Top of the Morning: More Good News in Fight Against HIV/AIDS

Top stories from DAWNS Digest

AIDS in Africa: Deaths Down and Treatment Up

Excellent new stats from UNAIDS. “The number of people in Africa receiving antiretroviral treatment increased from less than 1 million in 2005 to 7.1 million in 2012, with nearly 1 million added in the last year alone. AIDS-related deaths are also continuing to fall––reducing by 32% from 2005 to 2011 as are the numbers of new HIV infections which have fallen by 33% from 2001 to 2011. The report attributes this success to strong leadership and shared responsibility in Africa and among the global community. It also urges sustained commitment to ensure Africa achieves zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.” (UNAIDS http://bit.ly/10jDinT)

Rios Montt Genocide Conviction Overturned

Just a few weeks after the former President of Guatemala was found guilty, an appeals court decided otherwise. The overturning of the conviction is related to a number of procedural complaints filed by the defense. The defense had argued that Rios Montt’s rights had been violated when his attorney was expelled early in the trial, and that the head judge should have recused herself. The Constitutional Court decided that the trial should have been suspended while these appeals were in place, instead of pushing forward a conclusion. Rios Montt, 86, had been found guilty of the genocide of more than 1,700 indigenous Ixil Mayans during his 1982-83 rule. (CNN http://bit.ly/10jDB21)