Sixty-second General Assembly

Plenary

96^th Meeting (PM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES SOME 700 CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES FOR HIGH-LEVEL

MEETING TO REVIEW PROGRESS OF DECLARATIONS ON HIV/AIDS, 10-11 JUNE

The General Assembly approved today nearly 700 civil society representatives for participation in the high-level meeting on a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, to be held on 10 and 11 June.

The Assembly took that action by the consensus adoption of a draft decision (document A/62/L.44) submitted by its President, Srgjan Kerim, in accordance with resolution 62/178.  That resolution had asked him to draw up, following consultations with Member States and no later than 31 March, a list of relevant civil society representatives for participation in the forthcoming high-level meeting.

Among the participants would be representatives of people living with HIV; non-governmental organizations, including organizations of women, young people, girls and boys, and men; faith-based groups; and the private sector, notably pharmaceutical companies and labour representatives.  They were selected on the basis of recommendations by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the principle of equitable geographical representation.

By the same resolution, adopted on 19 December 2007, the Assembly had decided to invite as participants in the meeting, in addition to Member States, the Holy See as an Observer State; Palestine, in its capacity as an Observer; the United Nations system, including programmes, funds, specialized agencies and regional commissions; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Special Envoys of the Secretary-General on HIV/AIDS; the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Stop Tuberculosis; intergovernmental organizations with observer status in the Assembly or the Economic and Social Council; and non-governmental members of the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS.

The General Assembly will meet again at a date and time to be announced.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record