of how HIV is prevented and
basic awareness about AIDS and its impact is sorely lacking in many parts of
the world, particularly among women and young people.

“With its wide-reaching, global infrastructure and communications expertise,
the media’s contribution to change the course of the AIDS crisis is
virtually unparalleled”, he continued.

He said that AIDS had enveloped nations in its grip to the extent that
economies are in the imminent danger of collapsing due to the loss in work
force. It is these most productive age groups that are hardest hit by the
epidemic. There still exists neither vaccine nor cure for the disease but
there is opportunity to slow if not halt the spread of the infection even in
the absence of effective and affordable treatment, he concluded. Today
Pakistan stands at a crucial point where urgent and definite actions and
interventions can make a difference.

*4*

*Law demanded against passing HIV deliberately**
**The Rising Nepal Daily*

16/11/2009

By Gita Sapkota

Kathmandu - What should be the punishment for an HIV positive person who
indulges in unsafe sexual practices and in the process transmits the deadly
disease deliberately to others who consent to have such sex with him or her?

So far, the person can walk scot-free as the nation lacks a law that can
bring such a person into the legal net. Unlike in Nepal, many nations around
the world possess a law that punishes an HIV-positive person who transmit
the disease deliberately to the innocent.

Neither the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) nor any organization in
the nation has taken initiatives to make a law to bring such a person inside
the legal net.

>From time to time, different HIV positive persons and the NGOs working in
the field of HIV/AIDS have raised the issues of social discrimination of HIV
positive persons and have demanded that the law regarding such
discrimination should also be enacted.

However, Rishi Raj Ojha, president of Nepal HIV/AIDS Alliance, an umbrella
organization of the NGOs working in the sector of HIV/AIDS, said the law on
HIV/AIDS should be enacted as soon as possible to benefit both, the HIV
positive person and the non affected person. The enactment of laws are
mostly demanded by the HIV positive to get benefit of treatment and choice
of treatment, but such a law must be made to protect non-affected persons
also, he added.

The government should take a lead for making the law regarding HIV and AIDS
as the health right has been declared as fundamental human right, said, Dr.
K.K. Rai, Director, National Centre for AIDS Control, under the MoHP. He
accepted that delay had been taken place in the enactment of the law in
Nepal. However, we are trying to bring out the law sooner than the later, he
added.

The HIV positive people have been bearing the brunt of discrimination, the
practice of untouchability within the families and in the society. The
victims of such practice have been demanding of a law clearly mentioning
such discriminations as offences against the HIV positive.

According to Ojha, a third party body is being prepared for the making of
the law. At present, discussion is being held over the formation of the
third-party body.

In the proposed law the medicinal rights of HIV positive, the rights of more
–at-risk-group such a sex workers and homosexuals, injection drug users and
migrants must be included, Ojha stated.

*========================*

*EUROPE***

*========================*

*Experts propose new ways to slow Africa's population growth**
**AFP*

16/11/2009

KAMPALA — Pairing family planning services with HIV/AIDS treatment can help
curb Africa's population growth rate which records a yearly increase of 2.5
percent, health experts said Monday.

Many of those seeking HIV/AIDS information are often the ones who need to be
offered birth control services, Maggwa Ndugga of Family Health International
told AFP.

Ndugga said the strategy would be to use the enormous global investment made
to counter HIV/AIDS to provide information on family planning.

"We started to realise that most of the people who were coming to us for HIV
AIDS information are the same people that we needed to be targeting for
family planning services," Ndugga said during an international family health
conference in Kampala.

Every year, 75 million women in developing countries have unintended
pregnancies and Africa is a significant contributor, according to the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Africa has 239 million women aged between 15 and 49 and who average five
births each year compared to Asian women of the same age range who average
3.3 births while Europeans average 1.5, said the Population Reference
Bureau.

Last year, the continent's population stood at 809 million.

"It is absolutely vital both for cost effectiveness and to maximise
resources that HIV and family planning information are provided together,"
said Janet Jackson of the UNFPA.

*4*

*UGANDA: AIDS Commission takes new direction in prevention**
**Reuters AlertNet, UK*

16/11/2009

KAMPALA, 16 November 2009 (IRIN) - The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) is
revamping its national HIV information campaign after HIV prevention
messages were less successful than hoped.

"We shall use basic facts in the messages to communicate effectively because
we have realized that the level of knowledge about basic facts on HIV
information is quite limited," said Saul Onyango, senior health educationist
with the UAC.

The term high-risk sex - previously defined as sex with an irregular partner
- is to be redefined as sex with anyone whose HIV status is not known. As
such, the term "most at-risk populations" will no longer refer to specific
groups such as sex workers, fishing communities and men who have sex with
men, but to all members of the population engaging in risky sex.

Campaigns aimed at ending cross-generational sex will be abandoned in favour
of generic warnings about engaging in risky sex because of fears that young
people may believe that sex within their own generation is risk-free.
Officials have also said factors such as alcohol abuse, which predispose
people to risky sexual behaviour, must be tackled alongside HIV prevention.

The commission has assembled a team of medical and communication experts to
develop the new messages, and will work with English and local language
media to disseminate them.

