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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Annan issues challenge on AIDS battle


Thai activists march on the opening day of the 15th International AIDS Conference, in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Vijay Joshi Associated Press

BANGKOK, Thailand – The International AIDS Conference opened Sunday with U.N. chief Kofi Annan challenging world leaders to do more to combat the raging global epidemic and warning that women are increasingly the unwitting victims of the disease.

Three years after world leaders pledged at the United Nations to defeat the epidemic, there has been progress on many fronts, Annan said in a speech to nearly 20,000 policy makers, scientists, activists and celebrities.

“And yet, we are not doing nearly well enough,” he said, in the first appearance by the U.N. secretary-general at an International AIDS Conference.

“We need leaders everywhere to demonstrate that speaking up about AIDS is a point of pride, not a source of shame. There must be no more sticking heads in the sand … no more hiding behind a veil of apathy.”

Organizers criticized a U.S. decision to send a pared-down delegation that forced some researchers to cancel presentations, with delegates saying they believed it was a message that the conference wasn’t focused enough on abstinence.

The U.S. stance sends “a strange signal” from the largest donor nation to anti-AIDS efforts, conference co-chairman Joep Lange said. “These ideological games are very counterproductive,” he said.

The United States says the reason is cost cutting: It spent $3.6 million on the Barcelona trip. The bill this time is $500,000.

The conference was expected to discuss how best to prevent infections – with discussions on whether to focus primarily on condoms, as host country Thailand has done, or on abstinence, as favored by President Bush.

“Bush tells lies, condoms save lives,” read a placard held by one of an estimated 1,000 activists, many of them HIV positive, who rallied outside the venue to demand increased access to drugs, condoms and clean needles.

Thailand doled out condoms at tollbooths, hotels and the conference. The venue even had an exhibit of dresses made of condoms, symbols of the country’s success in securing a sevenfold decrease in HIV infections since 1991 largely by promoting condom-only sex among prostitutes.