Page:United Nations Security Council Resolution 1983.pdf/2

S/RES/1983 (2011) coordinated efforts of all relevant United Nations entities in line with their respective mandates, to assist, in the global efforts against the epidemic,

Commending the efforts by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to coordinate and intensify the global, regional, national and local response to HIV and AIDS in all appropriate forums, and the pivotal role of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in mobilizing and providing international assistance, including resources, to respond to HIV and AIDS,

Recognizing that the spread of HIV can have a uniquely devastating impact on all sectors and levels of society, and that in conflict and post-conflict situations, these impacts may be felt more profoundly,

Further recognizing that conditions of violence and instability in conflict and post-conflict situations can exacerbate the HIV epidemic, inter alia, through large movements of people, widespread uncertainty over conditions, conflict-related sexual violence, and reduced access to medical care,

Recognizing that women and girls are particularly affected by HIV,

Underlining the importance of concerted efforts towards ending conflictrelated sexual and gender-based violence, empowering women in an effort to reduce their risk of exposure to HIV, and curbing vertical transmission of HIV from mother to child in conflict and post-conflict situations,

Noting that the protection of civilians by peacekeeping operations, where mandated, can contribute to an integrated response to HIV and AIDS, inter alia, through the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence,

Underlining, the continuing negative impact of HIV on the health and fitness of UN missions personnel, and concerned that available statistics indicate that health-related issues, have become a leading cause of fatality in the field since 2000,

Welcoming the efforts to implement HIV prevention, treatment, care and support, including voluntary and confidential testing and counselling, programmes by many Member States for their uniformed personnel and by the UN for its civilian staff in preparation for deployment to UN missions,

Bearing in mind the Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,

 Underlines that urgent and coordinated international action continues to be required to curb the impact of the HIV epidemic in conflict and post-conflict situations;

Notes in this context the need for effective and coordinated action at local, national, regional and international levels to combat the epidemic and to mitigate its impact and the need for a coherent UN response to assist Member States to address this issue;

Notes that the disproportionate burden of HIV and AIDS on women is one of the persistent obstacles and challenges to gender equality and empowerment of women, and urges Member States, United Nations entities, international financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders, to support the development and strengthening of capacities of national health systems and civil society networks in  2