Welcome to the first information update of the African Broadcast Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS. This historic partnership was forged at a top-level summit of broadcast executives from 20 African countries meeting at the Old Fort, Johannesburg in early October 2005.

Organized under the auspices of the Southern African Broadcasting Association and the Union of National Radio and Television Organizations of Africa, and in association with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the African Broadcast Media Partnership Against HIV/AIDS is committed to increasing the contribution and impact of broadcast media in addressing HIV/AIDS.

To give effect to the commitment contained in the Old Fort Declaration: a website has been established broadcasthivafrica.org; a steering committee nominated; and a draft action plan developed based on the input of participants at the Johannesburg Summit. Comment on the draft action plan is invited and should be sent to contactus@broadcasthivafrica.org before January 31, 2006.

One of the first major follow-up activities is expected to be a creative programming workshop for television and radio programme producers planned for April 2006. More information on this workshop will be posted soon.

The Johannesburg Summit was organized in response to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI) launched in January 2004 with the purpose of increasing the commitment of the world’s broadcast media to combating HIV/AIDS worldwide.

We are pleased to bring you the first rights-free programme material. Nelson Mandela's 46664 Campaign is a global effort to build and sustain HIV/AIDS awareness. 46664 was Mr Mandela's prison number and he has used his elderstatesman stature to promote leadership in combatting HIV/AIDS Worldwide.

World AIDS is December 1 and broadcasters are invited to send in information on their programming plans to mark World AIDS Day. Please send this information to contactus@broadcasthivafrica.org.

We also bring you information on a major conference on HIV/AIDS in Abuja, Nigeria on December 4-9, 2005.

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