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<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Diaz, Clara</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:diazc@unaids.org">diazc@unaids.org</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 8:27 PM<br>
Subject: Today's News (2009.11.17ex)<br>To: <br><br><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Please find attached the following AIDS-related articles compiled by UNAIDS</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">UNAIDS</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. ISRIA - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">UN - Exhibition of Photos by African Women, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS Opens at Headquarters on 17 November </span></font></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">AFRICA</span></font></b><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> AND MIDDLE EAST</span></font></b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. Daily Monitor, Uganda - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Museveni warns against homosexuality </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">2. Vanguard, Nigeria - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">WACN Tackles HIV Transmission </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">3. UN IRIN - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mozambique</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">: Mobile Unit to Fight Aids in Niassa </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">4. Public Agenda, Ghana - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">60 Ghanaians Contract HIV Daily </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">ASIA</span></font></b><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> AND PACIFIC</span></font></b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. Times of India - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">City women fare poorly on AIDS awareness meter </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">2. The Nation, Thailand - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">No promotion for HIV/Aids workers : study</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">3. The Natio, Pakistan - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">'25 years into epidemic, people still unaware of AIDS'</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">4. The Rising Nepal Daily - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Law demanded against passing HIV deliberately</span></font></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">EUROPE</span></font></b><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. AFP - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Experts propose new ways to slow Africa's population growth</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">2. Reuters AlertNet, UK - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">UGANDA</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">: AIDS Commission takes new direction in prevention </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">3. AFP - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Buenos Aires, première à autoriser les mariages gays en Amérique latine</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">4. El País, Spain - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sanidad ya tiene responsable del plan antisida </span></font></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN</span></font></b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. Daily Herald, St. Martin - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">PMT says population becoming more aware about HIV/AIDS </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">2. Clarín, Argentina - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Por primera vez, el Registro Civil dio turno para casarse a dos gays </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">3. O Imparcial-AM, Brazil - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Luta contra a AIDS em discussão nesta segunda na Univima </span></font></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">NORTH AMERICA</span></font></b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. Washington Post - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">D.C. AIDS office ordered to answer HUD</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">2. IPS Terra Viva - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hunger Summit Passes Toothless Declaration </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">3. IPS Terra Viva - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Q&A: "Truly Exciting If the U.S. Could Ratify CEDAW" - Part 2 </span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">4. Canadian Press - </span></font><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">AIDS researchers say immunity to deadly virus is key to finding vaccine</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">UNAIDS WEB.SITE</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">1. UNAIDS - </span></font><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">New reports on U.S. and European philanthropic support to HIV/AIDS in 2008</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">===========================</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">UNAIDS</span></font></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">===========================</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">UN - Exhibition of Photos by African Women, Children Affected by HIV/AIDS Opens at Headquarters on 17 November</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">ISRIA</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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”.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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</span></font></span><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">===========================</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">AFRICA</span></font></b><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> AND MIDDLE EAST</span></font></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">===========================</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Museveni warns against homosexuality</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Daily Monitor, Uganda</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Emmanuel Gyezaho</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.”</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Taboo subject</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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?” </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Rights advocates have said the government’s stance on homosexuality is illegal, not to mention an outrage. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.”</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.”</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AfricaMiddleEast2"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">WACN Tackles HIV Transmission</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Vanguard, Nigeria</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Chioma Obinna</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Giving insight into the problem of infant feeding choices, John lamented that HIV infection is wreaking havoc and taking a toll on the population.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">She advocated for support for mothers who choose replacement feeding as it could be challenging even in the best of circumstances.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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"</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"Mothers should also be taught how to prevent breast engorgement, particularly without drugs and how to to recognise and treat dehydration when it occurs".</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AfricaMiddleEast3"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AfricaMiddleEast4"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Mozambique: Mobile Unit to Fight Aids in Niassa </span></font></b></span></a><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">UN IRIN</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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,</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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).</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">ECOSIDA has trained a group of local activists to operate the equipment and to act as peer educators among the communities.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AfricaMiddleEast5"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">5</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">60 Ghanaians Contract HIV Daily </span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Public Agenda, Ghana</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">13/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Gifty Mensah</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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).</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">=======================</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">ASIA</span></font></b><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> AND PACIFIC</span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">=======================</span></font></b><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"></span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">City women fare poorly on AIDS awareness meter</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Times of India</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">According to information, around 260 mothers of medical graduates participated in the study. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Surprisingly, 12% of the respondents stated that AIDS was curable, while 52% did not know it could lead to other serious diseases. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Around 83% respondents were aware that HIV/ AIDS occurred mainly through sexual intercourse, while 75% knew it spread through blood transfusion. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A majority of respondents belonged to the middle and upper class. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AsiaPacific2"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">2</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">No promotion for HIV/Aids workers : study</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Nation, Thailand</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By Pongphon Sarnsamak</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">She presented her findings at a training course on HIV/Aids for the media organised by Thailand Business Coalition on Aids.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Health Ministry has estimated that about 11,750 more people will contract HIV this year, mostly through unsafe sex</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AsiaPacific3"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">'25 years into epidemic, people still unaware of AIDS'</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Nation, Pakistan</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By: Fozia Azam</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The campaign will cover diverse range of audience including youth in and out of school/universities, general public and advocacy at various levels.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.”</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“However, efforts are being made to control AIDS further spread, “ he said. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_AsiaPacific4"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Law demanded against passing HIV deliberately</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Rising Nepal Daily</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By Gita Sapkota</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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?