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| The Division for the Advancement of Women
organized jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) an Expert Group Meeting on "The HIV/AIDS Pandemic and
its Gender Implications", which took place in Windhoek (Namibia) from 13 to 17
November 2000. The United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women has repeatedly discussed women and HIV/AIDS in the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women, including, most recently, when it reviewed the critical area of concern "Women and Health" at its forty-third session held in March 1999. Compelled by recent alarming developments with regard to women and HIV/AIDS, the Commission decided to consider the topic as a priority theme in its work programme for the year 2001. In order to contribute to a further understanding of the issue and provide input to the report of the Secretary General, it was decided to convene an Expert Group Meeting. The meeting will elaborate action-oriented recommendations to be forwarded to the Commission. The seriousness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic has been pinpointed on several occasions at the international level and HIV/AIDS is now recognized as a phenomena with wide development and security implications. In January 2000, an unprecedented United Nations Security Council session was devoted exclusively to the impact of AIDS on peace and security in Africa and, as a follow-up to the Security Council debate, the Economic and Social Council is pursuing special initiatives with regards to HIV/AIDS. The International Partnership against AIDS in Africa, a joint initiative of the United Nations system, African Governments, donor countries, non-governmental organizations and the private sector is addressing the HIV/AIDS in Africa in a concerted effort. |
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