Experts Discuss AIDS’ Impact on International Security at U.N. Meeting
Military and medical experts convened yesterday in Soedertaelje, Sweden, for a three-day conference addressing AIDS in areas of conflict and how to protect "high-risk" armed forces, the Associated Press reports. According to UNAIDS, which is sponsoring the meeting, STD rates are generally two to five times higher among members of the armed forces than among civilians during peace time, and that number can increase during conflicts. Conference attendees are expected to draft recommendations for an action plan for release early next year. The conference is a follow-up to a U.N. resolution calling for "long term strategies" to combat AIDS and "targe[t]" peacekeepers and armed forces with prevention education efforts (Associated Press, 12/11).
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