"We have to change the destiny of this country, even if it means putting
back the drums of the 1980s that used to frighten people," said UAC
director-general, David Kihumuro Apuuli.

An ominous drumbeat, followed by a booming voice warning that "AIDS kills",
was the centre of a radio HIV prevention campaign when Uganda first began
its fight against HIV in the late 1980s. Several senior officials -
including Jesse Kagimba, senior presidential adviser on HIV/AIDS - have
called for the return of fear-driven campaigns, which they say were
instrumental in Uganda's initial success in lowering prevalence.

However, detractors of this method say the key to success in prevention is
education, not fear. Some studies
http://www.popline.org/docs/1323/147687.html show that scare tactics alone
do not lead to behaviour change, but rather encourage denialism and
fatalism. Experts also say that such campaigns promote stigma and
discrimination, and that in the age of widely available life-prolonging
antiretroviral medication, they could prove ineffective.

After successfully bringing prevalence down from more than 20 percent in the
1980s to about 6 percent by 2000, Uganda's HIV levels have stagnated,
showing a marginal increase in prevalence over the past few years.

Tailored response

The new messages will attempt to bring the HIV response in line with the
drivers of the epidemic. According to a recent study
http://www.unaidsrstesa.org/files/u1/Uganda_MoT_Country_Synthesis_Report_7April09_0.pdf,
37 percent of new Ugandan HIV infections are attributable to multiple
partnerships, 35 percent occur within discordant monogamous couples, 18
percent are due to mother-to-child transmission, and 9 percent occur through
commercial sex networks.

"We need to change the mentality and behaviour of men; they have multiple
sexual partnerships now called side dishes, which is creating a web,"
Kihumuro said. "Before we know it the whole of Kampala [the capital] will be
entangled into one web."

According to the UAC, there are 110,000 new HIV infections annually and
63,000 deaths from HIV-related illnesses.

The study found that although Uganda had made good progress in rolling out
key HIV prevention services, the campaigns had not reached all sections of
the population.

"Over three-quarters of all adults, including many people living with HIV,
do not know their HIV sero-status; services for PMTCT currently reach less
than half of pregnant women," it found. "Although condom use has increased,
its coverage has not yet reached the critical levels necessary for it to
impact on population level HIV transmission."

Kihumuro noted that there was an urgent need for the government to commit
more resources to the fight against HIV/AIDS. At present, the government
funds about 6 percent of the national HIV response.

"A lot of the money coming in is from donors; we cannot sustain this," he
added.

*Source: IRIN*

*Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or
for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone*

*5*

*Buenos Aires, première à autoriser les mariages gays en Amérique latine**
**AFP*

14/11/2009

BUENOS AIRES — Un tribunal de Buenos Aires a ouvert la voie aux mariages
homosexuels dans la capitale argentine en autorisant vendredi un couple de
deux hommes à se marier, une première en Amérique latine, la plus grande
région catholique au monde.

La juge Gabriela Seijas du tribunal d'instruction numéro 15 du contentieux
administratif a ordonné aux officiers du registre d'état-civil de la
capitale argentine de célébrer le mariage d'Alejandro Freyre, 39 ans, et de
José Maria Di Bello, 41 ans, auxquels une date de mariage avait été refusée
en raison de leur sexe.

Ils avaient porté plainte en avril.

"Nous sommes très contents, émus, mais nous sentons aussi le poids d'une
très grande responsabilité parce que ce n'est pas seulement nous qui sommes
concernés, c'est un encouragement à l'égalité juridique en Argentine et dans
le reste de l'Amérique latine", a dit à l'AFP M. Di Bello.

La ville de Buenos Aires, connue pour sa "movida gay", est pionnière en
Amérique latine. Elle avait déjà été la première de la région, fin 2002, à
autoriser des unions civiles entre homosexuels qui permettent entre autres
de toucher une retraite en cas de veuvage. La ville de Villa Carlos Paz
(nord) et la province Rio Negro (sud) ont suivi.

Dans le reste de l'Amérique latine, la ville de Mexico, l'Etat mexicain de
Coahuila et l'Etat brésilien du Rio Grande do Sul permettent ces unions.

L'Uruguay a été le premier pays de la région à légaliser les unions civiles
homosexuelles, fin 2007. La Cour constitutionnelle colombienne a reconnu en
janvier 2009 une série de droits aux couples du même sexe, dont les droits à
la protection sociale.

Aucun pays n'autorise le "mariage" entre deux personnes du même sexe.

La juge argentine a considéré que "la loi doit traiter tout le monde avec le
même respect selon leurs singularités", et a déclaré inconstitutionnels deux
articles du code civil dont l'un (172) mentionne le consentement nécessaire
entre "un homme" et "une femme".

"Changer les mots +homme+ et +femme+ par le mot +contractant+ est tout ce
qu'il y a à faire", a dit M. Di Bello qui, comme son conjoint, est
séropositif.

Dans un pays qui se déclare à 91% catholique et où la hiérarchie de l'église
est très influente, l'évêque catholique Baldemoro Martini a estimé que "les
unions du même sexe ne contribuent pas au bien commun, elles le mettent
sérieusement en péril".

