Preparation to the UNGASS/AIDS - UNDP - ECUADOR   

07/02/2001

Preparation to the UNGASS/AIDS - UNDP - ECUADOR

To prepare the country position for the meeting of UNGASS to be held on June 25-27 2001, UNAIDS has held repeated meetings with the Health Minister, Dr Patricio Jamriske Jacome, and other Ecuadorian Authorities, the International Relations General Director, the AIDS National Plan Director and the Human Rights Director.
A Round Table was held on April 19 to analyze the basic document which sets out the country position. The participants also included of NGOs, people living with AIDS and representatives of other State institutions.

On May 28, the Health Minister presented the HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan for 2001-2003, that you will find attached to this communication.

The authorities of the country, jointly with UNAIDS are preparing a project detailing the different activities proposed.

It is not yet determined who will attend UNGASS. It was suggested that the President could attend the Assembly, but it is not yet final. The First Lady will attend with a person of her Cabinet, the Director of the National Plan for AIDS and a representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministery.
Most probably one important NGO will participate. It has no been decided whether people living with AIDS will take part.

The Media Accreditation forms for UNGASS/AIDS were sent to the media (newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television channels) on two opportunities, once in April, the other immediately following the Health Minister's national presentation of the Strategic Plan for AIDS at the end of May.