In her first-ever overseas visit as Miss Universe, Olivia Culpo, formerly Miss America, participated in a frank discussion with Indonesian youth on HIV and AIDS, lending her support to the cause of HIV prevention and care.

The event was hosted in the American Cultural Centre in Jakarta on Saturday 2 February, with the endorsement of the United States Embassy in Indonesia, represented by Deputy Chief of Mission Kristen F. Bauer, and the co-sponsorship of UNFPA, UNAIDS and the Miss Indonesia Foundation (Yayasan Puteri Indonesia).

Ms. Culpo spoke about the necessity of promoting a healthy debate on issues relating to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV prevention. In a lively engagement with the audience, she addressed questions from members of Indonesian civil society, outlining her commitment to fighting the pandemic.  “I’ll be working globally to fight against HIV/AIDS”, Ms. Culpo said, “raising awareness, helping prevention, starting conversation among young people in particular.”

 “Indonesia is really strong with social media which is really great,” Ms. Culpo observed, highlighting how modern communication tools can help fight the social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS. “It is a good way to start a dialogue, especially among young people who are using Twitter and Facebook and all the other social machines out there.”

UNFPA Representative Jose’ Ferraris also underlined the need to communicate more effectively with Indonesia’s youths, and Ms. Bauer welcomed the active endorsement of celebrities of the caliber of Miss Universe and of the newly-crowned Miss Indonesia (Puteri Indonesia), Whulandary Hermana. “By raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and educating those most at risk for infections, we can save lives,” Ms. Bauer said.

In answer to a question about her potential involvement with future UN campaigns, Miss Universe declared that her commitment to fight HIV/AIDS will outlast her term as Miss Universe. “I will endeavor to support and do whatever I can to further the cause of health prevention and the fight against AIDS, and I hope to be involved in UN campaigns in the future,” Ms. Culpo said. Miss Indonesia also pledged her willingness to collaborate with the UN in reaching out to audiences in her home country.
(by Marco Pellerey, UNIC Jakarta)

On Monday, March 26, Lisa Carty, Director of the UNAIDS Washington DC office, spoke at the UN Washington interns’ weekly seminar. She explained the role UNAIDS plays in preventing and combating HIV/AIDS around the world. Ms. Carty shared her insights on the creation of U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the progress made in the last decade. She answered interns’ questions on the challenges of representing UNAIDS in Washington and her past work experience on global health issues.

The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Tehran and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in cooperation with Paarsse Music Band, staged a live charity concert at Eyvan-E-Shams Hall in Tehran on 27 and 28 January. The purpose of the concert was to raise public awareness on HIV and AIDS, focusing on the vision of “Getting to Zero” HIV infections and the virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmissions.

The concert programme consisted of a repertoire of jazz, pop and classical songs performed in English and Farsi by Shahriar Mohammadpour, including "Ave Maria" (Cassini), "O Sole Mio", "Sorry", "Hello", "What a Wonderful World", "Windmills of Your Mind", "You Are My Everything", "A Rainy Night in Paris", and "Fly Me to The Moon" as well as a selection of traditional Persian songs.
 
All receipts went towards HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Iran.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka kick-started his two-day visit to New Delhi with a lively interaction with students from 12 Delhi schools. Hosted and organized by Springdales School (Pusa Road), the visit began with a traditional welcome by the students and faculty, led by school Principal Amita Mulla Wattal.
 
The interaction was preceded by a seminar on Human Rights, during which the students discussed issues ranging from the right to life, the rights of prisoners, and the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS, to the rights of terror suspects, the right to political participation and the rights to education, among others. The discussion was moderated by Nirmalya Samanta of Delhi University and journalist Seema Chishti. Praising the quality of the debates, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in New Delhi’s Assistant Information Officer, Rineeta Naik said she hoped the seminar would become an annual feature at the school and that UNIC stood ready to collaborate by providing guidance, research assistance and information material.
 
Addressing the students, UNIC Director Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman said Mr. Akasaka’s visit rounded off a series of exciting activities and events by UNIC, many of them involving youth. The International Year of Youth, which concluded in August this year, and the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers, she added, were some of the many attempts by the UN “to engage with young people like you.”
 
Mr. Akasaka was then invited to address the gathering. “I am delighted to be in your country,” the USG said. “India holds great promise thanks to its growing economic strength as well as its significant role in world affairs, including at the United Nations.”
 
Having just concluded their seminar, the students were full of questions and comments on the role of the UN in protecting and promoting human rights. They also sought the USG’s views on the delivery of humanitarian aid, Security Council reform and prospects for the Millennium Development Goals.
 
USG Akasaka responded to the queries at length, describing the challenges before the world body as well as the successes achieved. He also emphasized the importance of peace education, the need for a world free of nuclear weapons, and the important role that India could play in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. He also urged the students to learn more about the UN and its work and to consider how they could contribute to progress on the UN’s key objectives of peace, development and human rights. “We can make a difference – the song just presented by the school choir encapsulates the vision of the United Nations,” Mr. Akasaka said.