Cette décision de premier degré peut être cassée en cas d'appel. Mais le
maire de Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri (droite), a déclaré à la presse que
pour sa part son gouvernement n'allait pas faire appel. "Le monde va dans
cette direction", selon lui.

Plusieurs associations homosexuelles en Amérique latine ont réagi. "Je suis
très heureux et je m'associe au sentiment des gays argentins, qui ont été
réprimés pendant beaucoup d'années", a dit à l'AFP Marcelo Cerqueira, le
président du groupe Gay de Bahia, un des plus actifs du Brésil.

"Nous au Brésil, nous avons aucune expectative, ni à court, ni à moyen, ni à
long terme", de voir un mariage entre deux personnes du même sexe autorisé
dans le géant d'Amérique latine, a-t-il ajouté.

Le verdict du tribunal de Buenos Aires "est incroyablement courageux, nous
ne nous y attendions pas", a reconnu M. Di Bello, qui est tombé dans les
bras de son compagnon en apprenant le verdict. Il pense que la décision de
justice devrait relancer un projet de loi de mariage gay, actuellement en
discussion à la chambre des députés en Argentine.

La juge Seijas a relevé que "ces dernières années plus d'une dizaine de pays
ont modifié leur législation pour permettre aux couples du même sexe" de se
marier, citant la Belgique, l'Espagne, le Canada, l'Afrique du Sud et la
Norvège.

*6*

*Sanidad ya tiene responsable del plan antisida **
**El País, Spain*

16/11/2009

EMILIO DE BENITO – Madrid

Menos de dos semanas ha tardado el Ministerio de Sanidad en encontrar un
nuevo responsable de la lucha estatal antisida. Tomás Hernández Fernández,
madrileño de 37 años, dejará la Comunidad de Madrid (donde era responsable
del plan autonómico) para ocupar el cargo que dejó vacante Teresa Robledo.
Fuentes de Sanidad indicaron que Hernández se estrenará en un acto este
martes de Fipse, la Fundación para la Investigación y Prevención en Sida en
España que financian los laboratorios aunque dirige Sanidad.

Hernández, médico especializado en Salud Pública, Medicina de Familia y
Preventiva, no es un desconocido para las ONG madrileñas. Éstas han
destacado que tiene una "sensibilidad especial hacia los aspectos más
sociales de la enfermedad". En este sentido, la Coordinadora Estatal de Sida
(Cesida), la mayor federación de ONG del sector, espera que no haya
problemas para continuar el clima de colaboración que tenían con la
antecesora de Hernández.

Fuentes de Sanidad indicaron que ése era uno de los aspectos que se buscaba
con el nombramiento, tanto con las organizaciones españolas, como
internacionalmente, tanto en los países en vías de desarrollo como en la UE
(no en vano España va a ser la próxima presidenta de la Unión). Hernández,
que hizo el MIR en el Hospital Gregorio Marañón, es desde 2003 miembro del
Grupo de Sida de Médicos sin Fronteras, lo que le da una buena visión de la
cooperación internacional.

*========================*

* *

*LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN*

* *

*========================*

*PMT says population becoming more aware about HIV/AIDS**
**Daily Herald, St. Martin*

16/11/2009

PHILIPSBURG--As the “Think [RED], Do Safe” 2009 slogan for the [RED]
Campaign is drawing to an end, the HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team (PMT)
is anticipating the unveiling of the new slogan in light of the upcoming
World AIDS Day.

According to the management team, after “Talking and Thinking [RED]” over
the last two years, many individuals in the community have taken the
initiative to know their HIV status.

Physicians have also taken the initiative to have their patients tested,
which is clearly reflected in the number of HIV tests requested at St.
Maarten Laboratory Services (SLS) NV.

The management team pointed out in a press statement a noticeable increase
in the number of tests, and the expectation of an increased number of new
HIV cases based on more HIV tests being done. Meanwhile, there has been a
noticeable decrease in HIV infections worldwide.

According to an SLS report, a total of 605 HIV tests were administered
during the month of July. August saw a slight decrease with 502 HIV tests
done.

September saw a rise again with 555 HIV tests administered. October also had
an increase with 598 requests for HIV tests, and between November 1 and 12,
some 232 HIV tests has been requested.

According to HIV/AIDS Programme Manager, Suzette Moses-Burton, “It is
important for us, as a community, to understand that the only way we can
continue to progress is by knowing our status and protecting it.

“When the diabetes foundation holds its drives, new and borderline cases of
diabetes are discovered. In the same way, when more HIV tests are conducted
we will expect new cases to be discovered.

“We have to keep testing to get a realistic picture, to ensure care and
treatment, and to protect our HIV status, be it negative or positive. There
is still the perception that when you are HIV-positive you cannot get
infected again. But the truth of the matter is that you can get re-infected
with a different strain of the HIV virus and create other complications,
like [altering] the efficacy of your medication.

“We remain hopeful that, as we move into year three of the campaign, the
community will continue to be involved and [people] will take a more
pro-active role in accepting responsibility for taking charge of their
sexual and reproductive health by ensuring that they have the information
they need to avoid infection.”

