Summary:

New UNAIDS report shows AIDS epidemic has been halted and world beginning to reverse the spread of HIV. New HIV infections have fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last 10 years, AIDS-related deaths are down by nearly 20 per cent in the last five years, and the total number of people living with HIV is stabilising.

http://www.unaids.org/globalreport/

[GENEVA, 23 November 2010] — A new report by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), released today, shows that the AIDS epidemic is beginning to change course as the number of people newly infected with HIV is declining and AIDS-related deaths are decreasing. Together, this is contributing to the stabilization of the total number of people living with HIV in the world.

Data from the 2010 UNAIDS Report shows that an estimated 2.6 million use of AIDS-related data in countries and globally.with HIV, nearly 20 per cent fewer than the 3.1 million [2.9 million–3.4 million] people infected in 1999.

In 2009, 1.8 million [1.6 million–2.1 million] people died from AIDS-related illnesses, nearly one-fifth lower than the 2.1 million [1.9 million–2.3 million] people who died in 2004. At the end of 2009, 33.3 million [31.4 million–35.3 million] people were estimated to be living with HIV, up slightly from 32.8 million 1 [30.9 million–34.7 million] in 2008. This is in large part due to more people living longer as access to antiretroviral therapy increases.

"We are breaking the trajectory of the AIDS epidemic with bold actions and smart choices," said Mr Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. "Investments in the AIDS response are paying off, but gains are fragile—the challenge now is how we can all work to accelerate progress."

Further information

• UN: Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of HIV/AIDS (August 2010)
• Good Practice Guide - Greater involvement of people living with HIV (International HIV and AIDS Alliance, July 2010)
• Blame and Banishment - the underground HIV epidemic affecting children in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (UNICEF, July 2010)
• More on children and HIV and AIDS

Previous UN report items

• 25/11/2010: SOMALIA: Report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Somalia
• 14/10/2010: GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 2010 Annual Report of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict
• 14/10/2010: GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 2010 Annual Report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child
• 14/10/2010: GENERAL ASSEMBLY: 2010 Annual Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children
• 07/10/2010: GLOBAL: The Rights and Guarantees of Internally Displaced Children in Armed Conflict

Organisation Contact Details:

UNAIDS
20 Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Tel: 00 41 22 791 4461
Email: maheshm@unaids.org
Website: www.unaids.org/

Last updated 03/12/2010 03:31:48

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