This Special Session of the General Assembly has rightly placed HIV/AIDS at the very top of the international agenda. We as political leaders are, finally, beginning to give the fight against HIV/AIDS the priority which the magnitude of the pandemic calls for. The AIDS tragedy in SubSaharan Africa is a cruel reminder of the urgent need for action. So are rapidly rising levels of infection elsewhere, not least in parts of South East Asia.

We are facing a huge development challenge. The Declaration of Commitment from this Special Session underlines that prevention must be the mainstay of our response to this challenge. The Danish government strongly believes that this point cannot be overemphasised; preventive action must be given a clear priority. Only prevention can halt the spread of the pandemic. Evidence from Afiican countries such as Uganda and Senegal and lately also South Africa and Tanzania are encouraging in this respect. Political leadership at all levels of society, breaking the silence and confronting stigma and denial will eventually 'pay off in millions of lives saved.
 

Mr. President,

I see an important role also for the private sector in providing an effective response to the HIV/AIRS challenge. I welcome its increasing readiness to shoulder its social and moral responsibility in making essential drugs affordable for developing countries. It should continue to move in this direction and complement its efforts with relevant assistance at the workplace and at community level.

But unless we are ready to work for, and not least pay for, much stronger health systems in developing countries, more affordable drugs will be of little use for all those who need them. The magnitude of this challenge is daunting. Denmark is ready to make her contribution. We will approach the whole issue of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support and treatment on a country-bycountry basis. We will work with national governments through sector-wide approaches and with a keen eye on the poverty dimensions of the issue as it is the poor who suffer the most from this disaster.

 
Mr. President,

Denmark welcomes the Declaration of Commitment as a comprehensive normative framework for the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, both in scope and in substance. But we are disappointed by the continuing controversy surrounding human rights, and in particular the issue of gender equality and the sexual and reproductive rights of girls and women. Inequitable gender relations and opportunities lie at the very heart of the HIV/AIIDS pandemic. Only by improving the status of women - by empowering them to control their own sexuality and say no to unsafe sex - can we hope to curb the pandemic. Governments must show leadership and live up to their responsibility in this field.

My Government has set out a Programme of Action for Denmark's International Contribution to the Fight against HIV/AIDS: It is fully in line with the Declaration of Commitment. (You will find a copy of it at the back of the room.) A core element in this Programme of Action is the concept of long-term partnerships with developing countries. The commitment and ownership of national governments are the key to success. We focus on prevention in the poorest countries, especially in Africa. We will give priority to youth and involve people living with HIV/AIDS in the strugglé. A strong emphasis will be on health systems and building capacity in health care delivery systems at the national and local levels.
 

Mr. President,

Now is the time to move from words to deeds. There is a clear lack of new and additional resources. Furthermore we are in it for the long haul, and we had better recognise it. Denmark allocates 1.00 per cent of her GNP to official development assistance. A large part is channelled to countries most affected by the epidemic. We will strengthen efforts against HIV/AIDS, not only in health sector programmes but also in education, agriculture and other sector programmes. In 2001 Denmark is allocating additional funds of DKK 80 million or USD 9.5 million in direct support to specific preventive HIV/AIDS interventions in Sub-Saharan Afiica in co-operation with the UN system. This amount will rise substantially over the next two to three years.
 

Mr. President

We are depressingly far from the financial development targets. I hope the proposed new Global/AIDS and Health Fund will attract new and additional resources from both - and I stress both - government and private sector donors. Private sector involvement is necessary because of the immense task ahead of us. But it does not relieve governments from contributing to and achieving agreed aid targets. The Danish government supports a fund and expects it to give priority to preventive interventions and capacity building in health systems. My government is also prepared to make available a substantial contribution to the Fund as an equal partner in its establishment and governance.
 

Mr. President,

At The Millennium Summit world leaders pledged by 2015 to have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/A DS. This Special Session has taken us one step further in the combat. Now we must show that our courage and political leadership go beyond words. We have to establish partnerships for action. Governments have to shoulder their responsibility and show leadership at all levels of society, working with the private sector and civil society. Each of us has an important role to play. We are all affected directly or indirectly. Whether as individuals, families, members of' society or - indeed - as world citizens.
 

Mr. President,

Poverty and HIV/AIDS are linked in a vicious circle. The Declaration we expect to adopt at this session could serve us well in the battle against both. We must not miss this opportunity to show the lead and exercise determined action.
 

Thank you, Mr. President