MADRID (ILO News) - Leaders of ten agencies in the United Nations system met here today to review coordinated strategies against HIV/AIDS.
"HIV/AIDS is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and that's why we need coordinated action by the multilateral system", said ILO Director-General Juan Somavia who presided at the 27th meeting of the Committee of UNAIDS Cosponsors in Madrid.
The meeting was attended by the heads of ten agencies who discussed a number of issues related to the impact and spread of the pandemic. "This is not only a fight against the devastating impact of the pandemic, but also against ignorance and fear", Somavia said.
Under the chair of the ILO and in conformity with its mandate, the Committee - which is the executive body of UNAIDS - gave the world of work response to AIDS a high priority.
In 2001, ILO members including governments, employers and workers approved a Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work which has become a reference for all strategies directed to the impact of the pandemic on the working environment.
"We can save lives through the workplace, which plays a vital role in promoting prevention and information strategies, treatment and the fight against discrimination", Somavia concluded.
For more information on the ILOAIDS programme,
please refer to
www.ilo.org/aids.
For information on activities of other UN
agencies, please go to the UNAIDS website at:
www.unaids.org/en/GetStarted/UNFamily.asp.