"Actions taken by the governments this year will determine the global response to AIDS for years to come," states Marcel van Soest, Executive Director of the World AIDS Campaign.

The theme of accountability, with the slogan, "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise", was chosen in consultation with civil society campaigns to stress the critical need to meet current commitments to increase the global response to AIDS and reach universal access to treatment, care and prevention by 2010.

Currently, governments are supposed to be engaged in a target setting process for universal access, called for in a political declaration unanimously approved by the United Nations General Assembly on June 2.

However, there are serious questions about the lack of clarity in the process, which is to be completed at the end of the year. Civil society groups are maintaining pressure on governments to actively set national targets through an inclusive and transparent process.

"This World AIDS Day will show - either we are on the track to reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS, or we have failed to keep the promises by individuals, communities and nations. We will continue to see HIV spread in every country," states van Soest.

The World AIDS Campaign supports, strengthens and connects campaigns that hold leaders accountable for their promises on HIV and AIDS. "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise" is the World AIDS Campaign from 2005-2010. The campaign secretariat is based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The writer is the Executive Director of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF).