UNAIDS has just launched a new UNAIDS High Level Commission on HIV Prevention, which includes more than 15 world renowned leaders. Commissioners will use their unique authority and influence to lead a social and political action campaign over the coming year aimed at galvanizing support for effective HIV prevention programmes.
The commission is co-chaired by Professor Francoise Barré-Sinoussi, Nobel Laureate in Medicine for her role in the discovery of HIV, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Price Laureate.
The members of the Commission are:
- Dr Michelle Bachelet, Former President of Chile;
- Mr Jacques Chirac, Former President of France;
- Ms Vuyiseka Dubula, Secretary-General of the Treatment Action Campaign
- Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate;
- Ms Elena Franchuk, Ukrainian businesswoman and founder of the Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation;
- Mr Pau Gasol, Spanish professional basketball star;
- Mr Nizan Guanaes, leading Brazilian communications entrepreneur, Chairman of Grupo ABC de Comunicação;
- Mr Chris Hughes, Executive Director of Jumo, International, co-founder of Facebook;
- Mr Magic Johnson, Former basketball star and one of the first sports celebrities to declare his HIV-positive status;
- Ms Irene Khan, Human rights activist and former Secretary-General of Amnesty International;
- Mr Robin Li, Entrepreneur and co-founder of China’s most popular independent search engine, Baidu, Inc.;
- Ms Rita Süssmuth, former President of the German Federal Parliament and former Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Women, Youth and Health;
- H.E. Festus Mogae, Former President of Botswana;
- H.E. Jean Ping, Chairman of the African Union,
- Professor Peter Piot, Former Executive Director of UNAIDS and incoming Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine;
- Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Pozner, celebrated Russian journalist;
- Mr Meechai Viravaidya, Thai politician and activist, famous for popularising condoms in Thailand.