ESCAP SNAPSHOTS
Snapshot No. S/06/2001
19 April 2001

A series of interesting facts emerging from UN ESCAP's 57th Commission Session Bangkok, April 19--25th

A Global Emergency

Bangkok, United Nations Information Services (UNIS) -- The HIV/AIDS crisis is today recognized by the United Nations as a truly global emergency.  The epidemic has been spreading across borders and continents for the past two decades, hitting some places harder than others, yet sparing no country.  Some 36 million people are currently infected with the HIV virus –over 25 million of them in Africa.  Most of them do not know that they are infected.  The decision by the General Assembly to convene a special session to review and address the problem of HIV / AIDS as a matter of urgency (New York, 25-27 June 2001) further underscores the importance that the Secretary General is giving to the pandemic.  The aim of the special session will be to secure a global commitment for intensified and coordinated action at the global and national levels.”

ESCAP
57th Commission session