UN security council debates HIV/AIDS

For the first time in two years the UN Security Council has held a debate on HIV/AIDS to highlight the role of peacekeepers in preventing the spread of the pandemic during missions. Addressing the UN Security Council meeting earlier this week, UNAIDS executive director, Peter Piot, said: "HIV/AIDS represents a challenge to every one of the 42,000 soldiers and police officers currently under UN command." Of the 14 UN peacekeeping forces currently in operation, six are based in the African countries of Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Western Sahara. Piot said: "Unless the HIV challenge is met, the sustainability of these operations, and their invaluable contribution to global security, will be under threat." Meanwhile, countries hosting peacekeeping forces have called for mandatory HIV testing of the soldiers.