In December 2009, Michel Sidibé, the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), called for a "prevention revolution" and announced the formation of a UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention. The High Level Commission, composed of political, business, activist and philanthropic leaders, will lead a political action campaign over the coming year to galvanize commitment at the highest level in support of effective HIV prevention.
Please join us by adding your name to the list of scientists and advocates supporting the below statement. The statement, and the accompanying list of supporters, will be released at the launch of the Commission during the International AIDS Conference in July 2010.
For nearly three decades humanity has borne witness to the spread of AIDS, its efforts to stop the epidemic seemingly helpless in the face of overwhelming odds. But while our toolkit lacks an effective vaccine, countless studies and country efforts have demonstrated that preventing the spread of HIV is possible, affordable and expedient.
The greatest successes in blocking HIV tidal waves have been achieved in countries where leadership, from the Head of State to the community, is fully mobilized to attack the virus in a vigorous all-fronts campaign, drawing from evidence, pragmatism and social justice.
As HIV prevention researchers and advocates, we applaud the creation of the UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention and hope that its august members will guide the world community to renew its response with far greater impact.
We need bold and powerful political leadership. We need to transform this leadership into massive and effective action on the ground - aimed at stopping transmission of the virus everywhere in the world. It can - and must - be done.
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