The HIV/AIDS Programme Management Team sees the increase in the number of
tests requested at SLS, both by patients and doctors, as a clear signal that
people are more aware about the disease and want to know their status

*3*

*Por primera vez, el Registro Civil dio turno para casarse a dos gays**
**Clarín, Argentina*

16/11/2009

Por Pablo Sigal

Estaban nerviosos y durmieron menos de tres horas. Tomaron un mate rápido y
salieron desde el departamento que comparten en Medrano y Rivadavia rumbo al
Registro Civil de Beruti y Coronel Díaz. Arribaron cerca de las 11.30. Allí,
se sometieron a una improvisada conferencia de prensa en la calle, hasta que
por fin pudieron ingresar para confirmar el turno. El próximo martes 1° de
diciembre, a las 14, tendrá lugar entonces el primer casamiento entre dos
personas del mismo sexo en la Argentina y Latinoamérica.

Está claro que no será un casamiento más. Se espera una aluvión de
periodistas y curiosos, además de los habituales familiares y amigos. Por
ese motivo, las autoridades del Registro Civil ya acordaron con la pareja
integrada por Alex Freyre (39) y José María Di Bello (41) la colocación de
una pantalla de video gigante en la puerta de Beruti 3325, para que la
ceremonia pueda ser seguida desde la calle por mucha más gente que el
centenar de personas que ingresará a las oficinas del CGP. Tal es la
trascendencia que le dan desde el Registro Civil que, según dijeron, ya
analizan la posibilidad de que la boda sea celebrada por el director general
del organismo, Alejandro Lanús.

Hoy a las 11 vence el plazo de apelación del inédito fallo de la jueza
Gabriela Seijas, que habilitó a estas dos personas del mismo sexo a contraer
matrimonio. El gobierno de la Ciudad ya desistió del recurso y el único que
aún podría hacerlo es el fiscal del fuero en lo Contencioso Administrativo
Federico Villalba Díaz. Al cierre de esta edición, desde el juzgado de
Seijas aseguraron que ese trámite no había tenido lugar, con lo que de no
existir noticias durante la mañana de hoy el camino hacia el 1° de diciembre
quedaría definitivamente allanado.

Sólo se conoció la presentación de un particular ante la justicia nacional
en lo Civil. El abogado Javier Andereggen pidió la nulidad del fallo de
Seijas por "vicio de incompetencia". Aunque fuentes judiciales explicaron
que existen escasas posibilidades de que prospere.

La fecha elegida por la pareja coincide con el Día Mundial del Sida, y no es
casual. Ambos novios son portadores del virus VIH, además de ser militantes
contra la enfermedad. "Una fecha que forma parte de nuestro trabajo contra
la discriminación, que no sólo atenta contra la diversidad sexual, sino
también contra las personas que tienen sida", explicó José María Di Bello.

Por su parte, Freyre aseguró: "Este casamiento será maravilloso, y además
implica una gran responsabilidad por nuestro lugar de privilegio dentro de
la comunidad gay. Es la primera vez que una pareja va a ser declarada marido
y marido".

* *

*4*

*Luta contra a AIDS em discussão nesta segunda na Univima**
**O Imparcial-AM, Brazil*

16/11/2009

De 1985 até o mês passado, o Maranhão notificou 4.374 casos de AIDS. Dos 217
municípios, 168 já apresentam pelo menos um caso da infecção.

"Viver com AIDS é possível. Com preconceito não" é o tema deste ano do Dia
Mundial de Luta contra a AIDS, que transcorrerá em 1º de dezembro. Para
discutir a programação e mobilizar os gestores públicos para o evento de
repercussão nacional, a Secretaria de Estado da Saúde (SES) realiza, nesta
segunda-feira (16), das 9h às 12h, uma videoconferência na Univima, em São
Luís, com transmissão para os 18 polos maranhenses.

Segundo a coordenadora do Programa Estadual de DST/AIDS e Hepatites Virais,
Sílvia Viana, a doença no Maranhão continua em processo de interiorização e,
por essa razão, é importante que os 217 municípios maranhenses participem
ativamente do dia dedicado ao combate a AIDS.

"Representantes de todos os municípios maranhenses foram convidados para a
videoconferência, evento que marca o lançamento das nossas ações no estado.
Vamos apresentar aos gestores o que a campanha deste ano pretende discutir
com mais ênfase e a partir disso estimulá-los a desenvolverem programação
alusiva", destacou Sílvia Viana.

De 1985 até o mês passado, o Maranhão notificou 4.374 casos de AIDS. Dos 217
municípios, 168 já apresentam pelo menos um caso da infecção. Entre os
municípios de maior importância epidemiológica, em números absolutos, estão
São Luís, Imperatriz, São José de Ribamar, Caxias, Bacabal, Paço do Lumiar,
Açailândia e Barra do Corda.

Conforme programação, a videoconferência contará com a participação do
médico João Batista Bezerra Costa, que falará sobre a vida com qualidade do
portador do HIV. Joel Valentin de Alencar, do Movimento Maranhense de
Pessoas Vivendo com HIV/AIDS, também foi convidado para debater a temática
do preconceito com os técnicos presentes nos polos. Está previsto ainda o
depoimento de soropositivos da capital e do interior, conforme mobilização
feita pelo Programa Estadual.

