ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP): United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged to protect the rights of people affected with HIV/AIDS.“On this World AIDS Day, let us uphold the human rights of all people living with HIV, people at risk of infection and children and families affected by the epidemic,” the Secretary General said in his message on World AIDS Day falling Tuesday (December 01).“Let us, especially at this time of economic crisis, use the AIDS response to generate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Most of all, let us act now,” Ban Ki-moon said.

International community observe ‘World AIDS Day’ every year on December 01 to renew the commitment to fight the menace and protect the rights of affected people.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2009 is “Universal Access and Human Rights.”

The launch of the two year theme for World AIDS Day on Universal Access and Human Rights has been marked by strong examples of leadership from people living with HIV and civil society.

The 2009-2010 World AIDS Day theme challenges discriminatory laws, policies and practices that stand in the way of access for all to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. 

Year 2010 will be a milestone for the Millennium Development Goals - encouraging high level review of what has, and has not, been accomplished in the aim to achieve access for all to essential care by 2010.

There have already been alarming instances of HIV and AIDS treatment programmes being curtailed or shut down due to budgetary restrictions. The theme presents an opportunity to make understand the links between violations of human rights and HIV infection rates.

As 2009 marks the 20^th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, this anniversary is a special occasion lending weight to the need to protect the rights of children - including their rights relating to HIV and AIDS.