United Nations, June 11 (AFP) A new condom home delivery service in India and the production of billions of extra contraceptives around the world highlight the breakthrough of condoms in helping put a brake on the AIDS pandemic, experts said.
An AIDS summit yesterday gave the most explicit UN backing yet to the use of condoms. Negotiators said they had to overcome fierce opposition from the Vatican and conservative Muslim countries to get the final communique to even mention the latex contraceptive.
Instead of talking simply about the importance of abstinence and fidelity, the statement stresses the "correct and consistent use of condoms." The Vatican led protests at the summit final session.
"It is a first at the UN General Assembly," said a diplomat who took part in two months of hard-fought negotiations on the text.
"We are very happy about this.