"É importante discutir o direito das pessoas com AIDS de serem tratadas de
forma semelhante às demais pessoas, sem distinções. É essa mensagem que o
Ministério da Saúde quer passar quando escolheu esse tema", enfatizou Sílvia
Viana.

*========================*

*NORTH AMERICA*

*========================*

*D.C. AIDS office ordered to answer HUD**
**Washington Post*

17/11/2009

By Darryl Fears

After a federal threat to withhold millions in funding from the city because
of poor oversight of AIDS programs, D.C. Council member David Catania on
Monday ordered city health officials to gather the documents needed within
24 hours to address the concerns.

Catania (I-At Large) said the Department of Housing and Urban Development,
which threatened to withhold future housing funding, has been requesting a
program audit and other documentation from the city's HIV/AIDS
administration since June, with no response.

"I am not happy," Catania said to Health Department Director Pierre
Vigilance and AIDS Administration Director Shannon Hader. He vowed to haul
them into hearings every Friday, except the Thanksgiving and Christmas
holidays, to address concerns over how city government manages programs that
use millions of dollars to deliver services to people with HIV/AIDS.

Last week, HUD Assistant Secretary Mercedes M. Marquez said the agency would
withhold $12 million if the District did not fix the problems. HUD
monitoring reports have found that city oversight of the programs has fallen
short since 2003, and that the city failed to provide financial records to
HUD in some cases.

In e-mails starting in June, HUD requested records that "midlevel
bureaucrats in the AIDS office did not respond to," Catania said.

In October, after Washington Post reports about fraud and waste in housing
spending at the HIV/AIDS Administration, the tone of the e-mails became
harsh. The Post investigation found that the HIV/AIDS Administration paid
more than $25 million to nonprofit organizations that failed to deliver
promised services

"It does not seem to me that it should be that difficult to provide them
with information they asked for when they asked for it," Catania said. "I
hope to have an exhaustive list of every HUD concern, and we will go over
them item by item."

Catania, chairman of the council's health committee, said that he and health
officials are tentatively scheduled to meet with Marquez at 9 a.m.
Wednesday.

Vigilance and Hader agreed to comply and work with Catania to overcome the
city's reputation as a poor manager of AIDS funds.

"We stand ready to provide any and all information needed to assure
continued federal funding," Hader said. "We are confident that we will be
able to resolve any remaining issues to ensure continued funding" of the
housing program for people with AIDS.

*3*

*Hunger Summit Passes Toothless Declaration **
**IPS Terra Viva*

17/11/2009

Paul Virgo

ROME, Nov 16 (IPS) - Fears that the United Nations World Food Security
Summit would fail to deliver effective measures to defeat hunger were borne
out Monday when world leaders and government officials approved a toothless
declaration on the first day.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is holding the three-day
summit after the number of hungry people crossed the one-billion mark for
the first time this year, meaning that almost a sixth of the global
population does not have enough to eat. Despite this, almost all of the
planet's most powerful leaders, including United States President Barack
Obama, snubbed the event. The FAO failed in its bid to establish a target of
eradicating hunger by 2025 and to get rich countries to commit to spending
44 billion dollars a year in agricultural aid.

"It's a bit of a damp squib," Sarah Gillam of anti-poverty organisation
ActionAid tells IPS. "There is positive language on the right to food,
promoting sustainable agriculture and the Committee on Food Security," she
added, referring to the FAO body which is being reformed to broaden the
stakeholders involved, and boost its role in coordinating efforts to combat
hunger. "But the declaration does not have any teeth."

States reaffirmed their commitment to the U.N. Millennium Development Goal
of halving the number of hungry people by 2015, and promised "to take action
towards sustainably eradicating hunger at the earliest possible date."

They also pledged to "substantially increase the share of ODA (official
development assistance) devoted to agriculture and food security," although
no target figure or timeframe was given.

"Taking out the date of 2025 for the total elimination of hunger and
cancelling the need to allocate 44 billion dollars a year to support
agriculture...render this declaration a document devoid of any concrete
instruments to make the fight against hunger effective," said Sergio
Marelli, chief of the advisory panel for the parallel forum staged by NGOs
from around the world.

FAO director-general Jacques Diouf insisted approval of the declaration was
a success, as the member nations have endorsed a new strategy to fight
hunger by pledging to end the long-running decline in agricultural
investment, one of the main culprits for the high levels of
undernourishment, and to focus on the plight of smallholder farmers.

"The declaration was approved this morning unanimously. This is a good sign
for us," Diouf told a news conference. "I totally believe that it was a
significant step forward towards the total eradication of hunger in a
generation's time."

However, he did not hide his disappointment about the failure to obtain
binding goals and commitments.

"I'm satisfied with the fact that we arrived at a consensus on a
declaration. I'm satisfied also with the thrust of what is in the
declaration," he said. "But I'm not satisfied with the fact that some of the
concrete proposals I made, based on the fact that if we set a target we must
quantify it in terms of a date, (were not accepted). The negotiations were
not able to fix a date for the eradication of hunger...There was no
consensus and I regret it. It was the same (with agricultural aid)... But I
was not the one who negotiated the document."

