World AIDS Day 2006

Indonesian schoolgirls take part in an AIDS awareness demonstration in Jakarta, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006, on World AIDS Day. The World Health Organization called on Asia-Pacific leaders to make a greater effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS as the number of people with the virus continues to grow. In 2006, an estimated 8.6 million people in the region are living with HIV, 960,000 of whom were infected in the past year.

An AIDS awareness volunteer prepares red ribbons to be distributed to commuters in honor of World AIDS Day in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. The World Health Organization called on Asia-Pacific leaders to make a greater effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS as the number of people with the virus continues to grow.

A child takes part in a World AIDS Day ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. It said that high rates of AIDS mortality will persist in the country at least for the next decade, but much depended on the provision of treatment.

A candle is placed during a religious service for those infected with AIDS at Moscow's St. Catherine Cathedral, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. This year marks the 19th World AIDS Day, the 25th year since the first case of AIDS was identified and 10 years since the formation of UNAIDS, the U.N. arm formed to fight the virus.

Naga students wearing traditional dress take part in a procession on World AIDS Day in Gauhati, India, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. Indian health authorities are trying to curb the spread of HIV in India, where nearly 5.2 million people are infected, giving it the world's highest number of HIV and AIDS cases, said India's Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

Kim Pocins, 19, of Hampton, Conn., makes marks, each representing an AIDS-related death, during a 24-hour AIDS vigil at the Boston Center for the Arts to mark World AIDS Day, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. Pocins was one of a group of students from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., to contribute to Medicine Wheel, an AIDS-themed work by artist Michael Dowling.

A worker installs a banner in commemoration for World Aids Day at Miraflores Locks control building at Panama Canal near Panama City, Panama on Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. World AIDS Day was marked around the globe Friday by somber religious services, boisterous demonstrations and warnings that far more needs to be done to treat and prevent the disease.

President George W. Bush makes remarks to the press during a meeting on World AIDS Day at the White House as first lady Laura Bush listens, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006 in Washington. Bush thanked caregivers for their compassion and urged Congress to increase funding.

Ayla Pelleg, of Minnetonka, Minn, right, and Judith Saparzadeh, of Washington, left, take part in a World Aids Day demonstration in front of the White House in Washington, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006.

Student Anne-Marie Beitler affixes a red ribbon to a wall as part of activities to mark World AIDS Day at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Friday, Dec. 1, 2006. World Aids Day was marked around the globe by somber religious services, boisterous demonstrations and warnings that far more needs to be done to treat and prevent the disease in order to avert millions of additional deaths.