We, the Mayors and Municipal Leaders of Africa, meeting December 9, 1997 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on the occasion of the XthInternational Conference on STD/AIDS in Africa, have adopted the following declaration, called the "ABIDJAN DECLARATION".

Aware that precarious economic conditions in our cities intensify the impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable communities, in particular women and youth, and jeopardise our long term local development plans;

Recognising that our cities are increasingly becoming centres of demographic growth in our countries and that, given the powers invested in them, our municipalities have an important role to play in responding to the many challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic;

We hereby commit ourselves to search for solutions relevant to local needs and realities, in accordance with the goals and principles of the United Nations and our own laws and regulations, in order to respond more effectively to HIV/AIDS in our communities.

To this end, we have agreed to:

• Aim to reduce the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS in our communities by implementing effective measures to reduce HIV transmission.
• Promote and co-ordinate local multisectoral approaches for HIV prevention and the care of infected and affected people.
• Participate in efforts to mobilise the human and financial resources necessary to implement local strategies.
• Ensure the active involvement of people infected and affected by the HIV epidemic in designing and implementing local strategies.
• Strengthen solidarity amongst our cities and develop an effective partnership with national and international, public and private stakeholders.

We therefore commit ourselves to:

• Ensure that the search for effective solutions to HIV/AIDS is a public policy priority.
• Effectively involve our citizens in designing action plans, defining local strategies, and implementing activities.
• Provide the necessary institutional support to our cities and communities and strengthen their capacity to intervene.
• Guarantee transparency and accountability in programme management.
• Create an ALLIANCE OF MAYORS AND MUNICIPAL LEADERS to maximise commitment, participation, leadership, capacity and experience at community level in response to the challenge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa