As the global mobilization against AIDS continued, a world summit of ministers of health was held in London in 1988 to discuss a common AIDS strategy. The summit focused on ne outcome of the meeting was the London Declaration on AIDS Prevention, which emphasized education, the free exchange of information and experience, and the need to protect human rights and dignity. The Director-General of the World Health Organization chose this occasion to announce that the WHO intended to promote an annual World AIDS Day, and the first such day would be on 1st December 1988.