A Monegasque delegation, led by H.E. Ms. Carole Lanteri, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations Office in Geneva, took part in the 39th session of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB), held in Geneva from 6 to 8 December.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) combines the efforts of 11 United Nations institutions and involves the international community with the aim of putting an end to the AIDS epidemic by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The PCB, which meets twice a year, is the governing body of UNAIDS. It is comprised of 22 elected member States, representatives from UN cosponsors, and civil society. In its capacity as a member of the Board, the Principality represented its regional area, which includes Germany, France and the Principality of Liechtenstein, as in 2008 and 2011.
Much of the discussion focused on the financial crisis that UNAIDS is currently undergoing and efforts under way to revitalise the Joint Programme in order to strengthen its cohesion, transparency and effectiveness in its response to AIDS.
In this respect, notable progress has been made, particularly with regard to access to treatment. However, progress has been uneven, the number of new infections is barely diminishing in certain parts of the world, especially in Eastern Europe, and the risk of HIV remains particularly high for young women. Once again, the Principality of Monaco stressed the importance of preventative measures, which are the only way to stop the spread of the epidemic.
Source: en.gouv.mc
