National Call to Action to End the AIDS Epidemic in the African-American Community

WHEREAS, 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic in America; and

WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS in the African-American community has been declared a state of emergency by the NAACP and several governmental agencies including the Congressional Black Caucus; and

WHEREAS, African Americans comprise only 12.7% of the United States population but account for nearly 50% of the estimated 1.3 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS, over 50% of estimated new HIV/AIDS cases annually, and 51% of the people who die with AIDS; and

WHEREAS, Black youth account for 56% of the new HIV infections among youth; and

WHEREAS, Black women account for nearly 70% of new HIV infections among women; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the NAACP issues a national call to action to the entire African American community on the AIDS epidemic in Black America; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP send delegates to attend the bi-annual AIDS conference; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP reaffirms all previous resolutions on the AIDS epidemic since 1987; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NAACP provide HIV testing and education at each of the seven regional Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institutes and the Annual Convention; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the NAACP include HIV/AIDS content in existing communication vehicles, provide HIV/AIDS training to members, and include HIV/AIDS awareness in unit programming elements.