PRESS RELEASE Nº168/2013

African Union developing protocol for supporting health in peacekeeping operations

Addis Ababa 03 October 2013- The African Union Commission with support from The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is developing a protocol to deal with peacekeeping deployments from the AU specifically addressing the impact of the spread of HIV in peace keeping operations. The protocol will provide a framework for addressing HIV in all phases of AU Peace Support Operations and also prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse

“The African Union recognises the impact of the spread of HIV on all sectors and levels of society, and that in conflict and post-conflict situations, these impacts may be felt more profoundly. We are thus continually learning how to manage these issues that have long lasting impact after the conflicts end” said Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the Commission in his meeting with UNAIDS Executive Director to discuss HIV in relation to security and peace keeping.

Conditions of violence and instability in conflict and post-conflict situations can exacerbate the HIV epidemic, through large movements of people, widespread uncertainty over conditions, conflict-related sexual violence, and reduced access to medical care.

“Integrating HIV interventions in all phases of Peace Keeping operations is strategic and pragmatic . It is important for both the protection of troops and the civilian community” said Dr. Luiz Loures, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations.

Further noting that “addressing sexual and gender based violence in peace keeping operations reduces vulnerabilities to HIV. Such abuses should be condemned, investigated and punished”

Recognizing that HIV particularly affects women and girls, and underlining the importance of concerted efforts towards ending conflict- related sexual and gender-based violence the African Union Commission will launch the “Women and Girls, HIV/AIDS and conflicts: Situation analysis of 11 selected conflict and post-conflict countries in Africa” report during the World AIDS Day commemoration in Juba, South Sudan.

The report assesses the progress on the implementation of key recommendations of the first desk review that was conducted in 2008. The situational report will assess women and girls’ access to health care services as well as sexual and gender-based violence status, which will bring to the attention of policy makers and other stakeholders the need to take concrete steps to address the situation.

The United Nations Secretary General will next year report to the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 1983 (2011) adopted by the Security Council at its 6547th meeting, on 7 June 2011. The AU will highlight the efforts on addressing HIV and peace and security in the report.

The resolution reaffirms the significance of epidemic to individual, national and global security, respects and promotes human rights in conflict/post-conflict societies and recognises the link between HIV and violence against women.

During the meeting the two leaders also discussed collaboration with AIDS Watch Africa in the roll out of African Union Roadmap at country level. Structured around three strategic pillars—health governance, diversified financing and access to medicines—the Roadmap offers a set of practical and African-owned solutions to enhance sustainable responses to AIDS, TB and malaria. It defines goals, expected results, roles and responsibilities to hold stakeholders accountable over a three-year time frame, through 2015. Created at the Abuja 2001 Special Summit, AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) is an Africa-led instrument to stimulate leaders into action and mobilise the resources needed to address AIDS, TB and Malaria in an effective, sustainable and accountable manner.