The Right Hon. Hillary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs

Hillary Benn MP - World Aids Day

Worldwide at least 40 million people have HIV. Every year at least five million people are newly infected with HIV and three million die from AIDS. Yet less than one person in five has access to basic HIV prevention services.

On 1 December the EU will once again demonstrate its strong political leadership in tackling AIDS by supporting a comprehensive approach to fighting the disease, in particular through HIV prevention.

Only with increased attention and renewed commitment to HIV prevention will the overall goal of an AIDS-free generation, and the pledges made at the Millennium Review Summit, be met.