ALDE welcomes the cross party consensus commemorating World Aids Day

5.47.20pm GMT Wed 1st Dec 2004

Graham Watson, leader of Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe welcomed the cross party support, expected for Parliament's joint resolution to commemorate World Aids Day today.

"There is a clear increase in the rate of infection in the whole of Europe, particularly in the new EU Member States and in Eastern Europe", said Watson, "but the problem reaches catastrophic proportions on the African continent. Europe needs to adopt an effective and concerted strategy both in its own back yard but also in support of the global efforts to control the spread of AIDS and the destructive capacity it has on societies."

Carelessness and lack of education pose a major problem in Europe today: those particularly jeopardised are not only the "traditional" groups (homosexuals, prostitutes, drug addicts), but young people between 15 and 25, women in particular. The increase of the rate of infection with young Europeans is due to a lack of AIDS education - also in schools. "We urgently need more AIDS education. Europe's young generation nowadays does not know the "safer sex" campaigns of the 80s; therefore, AIDS in fact is a particular danger to them." said Holger Krahmer, German Liberal who signed the joint text.

"Education represents the most important pillar in the fight against AIDS. Unfortunately, there was prejudice in the past against the use of condoms as a preventive and necessary measure against the global and catastrophic spreading of HIV/AIDS. The recommendation to use and to distribute condoms in order to prevent AIDS world-wide must find the support of all parts of society." He added

"The recommendation to use and to distribute condoms in order to prevent AIDS world-wide must find the support of all parts of society", he added