(UN) AIDS meeting
12 April 2006
The Department of Health has invited 14 people from broader civil society to
be part of South Africa's official delegation to United Nations General
Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV and AIDS.
This is in line with the UN resolution, which invites Member States to
include civil society representatives in their national delegations to the
meeting. The Special Session takes place in New York from 31 May to 2 June to
review the progress that the world has made in implementing the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV and AIDS adopted by the General Assembly in 2001.
The country delegation will be led by Government (at the level of a Cabinet
member or members) and will include representatives of various departments
within the Social Sector Cluster at national and provincial level.
The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, said the civil society
representatives have been selected with the aim of representing a broad
spectrum of sectors involved in the response to HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
The selection has also considered adequate gender representation and broadening
of capacity within the leadership of civil society to engage on HIV and AIDS
issues at a global level.
"We have to ensure that this meeting addresses the issue of feminisation of
HIV and AIDS. We have to build capacity amongst women and ensure adequate
representation of their concerns, views and aspirations as bearers of the
heaviest burden of HIV and AIDS in our society.
"Within the limited resources available, we also need to ensure that more
and more individuals within government and civil society gain exposure to
international engagement with regard to HIV and AIDS," said Minister
Tshabalala-Msimang.
Government will cover the cost of the participation of this delegation at
the UNGASS.
Government wants to ensure appropriate projection of the interventions made
through a multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS and the implementation of the
Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS.
The projection of the country's response should encompass the progress made
in prevention, care and treatment programmes and the challenges that are being
addressed with regard to implementation of these programmes on the ground.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Issued by: Department of Health
12 April 2006
