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The silence and stigma that surrounds the HIV/AIDS debate, the prevention efforts and those who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS needs to be addressed. Stigma is preventing people from discussing HIV/AIDS openly, from being tested for HIV and, in the end, preventing patients from seeking treatment and care. We need to break the silence and address the stigma. HIV/AIDS is a personal tragedy for more than 45 million men, women and children. More than 24 million people including almost 5 million children have already died since the beginning of the epidemic; 90% are from developing countries, leaving behind a legacy of more than 15 million orphans. More than 3 million people died and another 5 million were newly infected during 2002 alone.

Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, is the region most affected and 60% of adults infected in Africa are women. They are often infected at a very young age.

Inequality, poverty, limited knowledge, the lack of access to prevention, care and treatment, as well as stigma, all fuel the transmission.

The global disaster of AIDS must be stopped and we need to work together to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS and the suffering that it entails.

The EC, as part of the global community, is facing up to its responsibilities and playing a significant role in the international action to halt the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The basis for the Commission's work stems from the EC Programme for Action on Communicable Diseases, which is the EC's approach to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, the three major communicable diseases in developing countries.

This Programme for Action highlights the EC's recognition of the importance of dealing with HIV/AIDS in the context of poverty as well as recognising the important links between HIV/AIDS and other diseases such as TB.

The Programme runs from 2001 to 2006. It reflects a broad and coherent Community response to the...