June 22, 2001

CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE TO ATTEND UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON HIV AND AIDS

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Lee was selected by the Bush Administration as a member of the United States
delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS in New York.

The UNGASS will convene on June 25th through 27th and will be attended by United Nations member nations, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO's) and civil society. The special session will seek to galvanize leadership at the highest levels, intensify international action and mobilize the resources needed to combat the epidemic.

"I am honored to have been chosen to represent the United States at such an important meeting with World Leaders," said Lee. "I look forward to meeting with this diverse group of leaders to hear their perspective on this deadly pandemic and their efforts to combat it. I also look forward to discussing what the United States can do to best support those efforts."

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the delegations will address:

  • The importance of political leadership in developing effective responses and decreasing the stigma associated with
    HIV/AIDS.

  • Encouraging all sectors of society to play a major role.

  • Increasing resources for treatment, prevention, and care.

  • Preventing new infections and alleviating the social and economic impact of the epidemic.

  • Access to care and the development of new technologies and treatments that are both effective and affordable.

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Congresswoman Lee is Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Task Force on Global HIV/AIDS and serves on the Africa Subcommittee of the House International Relations Committee.