MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am delighted by the European Union (EU) decision to contribute more than $1
million towards the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum on HIV/AIDS and
Development.
The EU now joins other donors, including the UK, Japan, the United States and
New Zealand, in supporting the work of this key regional initiative in the fight
against HIV/AIDS.
It is the first time the EU and Australia have cooperated on such a
development assistance project.
The Asia Pacific Leadership Forum for HIV/AIDS and Development was conceived
at a regional Ministerial Meeting I hosted in 2001 to encourage political
leadership and commitment at the highest level in tackling HIV/AIDS. It aims to
serve as a network for regional coordination, collaboration and training.
The funding from the EU will go towards consolidating the work of the Forum
and to supporting workshops for leaders from government and civil society around
the region.
These discussions will give participants the opportunity to learn more about
HIV/AIDS and effective measures to mount successful responses to the
epidemic.
HIV/AIDS represents one of the major development challenges facing the
Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific has the largest regional concentration of
HIV outside of sub-Saharan Africa. There are now about 7.5 million people living
with HIV/AIDS in our region, with more than 3,000 new infections in the Asia
Pacific every day.
The Asia Pacific Leadership Forum is in a strong position to support work
that is already being undertaken in the region by national governments, regional
groupings and donors. UNAIDS, the body responsible for coordinating the United
Nations response to HIV/AIDS, will be central to the management and coordination
of the Forum.
Contacts:
Chris Kenny (Mr Downer's office) 6277 7500 or 0419 206890
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489