UN General Assembly to convene special session on HIV/AIDS in june
Regional, Health, 11/4/2000

Aiming to secure a global commitment to combat HIV/AIDS, the General Assembly Friday decided to convene "as a matter of urgency" a special session next June to comprehensively address the epidemic.

Unanimously adopting a four-page resolution on the HIV/AIDS problem, the Assembly set the parameters for the special session and outlined the issues to be tackled during the meeting, which will be held June 25 to 27. These include HIV/AIDS in Africa, international funding and cooperation, the social and economic impact of the epidemic, and human rights considerations.

According to the resolution, the special session should also address the stigma related to AIDS and the disease's impact on women and girls. In addition, it should tackle the problem of access to drugs and other treatment as well as scientific research and the development of a vaccine. The special case of children affected by AIDS, particularly orphans, will also receive priority attention. The resolution specifies that these issues should be discussed in both plenary meetings and during interactive round-tables.

The adoption of the resolution marked the culmination of the Assembly's two-day review of the worldwide impact of HIV/AIDS. Numerous speakers taking part in the debate underscored the epidemic's devastating effects, particularly in Africa, not only in terms of human health but also in the broader context of economic development. Participants also pointed out that prevention and treatment could help to mitigate the problem, and expressed hope that the special session would provide impetus to improving the international response to the epidemic.

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