Calling
the HIV/AIDS epidemic "an unprecedented human catastrophe,"
more than 3000 senior government officials, international
organizations, and civil society representatives set a goal
of providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 15 million people
in developing countries by 2015.
They
also affirmed a goal of reducing by half the number of new
HIV infections transmitted through sex and injection drug
use, and eliminating perinatal transmission by treating mothers
and babies during pregnancy, delivery, and breast-feeding.
While
the delegates agreed on the need for universal treatment,
there was more contention regarding prevention. The final
declaration included support for an array of prevention strategies
including condoms and clean needles -- and efforts to target
heavily impacted groups including sex workers, men who have
sex with men, and drug users -- but not without strong opposition
from countries controlled by religious conservatives.
Currently
an estimated 6.6 million people with HIV are receiving antiretroviral
treatment, according to a recent
UNAIDS report -- a figure that must more than double to
ensure universal access. Delegates agreed that an additional
US $24 billion should be devoted to AIDS funding, but advocates
expressed concern, given a history of unfulfilled promises.
"A
new goal of reaching 15 million people is the bare minimum
that is needed to begin to reverse the AIDS crisis by saving
lives and preventing new infections. We are very glad to see
the United States joining countries around the world to set
this target," said Asia Russell of Health GAP. "Merely
agreeing is not enough."
Below
is an edited excerpt from a UNAIDS press release describing
the meeting and the resulting declaration.
Bold New AIDS
Targets Set by World Leaders for 2015
Unprecedented
global participation at UN General Assembly High Level Meeting
on AIDS leads to new commitments, targets, and momentum in
the AIDS response
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Michel Sidibé,
Executive Director of the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), addresses the
opening of the General Assembly High-Level Meeting
on AIDS on 8 June 2011.
(UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras)
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New
York/Geneva -- June 10, 2011 -- The Joint United Nations Programme
on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomes the bold new targets set by
world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly High
Level Meeting on AIDS which concluded in New York today. Countries
agreed to advance efforts towards reducing sexual transmission
of HIV and halving HIV infection among people who inject drugs
by 2015.
They also agreed to push towards eliminating new HIV infections
among children in the next five years. Leaders pledged to
increase the number of people on life saving treatment to
15 million and to reduce tuberculosis related deaths in people
living with HIV by half in the same time period.
"This Declaration is strong, the targets are time bound
and set a clear and workable roadmap, not only for the next
five years, but beyond," said Joseph Deiss, President
of the United Nations General Assembly. "UN Member States
have recognized that HIV is one of the most formidable challenges
of our time and have demonstrated true leadership through
this Declaration in their commitments to work towards a world
without AIDS."
The bold targets come at a time when international assistance
for the AIDS response has dropped for the first time since
2001. Member States agreed to increase AIDS-related spending
to reach between US$ 22 billion and US$ 24 billion in low-
and middle-income countries by 2015.
These far reaching goals are set in the Political Declaration
on HIV/AIDS: Intensifying our Efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS
adopted by the General Assembly on 10 June, 2011. The declaration
notes that HIV prevention strategies inadequately focus on
populations at higher risk -- specifically men who have sex
with men, people who inject drugs and sex workers, and calls
on countries to focus their response based on epidemiological
and national contexts.
"These are concrete and real targets that will bring
hope to the 34 million people living with HIV and their families,"
said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. "Through
shared responsibility, the world must invest sufficiently
today, so we will not have to pay forever."
The declaration calls on all UN Member States to redouble
their efforts to achieve universal access to HIV prevention,
treatment, care and support by 2015 as a critical step towards
ending the global AIDS epidemic. A pledge to eliminate gender
inequality, gender based abuse and violence, and to increase
the capacity of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves
from HIV infection was also made.
The Declaration recognizes that access to sexual and reproductive
health has been and continues to be essential to the AIDS
response and that governments have the responsibility of providing
public health services focused on the needs of families, particularly
women and children. Member states also agreed to review laws
and policies that adversely impact on the successful, effective
and equitable delivery of HIV prevention, treatment, care
and support programmes to people living with and affected
by HIV.
With nearly 7000 new HIV infections each day, the declaration
reaffirms that preventing HIV must be the cornerstone of national,
regional and international responses to the AIDS epidemic.
It calls for expanding access to essential HIV prevention
commodities, particularly male and female condoms and sterile
injecting equipment. Calling for intensifying national HIV
testing campaigns; it urges countries to deploy new bio-medical
interventions as soon as they are validated including earlier
access to treatment as prevention.
Taking note of the UNAIDS strategy, the Declaration commends
UNAIDS for its leadership role on AIDS policy coordination
and support to countries and calls on the joint programme
to revise indicators for success and support the Secretary-General
of the United Nations in providing an annual report on the
progress made by Member States in realizing the commitments
made in the declaration.
6/17/11
Sources
UNAIDS.
Bold New AIDS Targets Set by World Leaders for 2015. Press
release. June 10, 2011.
Kaiser
Family Foundation. U.N. High Level Meeting On AIDS Declaration
Sets New Targets In Fight Against Disease. Kaiser Daily Global
Health Policy Report. June 13, 2011.
HealthGap.
World Makes Bold New 15 Million People AIDS Treatment Commitment
in Bid to Halt AIDS -- AIDS Activists Demand the Bill Gets
Paid. Press release. June 9, 2011.
