Conflict breeds civil strife and war. War and AIDS together they threaten to undo decades of economic and social progress in many developing countries. We must break this vicious circle. Developing the capacity of peacekeepers to become advocates and actors for the awareness and prevention of HIV transmission is an important task. Personnel should adhere to the Code of Conduct for Peacekeepers, but other strong preventive measures are also required.
Testing is no panacea.
Still, testing can help reduce the risk of HIV transmission. This is already established practice in Norway. The counseling must be detailed, frank and adapted to local circumstances and sensitivities. Male and female condoms should be freely available on all UN premises. The arrival of peacekeeping troops and staff may also increase the danger of sexual exploitation and sex trade.