Diouf wanted 44 billion dollars in aid for agriculture each year, primarily
to enable smallholder farmers in developing countries to feed themselves as
well as helping the world achieve the goal of increasing food production by
70 percent to meet the needs of a population likely to reach 9.1 billion by
2050.

The FAO argues that much of this money could come from raising the share for
agriculture in ODA, which totalled 119.8 billion dollars in 2008, to 18-19
percent from the current level of around five percent.

This money is needed to increase farmers' access to irrigation systems,
modern machinery, seeds and fertilisers, as well as improving rural
infrastructure and roads so they can obtain the inputs they need and take
their goods to market.

They also need help to adapt their practices to climate change, with impacts
in terms of falling yields and extreme weather expected to hit developing
countries hardest, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. "This
summit announced a new strategy to tackle hunger by focusing on the poorest
farmers - but it is un-costed, unfunded and unaccountable," said Oxfam's
Gawain Kriple. "The sentiment is honourable but that alone does not put food
on a billion empty plates."

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the meeting built on progress
made at July's G8 summit in L'Aquila, when the world's top economic powers
promised 20 billion dollars in aid over three years to help farmers in
developing nations grow and sell food.

"At the G8 summit we defined the principles of a global partnership (for
agriculture, food security and nutrition) that unites all private and public
forces for food security to form a winning strategy, the success of which
everyone can and should contribute to," said Berlusconi, the only leader of
a G8 country to come.

"This awareness has already started...to translate into deeds. Now there is
the concrete willingness of everyone to pursue with tenacity and the right
tools the goal of guaranteeing hundreds of millions of human beings dignity,
freedom and hope, as well as nutrition."

Developing nations were concerned that the eloquent talk would not be
followed up by action and that their food sovereignty could be threatened.

"We are pleased that this conference has centred on such an important
problem," Ecuador's agriculture minister Dr. Ramon Espinel tells IPS. "But
we think that what has been declared is not enough, even though some
contributions are in the right direction, such as the 20 billion from the
L'Aquila summit.

"We think this is not enough because it may stay just a declaration. If we
follow the path of what has happened before, this (money) may come as food
aid, which is not what our countries need.

"We need agricultural aid to build the capacity to produce our own food; aid
that is managed by the countries themselves within their own policies. We
don't want to have programmes that are built and directed from foreign
areas. This is the important thing we feel is lacking."

Some reports have claimed that less than a quarter of the money the G8
promised will actually be new, and ActionAid said the failure to set up a
mechanism that monitors whether such pledges are respected is another major
let-down.

"We need a bit of transparency. No one knows how much money is given and how
much money is new," Gillam says. "So we need accountability for people to
have faith in the process."

The nations' refusal to commit to eradicating hunger by 2025 may in part be
down to the fact that this commitment might sound hollow given that the
target of halving hunger by 2015, first set at the 1996 Food Summit in Rome
when around 825 million did not have enough to eat, is unlikely to be
reached.

Indeed, the world has moved in the opposite direction, with some 100 million
people joining the ranks of the hungry this year alone because of the
effects of the financial crisis and of still high food costs after the
2007-08 spike in the price of staples like wheat and rice.

One of the most hotly awaited speeches was that of Pope Benedict XVI, who
criticised speculation in food commodities that contributed to the soaring
prices, and said hunger can only be beaten by tackling poverty and social
injustice.

"There is a continuing disparity in the level of development within and
among nations that leads to instability in many parts of the world,
accentuating the contrast between poverty and wealth," the Pontiff said.

"If the aim is to eliminate hunger, international action is needed not only
to promote balanced and sustainable economic growth and political stability,
but also to seek out new parameters - primarily ethical but also juridical
and economic ones - capable of inspiring the degree of cooperation required
to build a relationship of parity between countries at different stages of
development.

"Hunger is the most cruel and concrete sign of poverty. Opulence and waste
are no longer acceptable when the tragedy of hunger is assuming ever greater
proportions."

*4*

*Q&A: "Truly Exciting If the U.S. Could Ratify CEDAW" - Part 2 **
**IPS Terra Viva*

17/11/2009

Miren Gutierrez interviews INES ALBERDI, executive director of UNIFEM

ROME, Nov 16 (IPS) - CEDAW or the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Violence Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the U.N. General
Assembly in 1979.

On its 30th anniversary, just seven U.N. member states continue to refuse to
accept the only international instrument that comprehensively addresses
women's rights within political, civil, cultural, economic and social life.
In the second of a two-part interview IPS talks to Ines Alberdi, executive
director of UNIFEM, about the countries holding out, including the U.S., and
the new agency for women that the General Assembly has decided to create.

IPS: The U.S. is the only developed nation that has not ratified CEDAW
(although it has signed it); now it's a priority of the Barack Obama
administration...

INES ALBERDI: It is very encouraging to see that the U.S. government is
expressing receptiveness to ratifying the treaty; CEDAW now has almost
universal ratification, which is a sign of a global consensus. It would be
truly exciting if the U.S. could ratify the Convention in this anniversary
year, but whenever this happens it will send a wonderful message on the
importance of advancing women's rights.

IPS: States ratifying the Convention are required to weave gender equality
into their legislation, repeal all discriminatory provisions in their laws,
and enact new provisions to guard against discrimination against women. But
in many cases there is a gap between legislation and real action.

