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The following is issued on behalf of the UNAIDS Collaborating Centre for Technical Support - Red Ribbon Centre:

The theme of World AIDS Campaign 2000 is "AIDS: Men Make A Difference".

The new campaign is targeted at men in order to get them involved more fully in the effort against AIDS and to build a new and much-needed national response to the epidemic.

Executive Director of UNAIDS, Peter Piot said: "The time is ripe to start seeing men not as some kind of problem, but as part of the solution."

To achieve an effective response in preventing the spread of HIV, it is crucial to work with men in order to change some of their negative attitudes and behaviours.

A number of issues, which need to pay more attention during this year's campaign, include the increasing awareness of men's health, reducing male's high risk HIV related behaviours, promoting better responsibility and attitudes, and advocating men to take care of their families.

Another aim of this campaign is to complement current programmes for women and girls in order to enhance gender awareness and sensitivity. We believe that with the changing of men's attitudes and behaviours, men can also change the course of AIDS epidemics.

The document on 2000 World AIDS Campaign, Men and AIDS - a gendered approach from the UNAIDS is available at Red Ribbon Centre. For enquiries, please call 2304 6268 or visit the web site on AIDS: http://www.info.gov.hk/aids.

End/Tuesday, March 7, 2000

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