ABSTRACT
Among this group of organizations, WHO is the main authority on international health work. However, the division of labour between WHO and UNAIDS remains an issue: their respective roles should be clarified to ensure that WHO maintains its exclusive normative leadership in setting policy, research and operational strategies in this area. AIDS is not only a typical health issue, but it has social, economic, political, religious and moral connotations, in so far as it relates to the sensitive subject of sexual practices. It is a human rights issue, as AIDS has often caused discrimination. In this sense, fighting AIDS has met more obstacles that the fight against other diseases. National pride and concern to attract tourism have, at times, caused denial, as have other epidemics. UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and its co-sponsors agreed on basic principles: tolerance, non-discrimination and solidarity, the need for locally tailored responses, country leadership and accountability.
