Action needed to halt AIDS crisis’ says Emily

Emily Thornberry MP and Dawn Butler MP (Brent South) with a member of the Stop AIDS Campaign

Emily’s visit to Switch board. Emily with Switchboard’s co-chairs, Steve Wilkinson and Sharon Browne

Monday 5th December 2005

Emily joined campaigners from London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (which is based in Islington) and from the Stop AIDS Campaign to highlight the importance of combating the spread of AIDS, both in the UK and internationally.  40 Million people around  the world currently have Aids or HIV, and this year 3 million people died from AIDS related illnesses. Emily used the opportunity to call on other countries to join the UK in the fight against AIDS, and to praise the work of Switchboard – a local gay, lesbian and bisexual advice line.

Emily said:

‘I am particularly proud that Switchboard is based in Islington. The work they do to promote sexual health and support lesbians, gay men and bisexual people is vital to combating the spread of AIDS. I was also glad to join campaigners from the Stop AIDS campaign, who have helped put AIDS on the international stage.  I hope that other countries will match the UK’s commitment to combating the spread of this terrible disease.’

‘The government has pledged £1.5 billion up until 2008 to tackle AIDS. A further £27.5 million for global AIDS prevention has also been announced by the Prime Minister.  This yet again shows the UK’s commitment on World AIDS Day to tackling the world’s fourth biggest killer. This builds on the solid progress achieved at this Gleneagles G8 Summit’s where world leaders agreed to make fighting AIDS and HIV a priority.’

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard provides information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people from all backgrounds throughout the United Kingdom for more than 30 years.

The Stop AIDS Campaign is an unprecedented initiative of the UK Consortium on AIDS and International Development, bringing together more than 70 of the UK's leading development and HIV/AIDS groups. Launched on World AIDS Day 2001, the campaign works to raise awareness in the UK about global HIV/AIDS epidemic and to campaign for urgently scaled up international action.

The UK is the world’s second largest donor to the global AIDS response, working directly in 39 countries.

EU Ministers, under the UK presidency, also confirmed their commitment to increased prevention by issuing a statement on a vision for an AIDS free generation – the first pan-European pledge of its kind. Meeting in London, they backed efforts to give people around the world better access to condoms and effective information.

Hosting the EU ministerial meeting ahead of World AIDS Day, Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn MP said:

‘Over 3 million people die every year from AIDS. The UK is making good on promises made at the Gleneagles Summit to ensure that everyone who needs it can access prevention and get treatment.’

Lydia Zigomo, Africa Regional Programmes Manager for Interact Worldwide said

‘We welcome today’s announcement from the UK Government to invest further funding towards HIV prevention and treatment. This investment recognizes that currently prevention efforts are far from effective and that the AIDS epidemic continues to outstrip global and national efforts to contain it.’