Date: 01/12/2009
Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HiV/Aids
Title: UNAids: Sidibé: Speech by the executive director of UNAids on World Aids Day, Pretoria

Mr. President, please allow me to pay my tributes to President Nelson
Mandela on this special day-without his courage and vision, we would not be
celebrating World AIDS Day together. I remember here in Pretoria President
Mandela warning us that "time wasted in unnecessary deliberation is time
lost for action."
We cannot afford to waste another moment, not when our idleness is measured
by the deaths of our most precious resource, our children. But today we move
forward. We are living Mandela's historic legacy.
This special day is about paying respect. Respect to countless human
beings-to the two million of our fellow brothers, sisters, mothers and
fathers and children who died of AIDS last year. Respect to the more than 5
million who lack access to lifesaving treatment. Respect to those who are
criminalized-because they are men who have sex with men, because they sell
sex, because they inject drugs.
Respect for those who suffer stigma and discrimination because they live
with HIV. Respect to the women victims of mass rape...