Mr President

This Special Session presents all of us with an historic opportunity to commit every effort to an effective, urgent and informed global response to the challenge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This Session is an important step to building international consensus on priority areas for action and the concrete steps that must be taken in confronting this global crisis. Australia has been pleased to work alongside other countries, civil society groups and the Secretariat in recent months in the preparations for this Special Session.

We were pleased that our Ambassador Penny Wensley was asked to co-facilitate the preparatory process. As leader of the Australian Delegation, I want to pay particular tribute to Ambassador Wensley's outstanding contribution, dedication and hard work to the process of preparing a Declaration of Commitment for our governments to adopt here in the Special Session.

This Declaration has the potential to show that the world community is serious about tackling the causes of HIV/AIDS, preventing its spread and caring for those who live with the virus.

Our experience in Australia has been one of remarkable success in reducing new levels of infection and has been based upon two key principles. The first of these has been to build and sustain a political consensus supported by all elements of our political system and endorsed by the Australian community at large. This has meant putting great effort into building a political consensus. So, in 1996 when the government of Australia changed from centre left to centre right, Australia's HIV/AIDS policy did not change.

 The second feature of Australia's response has been a willingness for government to engage and work with those most vulnerable to the virus. At this point, I must note that the Australian Government is disappointed that it now appears that these groups - men who have sex with men, sex workers, injecting drug users, institutional and prison populations and indigenous people - will not be explicitly named in the Declaration of Commitment. In Australia, the support and commitment of such groups and their active involvement and partnership has been the basis upon which the Australian national response to HIV/AIDS has been based. AIDS activism has been directed towards constructive participation not destructive protest.

We should not lose sight of the primary importance of promoting prevention as part of a comprehensive integrated response, which includes all aspects of treatment, care and support. Interventions necessary for the treatment, care and support of people living with HIV/AIDS also provide opportunities for prevention through the engagement of affected communities and broader awareness raising. Efforts to build stronger health system infrastructures and to improve access to HIV/AIDS treatments will have maximum effectiveness when part of an integrated community response.

Support and encouragement for a robust and inclusive partnership between a wide range of groups has been a defining feature of Australia's response to HIV/AIDS. This is one of the reasons that Australia ensured that civil society members took an active role in the preparatory meetings and are here today as members of my delegation. We see the full involvement of communities through, amongst others, civil society organisations, including people living with HIV/AIDS as crucial to an international response.

Partnership in decision making, policy development and program implementation helps to ensure that activities combating HIV/AIDS are effective and sustainable. Australia is encouraged by moves to adopt this approach on a global level, and in promoting this
participatory approach, we remain willing and able to share experiences, good and bad, with our international partners.

No country confronts the threat of HIV/AIDS in isolation and no national response is without consequences beyond national borders. All countries must be involved in efforts which extend beyond their domestic situation. As a country in the Asia-Pacific region, we have decided that the main focus of our assistance must be in our region.

 While by no means underestimating the immensity of the problems in Africa and other regions of the world, it is important that the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region also not be neglected. The growing number of infections in Asia, and the vulnerability and special needs of the Pacific region must also be addressed. Our aim is to support regional efforts that compliment efforts in other regions and thus be part of a cohesive and effective global response.
Australia recognises the need to mobilise resources to address the urgent needs which the epidemic places before us. Australia has had strongly resourced domestic HIV/AIDS programs since the start of the epidemic, and has been active in collaborating with our international partners. In July 2000, the Australian Government announced a new A$200 million Global HIV/AIDS Initiative as a major expansion of our assistance for international work on HIV/AIDS. This Global Initiative is not just about providing resources and technical assistance, but also a commitment to working in partnership with countries bilaterally, regionally and globally to respond to the epidemic. In implementing the Global Initiative, Australia will continue to support and work collaboratively with UNAIDS and other UN agencies at global and regional levels.

At a regional level, Australia supports efforts to increase political commitment in responding to the pandemic. To assist these efforts, Australia is inviting Ministers from 38 countries across the Asia-Pacific to a meeting in Melbourne in October this year, as a separate but complementary part of the 6`i' International Congress on HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. This meeting will consider how to address the broad range of problems caused by HIV/AIDS, particularly its social and economic impacts. We hope this meeting will provide a timely opportunity for Asia-Pacific regional partners to build on and move forward the outcomes of the Special Session. We encourage other regions to consider similar initiatives to build on the momentum from UNGASS.

In conclusion, Mr President, I take this opportunity to thank you, the UNAIDS Secretariat and its partners in the UN system, for your firm commitment to this Special Session. We have the opportunity to do an immeasurable amount of good for the planet. The issues are difficult and brutally confronting and whatever one may think, no country is spared. If these issues were easy someone would have dealt with them a long time ago. We have come here to the United Nations for these 3 days to address the issues because they are difficult and require leadership. Whether or not we display this leadership will be the mark by which our grandchildren judge us.