27 July 1989

36th plenary meeting

Prevention and control of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1988/55 of 27 July 1988, General Assembly resolution 43/15 of 27 October 1988, World Health Assembly resolutions WHA 42.20, WHA 42.33 and WHA 42.34 of 19 May 1989, other relevant resolutions, the London Declaration on AIDS Prevention, and the discussions of the Fifth International Conference on AIDS, held in Montreal from 4 to 9 June 1989,

Acknowledging the established leadership of the World Health Organization in directing and co-ordinating AIDS education, prevention, control and research,

Noting with appreciation the efforts of other organizations of the United Nations system, as well as national Governments and non-governmental organizations,

Welcoming, in particular, the World Health Organization/United Nations Development Programme Alliance to Combat AIDS and the role of the Alliance in facilitating the implementation at the country level of the global strategy for the prevention and control of AIDS,

Recalling the resolutions of the World Health Assembly and the General Assembly concerning the socio-economic and humanitarian aspects of the problem, including the need to respect the human rights and dignity of all people, including those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),

Reaffirming that the struggle against AIDS should be consistent with and divert neither attention nor resources from other national public health priorities and development goals and should not divert international efforts and resources needed for overall health priorities,

Aware that AIDS can have serious economic and social consequences, particularly in countries with a high incidence of infection from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and limited public health services and other developmental resources,

Aware of the need to address the problem of drug abuse from the perspective of AIDS prevention and control,

Concerned that, depending upon individual and social circumstances, women and children recently appear to have developed a higher risk of infection from the human immunodeficiency virus,

1. Takes note of the report of the Director-General of the World Health Organization on the global strategy for the prevention and control of AIDS and the supplementary report on AIDS-related activities being carried out by the organizations of the United Nations system;

2. Notes with appreciation and welcomes the arrangements made by the Secretary-General, in close co-operation with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, to ensure a co-ordinated response by the United Nations system to the AIDS pandemic pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1988/55 and General Assembly resolution 43/15;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in view of the potentially serious implications of the AIDS pandemic for socio-economic development in some developing countries, to intensify his efforts, in close co-operation with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, to mobilize the technical and other relevant resources of the United Nations system, through co-ordinated research and programme measures, to deal with this aspect of the problem;

4. Calls upon Governments and non-governmental organizations to co-ordinate their efforts with the World Health Organization in implementing the global strategy for the prevention and control of AIDS;

5. Invites the General Assembly to consider the report of the Director-General of the World Health Organization and the response of the United Nations system to the AIDS pandemic and to take an appropriate decision on further action, taking the present resolution into account.