A/RES/54/283 Page 2 Recognizing that the needs in countries addressing AIDS far outweigh both the human and the financial resources being made available and that high-level political commitment is critical to strengthen the response to the epidemic, 1. Decides to convene a special session of the General Assembly for a duration of three days to review and address the problem of HIV/AIDS in all its aspects and to coordinate and intensify international efforts to combat it, as soon as possible, preferably in May 2001 but not later than the end of its fifty-sixth session; 2. Urges Member States and observers to ensure their representation at the special session at a high political level; 3. Decides that the exact date of the special session, as well as the modalities, participation in and organization of the preparatory process and the special session, should be finalized, at the earliest opportunity, at its fifty-fifth session; 4. Also decides to include in the agenda of its fifty-fifth session the item entitled “Review of the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in all its aspects”. 100th plenary meeting 5 September 2000