Recent stories and upcoming events

UNODC and Brazil promote national consultation on HIV/AIDS in prison settings

 

7 April 2009 - UNODC, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice of Brazil, organized the first national consultation on HIV/AIDS in prison settings, held in Brasilia from 31 March to 2 April 2009. The consultation was attended by around 150 professionals, including specialists from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice of Brazil, representatives from all 26 states of Brazil and the Federal District, which is where the capital is located, health professionals working in prison settings, members of the national harm reduction network, representatives of the Brazilian segment of the International Commission for Catholic Prison Pastoral Care and representatives of the National Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. The following United Nations entities also participated: the World Health Organization, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Population Fund and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Health and justice experts from the Southern Cone region also attended as observers, upon invitation of UNODC.

The objective of the consultation was to discuss and propose an agenda with actions to provide prevention, attention, treatment and support services aimed at addressing HIV, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and co-infections such as tuberculosis and hepatitis in prison settings. "UNODC is committed to supporting the Government of Brazil in the provision of HIV and AIDS prevention and care services to the prison population", said UNODC Representative for Brazil and the Southern Cone Giovanni Quaglia. At the meeting, participants also responded to the recommendations made during the Latin America and the Caribbean regional consultation on HIV/AIDS in prison settings, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May 2008.

As in most countries in the world, in Brazil there is a higher HIV prevalence in prison than in the general population. It is estimated that the country has approximately 420,000 prisoners living in poor conditions, which makes them vulnerable to HIV, AIDS and STDs. Liliana Pittaluga, Technical Adviser at the Prevention Unit of the National STD and AIDS Programme of Brazil, said that the consultation is a symbol of the solid partnership between the Government of Brazil and UNODC. "The cooperation between sectors is crucial to improve the health care and prevention services made available inside prison settings. We are confident that the results of this consultation will not only result in an exchange of experiences, but also in building a process of actions that will have a positive effect in the prison system at the country level."

The main result of the consultation was the commitment made by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice of Brazil and UNODC to form a working group that will be in charge of consolidating the consultation report and design, based on the recommendations proposed by the participants and a national operative plan with guidelines, targets and deadlines. Civil society organizations, PAHO and UNAIDS will also be part of this group.

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Fifteenth International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa

The Fifteenth International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa will be held in Dakar, from 3 to 7 December 2008. The theme of the Conference will be "Africa's response: face the facts". For further information on the Conference, please visit the official website.

On 5 December, UNODC will hold a session on HIV prevention, care, treatment and support in prison settings at 12.30 p.m. to 2 p.m. in room C01.

Tentative agenda:

  • HIV and prisons in sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities for action

  • Building evidence and knowledge in Uganda (Johnson Byabashaija, Commissioner General Uganda Prison Service)

  • Real life experiences: the point of view of a former prisoner

  • A framework for an effective national response and a toolkit for prison managers and prison officers

 

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World AIDS Day 2007

UNODC across the world

China: The Great AIDS Walk

On 2 December 2007, UNODC and its partners, side by the side with Government leaders, multilateral organizations, the private sector, representatives of the world of sport, civil society organizations, including of people living with HIV, and individual citizens, will participate in The Great AIDS Walk. This original hike along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China represents a great occasion for all to show their commitment to responding to the spread of HIV.

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HIV in prisons in sub-Saharan Africa: opportunity for action

28 November 2007 - Of any region in the world, sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit by the HIV epidemic, with almost two-thirds of all people infected with HIV living in the region. The HIV epidemic has struck prisons and other places of detention around the world with particular severity. Penal institutions have grossly disproportionate rates of HIV infection and confirmed AIDS cases. International data show that HIV prevalence among prisoners is between 2 and 50 times higher than in the general adult population.

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