Annan stresses key role of people living with AIDS in efforts to battle pandemic

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today stressed the valuable contribution of people living with HIV/AIDS in leading the battle against the pandemic, as the United Nations General Assembly's special session entered the second day of its intensive programme, which combined formal debate in plenary meetings with a wide array of side events involving business and civic leaders, medical experts and prominent personalities.

"The response to AIDS is far too important to be left only to politicians and bureaucrats," the Secretary-General said during a dialogue event involving the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies and the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. "The active participation of people living with HIV/AIDS is absolutely vital."

"In the 20 years since the world first heard of AIDS, you have been at the forefront of the response," the Secretary-General said. "While others may have been hampered by taboo and stigma, yours has often been a lone and courageous voice breaking the silence."

Acknowledging that for people living with HIV/AIDS, being open about their status was difficult and sometimes even dangerous, Mr. Annan praised the public alliance between the Red Cross/Red Crescent and the Global Network. "[It] sends an important message to decision-makers, and to society as a whole, about the importance of tackling stigma and discrimination," he said.

The dialogue event was one of many activities held today in conjunction with the special session, which also saw the convening of two roundtable discussions, a panel discussion on orphans and vulnerable children, and a panel discussion on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.

Contributing his well-known voice to the charge against HIV/AIDS, Harry Belafonte, who serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), took part in the panel on orphans. A celebrated musician and actor, Mr. Belafonte has long been active in the fight against AIDS. Along with his wife, he recently established the Harry and Julie Belafonte Fund for HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, to be administered by the United States Fund for UNICEF.