UNAIDS envoy Princess Stephanie urges prevention

GENEVA, Oct 7 (Reuters) Princess Stephanie of Monaco became a special representative for UNAIDS on Friday, vowing to promote prevention of the killer disease and combat discrimination against people who suffer from it.

''AIDS has no borders, and knows no social, political, religious or racial barriers. It affects everybody,'' she told Reuters at the Geneva-based agency yesterday.

The princess hoped to help UNAIDS campaigns to raise awareness in Russia and the Ukraine, where new infections continue mainly among intravenous drug users, and in Africa.

''I have lost friends to this epidemic -- and I want to underline that AIDS is preventable and treatable and we must unite to get ahead of the epidemic and break down stigma and discrimination,'' she said in a statement.

Princess Stephanie has been President of 'Fight AIDS Monaco' since 2004.

The AIDS virus infects more than 39 million people globally, more than 60 percent of them in sub-Saharan Africa. It kills more than 4 million people every year.

Stephanie is the youngest child of the late Prince Rainier and American actress Grace Kelly whose 1956 marriage brought glamour to Monaco and the Grimaldi dynasty.

She and her older sister Caroline have often made headlines mainly for their marriage problems and love lives.

Their brother, Prince Albert II of Monaco, was enthroned last year following Rainier's death after a 55-year rule.

REUTERS AKJ HT0950