United Nations, June 8 (IANS) The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution to underline the importance of including UN peacekeeping missions in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategies, Xinhua reported.

The resolution said UN peacekeeping missions "can be important contributors to an integrated response to HIV and AIDS".

It welcomed "the incorporation of HIV awareness in mandated activities and outreach projects for vulnerable communities".

Members of the Security Council passed the resolution Tuesday at an open meeting on the Impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on international peace and security.

In the resolution, the council emphasised the need to intensify HIV prevention actions within the UN missions.

The Council "encourages the incorporation, as appropriate, of HIV prevention, care, and support, including voluntary and confidential counselling and testing programs in the implementation of the mandated tasks of peacekeeping operation, including assistance to national institutions, to security reform (SSR), and to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) processes; and the need to ensure the continuation of such prevention, treatment, care and support during and after transitions to other configurations of UN presence," the resolution said.