</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Experts propose new ways to slow Africa's population growth</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">AFP</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ndugga said the strategy would be to use the enormous global investment made to counter HIV/AIDS to provide information on family planning.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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).</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Last year, the continent's population stood at 809 million.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_Europe4"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4</span></font></b></a><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">UGANDA: AIDS Commission takes new direction in prevention</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Reuters AlertNet, UK</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">However, detractors of this method say the key to success in prevention is education, not fear. Some studies <a href="http://www.popline.org/docs/1323/147687.html" target="_blank">http://www.popline.org/docs/1323/147687.html</a> 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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tailored response </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The new messages will attempt to bring the HIV response in line with the drivers of the epidemic. According to a recent study <a href="http://www.unaidsrstesa.org/files/u1/Uganda_MoT_Country_Synthesis_Report_7April09_0.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.unaidsrstesa.org/files/u1/Uganda_MoT_Country_Synthesis_Report_7April09_0.pdf</a>, 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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">According to the UAC, there are 110,000 new HIV infections annually and 63,000 deaths from HIV-related illnesses. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"A lot of the money coming in is from donors; we cannot sustain this," he added.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Source: IRIN</span></font></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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</span></font></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_Europe5"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">5</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Buenos Aires, première à autoriser les mariages gays en Amérique latine</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">AFP</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">14/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ils avaient porté plainte en avril.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Aucun pays n'autorise le "mariage" entre deux personnes du même sexe.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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".</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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".</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Copyright © 2009 AFP. Tous droits réservés</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_Europe6"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">6</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Sanidad ya tiene responsable del plan antisida </span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">El País, Spain</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">EMILIO DE BENITO – Madrid</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">PMT says population becoming more aware about HIV/AIDS</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Daily Herald, St. Martin</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.” </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Copyright ©2008 The Daily Herald St. Maarten</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_LatinAmericaCaribbean3"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Por primera vez, el Registro Civil dio turno para casarse a dos gays</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Clarín, Argentina</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Por Pablo Sigal</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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". </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><b><font face="Arial" color="#ff99cc" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #ff99cc; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_LatinAmericaCaribbean4"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4</span></font></b></a><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Luta contra a AIDS em discussão nesta segunda na Univima</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">O Imparcial-AM, Brazil</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="FR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">NORTH AMERICA</span></font></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">D.C. AIDS office ordered to answer HUD</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Washington Post</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By Darryl Fears</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In e-mails starting in June, HUD requested records that "midlevel bureaucrats in the AIDS office did not respond to," Catania said. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Vigilance and Hader agreed to comply and work with Catania to overcome the city's reputation as a poor manager of AIDS funds. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_NorthAmerica3"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">3</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hunger Summit Passes Toothless Declaration </span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">IPS Terra Viva</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Paul Virgo </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">However, he did not hide his disappointment about the failure to obtain binding goals and commitments. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Developing nations were concerned that the eloquent talk would not be followed up by action and that their food sovereignty could be threatened. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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." </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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."</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><a name="125025bc8d5c4a21_NorthAmerica4"><b><font face="Arial" color="white" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: white; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">4</span></font></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Q&A: "Truly Exciting If the U.S. Could Ratify CEDAW" - Part 2 </span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <br>
</span></font></b></span><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">IPS Terra Viva</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Miren Gutierrez interviews INES ALBERDI, executive director of UNIFEM </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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...</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">IPS: Several countries have ratified the Convention subject to certain declarations, reservations and objections. What are the commonest reservations and objections? Why? </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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? </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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? </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><i><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">*Miren Gutierrez is IPS Editor in Chief. This is the second of a two-part interview.</span></font></i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">AIDS researchers say immunity to deadly virus is key to finding vaccine</span></font></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Canadian Press</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">16/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">By Chinta Puxley (CP)</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Dr. Frank Plummer, director of Winnipeg's National Microbiology Laboratory, said he expects to see a vaccine in his lifetime.</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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."</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"Sometimes that's because of luck but sometimes that's because, I believe, they're immune in some way to HIV," Plummer said.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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."</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, said some of the greatest vaccine discoveries have come from deciphering natural immunity.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"The original vaccine for smallpox was a recognition that milk maids who had cowpox were not susceptible to smallpox," he said.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"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.</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">"The sooner, the better."</span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="PT-BR" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Verdana" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">UNAIDS WEB.SITE</span></font></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">New reports on U.S. and European philanthropic support to HIV/AIDS in 2008</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><b><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">UNAIDS</span></font></b></span><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><span><font face="Arial" color="#e93e35" size="1"><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #e93e35; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">17/11/2009</span></font></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.” </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.” </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">“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.”</span></font></p>
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<p><strong><b><font face="Arial" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Other key findings include</span></font></b></strong><strong><b><font face="Arial" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">:</span></font></b></strong><font face="Arial" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 140%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.75pt"><font face="Wingdings" color="black" size="2"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings"><span>§<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.75pt"><font face="Wingdings" color="black" size="2"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings"><span>§<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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). </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18.75pt"><font face="Wingdings" color="black" size="2"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings"><span>§<font face="Times New Roman" size="1"><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></font></span></span></font><font face="Arial" color="black" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">About FCAA</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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.</span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">About EFG</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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. </span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">About UNAIDS</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 13pt"><font face="Arial" size="1"><span lang="EN" style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">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 <a href="http://www.unaids.org/" target="_blank">www.unaids.org</a> </span></font></p>
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