IA: CEDAW creates not only obligations for legal reform, but also more
broadly for the full range of measures that are actually required for women
to enjoy their human rights. So to meet the CEDAW requirements there is a
need to integrate gender equality into laws and policies, the operation of
legal and institutional structures, the allocation of budget resources, the
attitudes of judicial and police authorities and so on as well as to change
media and cultural stereotypes about women.

Real action also requires resources, and here of course women must compete
with many more powerful groups and interests. This is why it is important to
build the organising and advocacy capacity of women and gender equality
advocates both inside and outside of government.

IPS: Several countries have ratified the Convention subject to certain
declarations, reservations and objections. What are the commonest
reservations and objections? Why?

IA: There are a wide range of reservations. One of the common areas for
reservations is where a country sees a conflict between its existing
legislation and the requirements of the Convention. What's really
encouraging to see in recent years is a trend towards states removing their
reservations, after conducting successful law reform initiatives - in the
areas of for example, nationality laws, or family codes.

IPS: The U.N. member states that have not signed the convention are either
Islamic (Iran, Somalia, Sudan) or small island nations (Nauru, Palau,
Tonga)... what is the problem there?

IA: As I mentioned, CEDAW has almost universal ratification so it is not one
of the international human rights treaties that's experiencing a
ratification challenge. And there certainly is global consensus on the
importance of achieving gender equality - as evidenced by the inclusion of
gender equality as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals and the
reaffirmation of the centrality of gender equality to achieving these goals
in the 2005 World Summit. The precise challenges faced by the few remaining
states that have not ratified CEDAW are likely different in each case - but
this is something they themselves would be best suited to answer.

IPS: It seems women are increasingly being recognised and honoured. An
example is the five women who won Nobel Prizes this year: Elinor Ostrom,
Herta Müller, Carol W. Greider, Elizabeth H. Blackburn and Ada E. Yonath (in
comparison, only 40 women in total have been awarded it between 1901 and
2009). In the field of literature, apart from the Nobel Prize, another
woman, Hilary Mantel, won the Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious
... Do you see this as a sign of the gap between men and women narrowing?

IA: I think high profile awards like these are perhaps not the best measure.
Women have long been recognised for outstanding achievement - 5 years ago,
in 1992, for example Rigoberta Menchu, an indigenous women's rights leader
from Guatemala, won the Nobel Prize as did noted human rights champion Aung
San Suu Kyi of Burma the year before that.

What is important is the huge expansion of opportunities for women to pursue
the education and experience that will enable them to get to the top - we
see this in literature and art and sport as well as science, economics and
politics. And I think this is true in many, many places, not just the West.

That said, it is also true that the attrition rate of women in scientific
careers is also expanding, as women still have the major responsibility for
care-giving in both families and communities.

Women can't spend the 80 hour work weeks needed to compete and still take
care of children or elderly family members. As women enter the workforce in
greater and greater numbers, there is no comparable expansion in the
care-giving responsibilities assumed by men - with the result that women are
both the family breadwinner and the family caregiver.

**Miren Gutierrez is IPS Editor in Chief. This is the second of a two-part
interview.*

*5*

*AIDS researchers say immunity to deadly virus is key to finding vaccine*

*Canadian Press*

16/11/2009

By Chinta Puxley (CP)

WINNIPEG — Researchers say they are closer than ever to finding a vaccine
against HIV/AIDS thanks to people who have had contact with the virus but
haven't become infected.

Case studies were shared at a gathering of about 75 international experts in
Winnipeg on Monday with the hope of getting another step closer to beating
the virus that attacks the immune system.

Dr. Frank Plummer, director of Winnipeg's National Microbiology Laboratory,
said he expects to see a vaccine in his lifetime.

"I'm confident that we will get there eventually," Plummer said. "It's not a
simple problem. If it was, we would have done it already."

In September, researchers announced that a two-vaccine combination cut the
risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31 per cent in a trial of
more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand.

Key to developing a vaccine lies in cases around the world of people who
have had contact with the virus but haven't become infected, Plummer said.

Researchers at the conference pointed out that many breast-feeding infants
who are born to HIV-positive women escape infection. Some groups of
sex-trade workers who are repeatedly exposed to the virus also appear to be
immune.

"Sometimes that's because of luck but sometimes that's because, I believe,
they're immune in some way to HIV," Plummer said.

"I think we understand more and more about immunity to HIV and how it works
and why some people don't get infected after they are exposed.

"We don't understand it fully yet and that needs to be expanded. We don't
understand how to produce it artificially, which is what a vaccine is all
about."

Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, said some of
the greatest vaccine discoveries have come from deciphering natural
immunity.

"The original vaccine for smallpox was a recognition that milk maids who had
cowpox were not susceptible to smallpox," he said.

Although some of the world's great minds are grappling with the virus,
Butler-Jones said it is a very difficult illness to crack. People are
capable of developing antibodies to HIV/AIDS but they aren't enough to
protect against the virus.

"It is one of the great scientific and medical challenges moving forward.
Every day we are one day closer but exactly when that day will come, it's
impossible to predict.

"The sooner, the better."

