HEADQUARTERS PRESS BRIEFING SPONSORED BY UNAIDS POLICY CHIEF

Everyone recognized the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS problem; it was also important to recognize some of the very solid foundations that had been laid on which to build a much greater future response, the Policy Chief of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) told correspondents this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing.

PRESS BRIEFING ON HIV/AIDS DECLARATION

The fact that Member States had sat down and discussed the issue of HIV/AIDS in its entirety for the very first time, and had been able to reach agreement on a very substantial text, was an extraordinary step forward, Penny Wensley (Australia), co-facilitator of negotiations on the draft declaration of the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, told correspondents this morning at a Headquarters press briefing.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNAIDS

The special session could turn the tide on an epidemic that was changing tens of millions of infected people into a hundred million more in the near future, correspondents were told this afternoon at a Headquarters press briefing on the opening day of the special session on HIV/AIDS.  The speaker was Peter Piot, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

UPDATE ON AIDS EPIDEMIC BY UNAIDS

ILO DIRECTOR GENERAL INTRODUCES CODE OF PRACTICES ON AIDS

Of the 36 million people infected with HIV/AIDS, 23 million are in the workplace, the Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Juan Somavia,told correspondents this morning during a Headquarters press conference where he introduced the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF CANADA

Canada would commit some $73 million for HIV/AIDS programming in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, Maria Minna, Minister for International Cooperation of Canada, announced today at a Headquarters press conference being held in conjunction with the special session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS.

PRESS BRIEFING ON ACCESS OF POOR COUNTRIES TO HIV/AIDS TREATMENTS

The leading international research-based pharmaceutical companies support strengthening the ability of the poorest countries to access health care prevention strategies and treatment, according to a statement distributed by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon related to the General Assembly’s special session on HIV/AIDS.

PRESS BRIEFING BY PRIME MINISTER OF SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS

PRESS CONFERENCE BY PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA

Nigeria would contribute up to $10 million to the Global AIDS and Health Fund proposed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Olusegun Obasanjo of that country said at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

PRESS BRIEFING BY UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS

During its first two-week session, the new international body on forests -- the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) -- had had an opportunity to define its scope of work, initiate a framework for a plan of action, design new approaches to international cooperation, and expand coordination through the newly formed collaborative partnerships on forests (CPF), correspondents were told at a Headquarters press briefing this morning.