World AIDS Day

VIENNA, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Activists around the world on Tuesday marked World AIDS Day to keep attention on the infection that affects more than 41 million people.

The theme for this year's World AIDS Day is "Universal Access and Human Rights."

The United Nations estimates more than 41 million people -- mostly in undeveloped, poor countries -- are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. About 2 million deaths were attributed to AIDS in 2008. The number of deaths per year seems to have peaked, mainly because of better access to treatment for people in poorer countries.

However, Human Rights Watch said in many sections of the world there are laws that "effectively criminalized populations living with HIV or vulnerable to HIV infection."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement that says, in part: "On World AIDS Day this year, our challenge is clear: we must continue doing what works but we must also do more, on an urgent basis, to uphold our commitment to reach universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. This goal can be achieved only if we shine the full light of human rights on HIV. That means countering any form of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. It means eliminating violence against women and girls. It means ensuring access to HIV information and services."

World AIDS Day has been marked each Dec. 1 since 1988.