UNESCO's Strategy for Responding to HIV and AIDS

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) launched a new strategy in response to the United Nations (UN) division of labour related to HIV and AIDS interventions. This new strategy outlines UNESCO's multisectoral approach in supporting member states to move towards universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support.


According to this report, 40 million people now live with HIV and only 1 in 10 have access to treatment, 50% of new infections occur in young people ages 15 - 24, and women and girls are disproportionately infected due to gender inequalities. The revised strategy described in this document explains how UNESCO undertakes its work
in the context of a broader effort organised through the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The designated area for UNESCO intervention is
HIV prevention with young people in educational institutions. This document is an operational
tool for the organisation designed to provide direction, set priorities, and
encourage appropriate resource allocation in light of the evolving epidemic
and recent international developments. Key strategic thrusts include:

• Prioritising national education sector
  responses to HIV and AIDS at all levels,
  through all modalities, and across the
  continuum from prevention to treatment,
  care and support;
• Accelerating the implementation of The Global Initiative on Education and HIV/AIDS (EDUCAIDS) as a means to foster comprehensive
  education sector engagement;
• Harnessing UNESCO’s multisectoral capacities
  in support of the organisation’s
  response to the epidemic especially, but
  not only, its educational work
• Supporting delivery of the “core business”
  of the joint UNAIDS programme
  by addressing interlinking challenges to
  universal access;
• Engaging with the UN reform process,
  particularly the establishment of a “One
  UN” at the country level; and
• Aligning all actions to contribute to other
  UN priorities in education.

For the purpose of establishing levels of response, UNAIDS and WHO have designated the following as measures of disease prevelance: low - an HIV infection rate of < 5% in any sub population group, concentrated - > 5% in any sub population group and < 1% in pregnant women, generalised - > 1% in pregnant women. The focus in the low HIV population group is education tailored to marginalised and vulnerable groups. In the concentrated population group, broad-based HIV skills and competencies are introduced also. In the generalised HIV populations, there is an addition of expanded treatment education, including antiretroviral therapy (ART) support, and expanded staff education where there is a high level of staff loss.

Core communications related actions include: advocacy and support for evidence-informed policies and practices, including integration of gender issues in policy and programming; on-going policy and programming guidance, including support for the opportunity to be tested in a manner protecting human rights and including a focus on the needs of young people; technical support and capacity
enhancement, with a focus on addressing stigma and discrimination while intensifying support for capacity development and enhancement; coordination and harmonisation, through EDUCAIDS and other key initiatives that maximise synergy; and monitoring, assessing, and evaluating progress.

These are the outcomes sought in 2008-2009:

1. "Strengthened leadership and resource mobilisation for a broad-based AIDS response at all levels,
   including governments, civil society, people living with HIV, and other non-state partners.
2. Improved planning, financing, technical assistance and coordination at all levels for a sustainable
   multisectoral AIDS programmatic response, addressing the impact of the epidemic and integrated with
   national development efforts.
3. Strengthened evidence base and accountability of the AIDS response through greater availability and
   use of strategic information, including monitoring and evaluation, surveillance and resource tracking.
4. Enhanced human resource and system capacities at all levels of government, civil society and other non-state
   partners to implement comprehensive HIV and AIDS responses, including improved availability of
   and access to affordable HIV commodities.
5. Strengthened human rights-based and gender-responsive policies and approaches to reduce stigma
   and discrimination, increase knowledge of sero-status and improve equity in access to services in all
   settings.
6. Increased coverage and sustainability of programmes for those engaging in injecting drug use, sex
   between men and sex work.
7. Increased coverage and sustainability of programmes addressing the vulnerability of and impact on
   women and girls, young people, children and populations of humanitarian concern."