London, 1 December 2006

“No one should die as a result of sex, from the lack of a condom, or denial of accurate information that would allow them to protect themselves from HIV infection.

Yet 25 years after AIDS was first reported the epidemic continues to grow, and for millions of those most at risk of HIV infection this is the daily reality”, said Kevin Osborne, Senior HIV/AIDS Adviser at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

“On World AIDS Day 2006, IPPF urges the global community to make a strong commitment to integrate comprehensive HIV prevention into established health care systems, especially sexual and reproductive health services and programmes. We must reject partial or incomplete messages on HIV prevention, such as only teaching abstinence until marriage and fidelity within marriage, which, against all evidence to the contrary, treats marriage itself as a prevention measure and leads to further stigma and discrimination,” Osborne continued.

IPPF warns that we must quickly learn the lesson of Uganda which abandoned its previously successful comprehensive HIV prevention approach of sexuality education, condom promotion and behaviour change education, in favour of an approach that favours abstinence only education.

The new evidence from Uganda is disturbing: HIV rates are rising and people are confused by mixed messages on condom use and are either not using them or only using them inconsistently.

In part, this seems to be attributable to the stigma that has been attached to condom use by abstinence only teachings giving the impression that condoms should only be used by vulnerable groups such as commercial sex workers. Yet this is the prevention model that many countries are adopting under pressure from US President Bush’s PEPFAR initiative.

“We must recognise and act upon the evidence before our eyes. This epidemic is exceptional and it requires an exceptional response – a response based on hard facts and evidence, and based on the reality of people’s lives, not political ideology or expediency. If we continue to deliver a business-as-usual response we will be no closer to ending the epidemic in another 25 years time,” stated Osborne.

The latest figures from UNAIDS show that 39.5 million people now live with HIV/AIDS, and that despite huge efforts new HIV infections are increasing, some 4.3 million last year alone. The epidemic affects all, but it mostly affects those individuals and communities who are already marginalized and isolated: young women and girls, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users and sex workers, and it is with these groups that we must work to develop strategies that work because they address the reality of people’s lives.

For further information please contact Kevin Osborne at the International Planned Parenthood Federation on 020 7939 8200