Minister of International Development Anne Kristin Sydnes will announce in the UN Security Council that Norway has allocated NOK 10 million to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in connection with peacekeeping operations.

Minister of International Development Anne Kristin Sydnes is today attending a meeting of the UN Security Council on HIV/AIDS. In her statement she will announce that Norway is allocating NOK 10 million to the UN AIDS programme (UNAIDS) for its measures to control and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in connection with peacekeeping operations.

- We know that in Africa ten times as many people die of AIDS than in armed conflicts. This is a threat to security and stability in many African countries," says the Minister. She continues, - The fact that over 10 per cent of children are losing their parents is a disaster for those affected and for social stability.

The Security Council discussed the subject of HIV/AIDS for the first time a year ago. Last July the Security Council requested the UN to develop measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS in connection with peacekeeping operations. The Norwegian allocation of NOK 10 million will assist the efforts being made by UNAIDS to implement the Security Council’s resolution.

- The reason for the Security Council’s decision is that in many countries HIV/AIDS is more prevalent among soldiers than in the general population. Furthermore, conflict situations increase the risk of becoming infected for peacekeeping forces, humanitarian personnel and vulnerable groups such as women and children. The many armed conflicts that are now raging in Africa are contributing to the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS on the continent, says the Minister of International Development.

In her statement to the Security Council Ms Sydnes also took up the danger of HIV/AIDS spreading in connection with the demobilization of soldiers after conflicts have ended. - We have recently begun a dialogue with the authorities in Ethiopia about what we can do to mobilize the soldiers who are now coming home from the battlefield in the struggle against AIDS. We hope that we can also make a similar contribution in Eritrea, says the Minister.