United Nations Security Council Resolution 1308
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1308, adopted unanimously on July 17, 2000, in the first resolution to address the impact of HIV
/AIDS
worldwide, the Council asked countries to consider voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling for troops deployed in peacekeeping
operations.
Speaking after the unanimous adoption of the United States
-sponsored resolution, the American ambassador Richard Holbrooke
thanked Security Council members for the "unprecedented resolution on a health issue–the first in the history of the Security Council."
worldwide, and especially the severity of the crisis in Africa
. The General Assembly
and the United Nations Economic and Social Council
had an important role and there was a need for a co-ordinated effort to address the diseases. The spread of HIV/AIDS had a heavy impact on society, was exacerbated by violence and could lead to instability and emergency situations if left unchecked. Therefore, a co-ordinated international response was important.
The Council also recognised the need to include HIV/AIDS prevention and advice in United Nations peacekeeping missions. It welcomed the 13th International AIDS Conference
held in South Africa
, the first event of its type to be held in a developing country
. Furthermore, it also took note of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
's call to reduce HIV/AIDS infection rates in 15- to 24-year-olds by 25% by 2010.
and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS) to develop long-term strategies to address the spread of the diseases. The Secretary-General was asked to take further steps in the training of peacekeepers to prevent the diseases.
UNAIDS was encouraged to strengthen cooperation with Member States. The Council concluded by expressing an interest in making progress on the issue of access to treatment and care and prevention through discussions with countries, United Nations bodies, international organisations and industry.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1308, adopted unanimously on July 17, 2000, in the first resolution to address the impact of HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
worldwide, the Council asked countries to consider voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling for troops deployed in peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
operations.
Speaking after the unanimous adoption of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-sponsored resolution, the American ambassador Richard Holbrooke
Richard Holbrooke
Richard Charles Albert Holbrooke was an American diplomat, magazine editor, author, professor, Peace Corps official, and investment banker....
thanked Security Council members for the "unprecedented resolution on a health issue–the first in the history of the Security Council."
Observations
The Security Council was concerned about the HIV/AIDS pandemicPandemic
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that is spreading through human populations across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or even worldwide. A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic...
worldwide, and especially the severity of the crisis in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
and the United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations constitutes one of the six principal organs of the United Nations and it is responsible for the coordination of the economic, social and related work of 14 UN specialized agencies, its functional commissions and five regional commissions...
had an important role and there was a need for a co-ordinated effort to address the diseases. The spread of HIV/AIDS had a heavy impact on society, was exacerbated by violence and could lead to instability and emergency situations if left unchecked. Therefore, a co-ordinated international response was important.
The Council also recognised the need to include HIV/AIDS prevention and advice in United Nations peacekeeping missions. It welcomed the 13th International AIDS Conference
XIII International AIDS Conference, 2000
The XII International AIDS Conference was held in Durban, South Africa, during the week of July 9-14 2000. 12,000 people from all over the world attended, including scientists, clinicians, health care workers, public health agencies, people living with HIV/AIDS, AIDS Non-Governmental...
held in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, the first event of its type to be held in a developing country
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
. Furthermore, it also took note of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
's call to reduce HIV/AIDS infection rates in 15- to 24-year-olds by 25% by 2010.
Acts
The resolution expressed concern at the impact of HIV/AIDS on international peacekeeping and support personnel. It acknowledged efforts by certain countries to address the issue through national programmes and encouraged those that had not yet done so to co-operate with the international communityInternational community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, or UNAIDS, is the main advocate for accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV epidemic....
(UNAIDS) to develop long-term strategies to address the spread of the diseases. The Secretary-General was asked to take further steps in the training of peacekeepers to prevent the diseases.
UNAIDS was encouraged to strengthen cooperation with Member States. The Council concluded by expressing an interest in making progress on the issue of access to treatment and care and prevention through discussions with countries, United Nations bodies, international organisations and industry.
See also
- List of countries by HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1301 to 1400 (2000 – 2002)
- United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in AfricaUnited Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in AfricaThe United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa is a diplomatic position that deals with the deadly disease on the continent where the issue is most pressing.-External links:* , United Nations, 21 May 2007...