UNMIL Peacekeepers undergo induction training aimed at educating them on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and prevention methods
Photo: Eric Kanalstein - UNMIL

Page resources

• UNAIDS.org

UNMIL has put in place a comprehensive HIV/AIDS awareness programme to minimize the risk of peacekeepers contracting the deadly disease, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1308 (2000) that mandates all peacekeeping missions to have an awareness programme for all the military, civilian police, UN civilian staff and the local populations.

UNMIL is now offering HIV/AIDS awareness and Personal Risk Assessment presentation to all the mission staff at induction or troop rotation. Both male and female condoms are available for UN staff for free of charge, with condom dispensers installed at strategic places.

Factors leading to HIV/AIDS

Peacekeepers in the mission area are vulnerable to contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV. Some factors putting peacekeepers at risk of acquisition and transmission of the HIV/STI include:

• Separation from their community, families and regular sexual partners, may lead them to seek short-term or casual sexual partners
• High-risk behavior associated with multiple partners with unprotected sexual relationships.
• Peer pressure
• Same sex sexual activities may be common even among heterosexuals in their home environment.
• Stress
• Lack of information and education about the pandemic
• Antagonistic relationships between social norms and values, and the realistic behavioral patterns in the community
• Incidences of sexually transmitted infections
• Lack of VCCT services in Mission areas

The spread of HIV/AIDS

The prevalence rates vary from region to region and from country to country. Reports reveal that the pandemic tends to increase especially in post conflict situations. At the moment approximately 44 million people are believed to live with HIV/AIDS globally, and the infection rates in Sub-Sahara region are reported highest in the world.

In Liberia, the HIV prevalence ranges from 11% to 26% depending on the source of information. As Liberia has been cut off from HIV/AIDS information for more than a decade due to the prolonged civil war, the knowledge level of the pandemic remains low.

Enhancing Awareness

To raise the awareness among the local populations, UNMIL has embarked on capacity building of various local organizations, community-based organisations, UN agencies as well as religious leaders.

A center for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), which has been proven to effect behavioral change, has been established at UNMIL headquarters. The HIV test results are confidential and do not affect one's career progression as the UN does not discriminate against those infected with HIV, as long as they are able to work.