UN Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa to Speak in Los Angeles Oct 12

9/17/2002

From: David Bryden of the Global AIDS Alliance 202-397-7700 or 202-549-3664 Email: dbryden@globalaidsalliance.org Val Vanderwest of Los Angeles/Orange County Jubilee 714-612-6136 or LAOCjubilee@yahoo.com

News Advisory:

One of the world's most prominent experts on Africa's AIDS crisis, Ambassador Stephen Lewis, will be the keynote speaker at an upcoming fundraising event in Los Angeles on Saturday, October 12. The fundraising event will benefit the Global AIDS Alliance, a Washington, DC based advocacy organization urging wealthy governments and corporations to help end the AIDS crisis.

Currently appointed as the United Nations Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa, Ambassador Lewis has worked at the highest levels of key UN agencies for over 20 years. He served as Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and has also worked as a consultant to UNIFEM (the UN Development Fund for Women) and other agencies. He is recognized as a passionate advocate of the rights and needs of children.

"Ambassador Lewis and other special guests at this event will explain how this holocaust can and must be stopped," stated Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "Unless we act, the global AIDS pandemic will claim the lives of 68 million people by 2020, devastating societies all over the globe, particularly in Africa."

"The GAA is a truly principled NGO, refusing to settle for painfully incremental and marginal improvements," stated Lewis. "The extraordinary effort of the Global AIDS Alliance and its partners is having a major impact in getting the US government mobilized, so we need to ensure that the voice of the Global AIDS Alliance continues to be heard."

This event will take place October 12 at 7:30 pm at The Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles.

In recognition of outstanding contributions to the fight against global AIDS, GAA will present awards to Senator Barbara Boxer, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. John Conyers, and Jackie Bataringaya, Coordinator of HIV/AIDS Activities for ActionAid, a global humanitarian agency.

Donations to support the organization's grassroots, research and other activities can be made at the event or through the organization's website at www.globalaidsalliance.org.