The global economic downturn cannot be allowed to jeopardise funding for continuing treatment programmes to combat the HIV and AIDS epidemic according to new UNAIDS chief Michel Sidibe.

AIDS is more than a health issue according to him and should be seen as a political opportunity to spark changes in society to talk more about issues like human rights, homophobia and sex education.

"You will never make a difference if you look at AIDS in isolation, " Sidibe said during his first meeting with the Global Steering Committee of the World AIDS Campaign in Geneva.

His comments came as both groups committed to putting human rights and universal access to prevention, treatment care and support at the centre of their campaigning agendas.

Executive Director of World AIDS Campaign Marcel van Soest said, “AIDS is a disaster beyond a health issue, it’s a human rights issue too.”

International representatives attended the consultation from a wide range of communities including The Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+) and The Global Unions HIV/AIDS Programme.

In addition to talks on how to help guarantee continuation of treatment, and to stop discrimination against HIV positive people both groups looked at ways to invigorate campaigning at local and national levels.

Earlier in the week the Joint action for results: UNAIDS outcome framework, 2009 – 2011 was published. Click here to read it.

The 2009 World AIDS Day Campaign will be unveiled in New York City in June.

_{Photo: World AIDS Campaign Global Steering Committee meet with UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe. Credit: UNAIDS/O. O'Hanlon}