*========================*

*UNAIDS WEB.SITE*

*========================*

New reports on U.S. and European philanthropic support to HIV/AIDS in 2008

*UNAIDS*

17/11/2009

New York, N.Y. and Brussels, 17 November 2009 – Funders Concerned About AIDS
(FCAA) and the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) released new reports
today documenting that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy in 2008 totaled $618
million among U.S.-based philanthropies and €91 million ($134 million) among
European-based philanthropies.

While total HIV/AIDS philanthropy funding among U.S.-based funders increased
in 2008 over 2007 by approximately $63 million (11%), this is only due to an
increase in funding by the world’s largest private foundation engaged in
AIDS work, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Without funding from the
Gates Foundation, estimated expenditures by U.S.-based philanthropies
remained flat from 2006 to 2007 and decreased slightly (by approximately 3%)
from 2007 to 2008. The reports show that total funding for HIV/AIDS by
European-based philanthropies was lower in 2008 compared with 2007 by
approximately €1.7 million (1%), and total funding has decreased by
approximately €5 million (7%) since 2006.

“Private philanthropic donations make a significant contribution to the AIDS
response, notably in supporting critical research and for HIV prevention and
treatment programmes for key populations and people at higher risk of
infection,” said Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director, Joint United
Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). “However, we are still facing
tremendous challenges and the continued commitment and support from
philanthropic donors is essential for an effective response to the
epidemic.”

The reports are released amidst growing attention on the now vulnerable
global financial response to the AIDS epidemic. FCAA and EFG, joined by
UNAIDS, commend the vital and momentous work of HIV/AIDS funders in 2008,
but express concerns about the decrease in total funding among European
funders and U.S. funders other than the Gates Foundation since 2006.

Current economic and epidemiological realities demand greater resources for
HIV/AIDS, not acceptance of stable levels, and more effective uses of the
resources at hand. “Funders should be creative and committed in their
efforts to increase HIV funding and to sharpen the focus and impact of their
existing HIV/AIDS programs,” said Astrid Bonfield, EFG Chair, “to sustain
the momentum made and ensure support to people living with and affected by
HIV, even in tougher financial times.”

While the recent global economic crisis has meant that increasing or even
maintaining a stable level of HIV financing through 2008 has been a
challenge for some funders, the needs of individuals and communities
affected by HIV/AIDS have not levelled off since 2006; they continue to
grow. The economic downturn has exacerbated the situation as it
disproportionately impacts poorer countries, home to the vast majority of
the tens of millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS.

“Private philanthropic funders have a unique opportunity to fund populations
and issues that governments and other donors are reluctant to prioritize
because they are too specific or controversial,” said John Barnes, newly
appointed Executive Director of FCAA. “These are the programs that are more
vulnerable to public budget cuts because they have less political support.”

*Other key findings include**:*

§                     In both the U.S. and Europe, HIV/AIDS-related
philanthropic funding remained concentrated among a relatively small number
of funders in 2008. In the U.S. the top 10 funders (ranked by total
expenditures) accounted for 82% of all HIV/AIDS-related expenditures, and
84% of all expenditures amongst the top 10 funders in Europe.

§                     The majority of funding by both U.S. and
European-based philanthropies in 2008 was directed to addressing the
epidemic outside of these regions (84% of all U.S. and 63% of all European
HIV/AIDS philanthropic expenditures).

§                     Projections by U.S.-based funders for 2009 suggest
that HIV/AIDS-related funding will decrease, with 42% of funders forecasting
anticipated decreases for 2009, and only 15% of funders expected their
funding to increase in 2009. Among European-based funders, projections
suggest that HIV/AIDS-related philanthropy funding levels may increase, with
60% of funders forecasting anticipated increases for 2009.

UNAIDS, FCAA and EFG emphasize that philanthropy has a critical role to play
in the AIDS response on the basis of flexibility, ability to innovate and
take risks, and political independence.

The FCAA and EFG annual resource tracking reports intend to inform
stakeholders about the overall distribution and trends of U.S. and European
HIV/AIDS philanthropic funding, to facilitate greater co-ordination and
transparency among funders and encourage expanded philanthropic support for
HIV work.

About FCAA

Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) was founded in 1987 with the goal of
mobilizing philanthropic leadership, ideas and resources - domestically and
internationally - to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and
economic consequences. FCAA is the only U.S.-based organization comprised of
and for private philanthropic institutions engaged in the response to
HIV/AIDS.

About EFG

The European HIV/AIDS Funders Group (EFG) is a knowledge-based network
dedicated to strengthening European philanthropy in the field of HIV/AIDS.
The group aims to mobilize philanthropic leadership and resources to address
the global HIV/AIDS pandemic and its social and economic consequences and to
promote an enabling environment for strategic, creative and independent
giving in this field.

About UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) brings together the
efforts and resources of the UNAIDS Secretariat and ten UN system
organizations in the AIDS response. The Secretariat headquarters is in
Geneva, Switzerland—with staff on the ground in more than 80 countries. The
Cosponsors include UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO
and the World Bank. Contributing to achieving global commitments to
universal access to comprehensive interventions for HIV prevention,
treatment, care and support is the number one priority for UNAIDS. Visit the
UNAIDS website at www.unaids.org
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