Security Council welcomes General Assembly Declaration on HIV/AIDS

Welcoming the Declaration of Commitment adopted on Wednesday by the General Assembly's special session on HIV/AIDS, the Security Council said today it intended to contribute to "the attainment of the relevant objectives" set out in the document.

In a formal statement read out by Council President Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, the Council noted that the Declaration contains a number of practical measures with specific timeframes to reduce the impact which conflicts and disasters have on the epidemic, address the spread of HIV/AIDS among national uniformed services, and include awareness training on the disease in guidelines for personnel serving in international peacekeeping operations.

The Council also welcomed a number of recent initiatives aimed at stemming the epidemic's spread. Those included the development of an HIV/AIDS Awareness Card for Peacekeeping Operations, and the signing of an agreement between the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to cooperate on issues relating to women, peace and security.

"The Security Council recognizes that further efforts are necessary to reduce the impact of conflict and disasters on the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to develop the capacity of peacekeepers to become advocates and actors for awareness and prevention of HIV transmission," the statement said. The Council encouraged continued efforts, such as increased international cooperation in areas of prevention, voluntary and confidential testing, and counselling and treatment for personnel.

UNAIDS and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations were encouraged to further pursue the Council's resolution 1308 (2000) concerning HIV/AIDS and international peacekeeping operations. In particular, they were encouraged to consider "further efforts to enhance cooperation, such as the establishment of HIV/AIDS advisers in peacekeeping operations, and revision, as required, of relevant Codes of Conduct."