Role of the United Nations System.

The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented development crisis, no longer confined to certain groups or to particular regions. In most of the world it has become a mainstream concern-affecting individual of all age groups and all social-economic backgrounds. The impact on economic development is becoming increasingly apparent in virtually every social sector, especially in the most seriously affected countries. The response to HIV/AIDS must likewise draw upon every sector.

HIV/AIDS is increasingly discussed in high-level international forum on economic, health, security, labour and social issues. Some examples include UN Security Council; the annual meeting of the World Bank Development Committee, the World Health Assembly; the International Labour Conference; and regional Summits, such as those of the organization of African Unit and the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

In the G8 communiqué “Okinawa 2000”, adopted by the summit, infectious diseases were raised as an important theme and various quantitative targets were set for the coming   years. As a result, a new partnership between G8 countries, governments of developing countries, international organizations and civil society is being established to tackle this issue, which is becoming a serious obstacle to social and economical development in developing countries.

Recognizing the importance of a multi-dimensional effort to fight HIV/AIDS, through 1994 resolution of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was launched in January 1996. The Program, comprising a Secretariat and seven UN system organizations (UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNDCP, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank) seeks to lead, strengthen and support an expanded response to the epidemic in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, provide care and support for those infected and alleviate the social-economic and human impact of the epidemic. The seven Cosponsoring Organizations offer countries a broad range of experience, efforts and resources of relevance to the fight against the epidemic. Cooperation agreements have also been signed between the UNAIDS Secretariat and other UN and non-UN bodies to intensify collaborative efforts in other areas of expertise.