The AIDS pandemic has turned into a global emergency that threatens security and development in all countries, and not only those that are found in the most affected regions. This emergency demands a forceful response based both on national efforts and collective action among countries, articulated through international cooperation.

Although the HIV epidemic in the Latin American countries, including Mexico, has not reached the dimensions observed in other regions, it represents for us a challenge to prevent a wider epidemic. To respond to this challenge, we need to strengthen the particular vision and commitment that this specific problem demands.

The answer to the HIV/AIDS epidemic requires a comprehensive and balanced focus that includes prevention, care, treatment and support. None of these elements should be minimized or left unattended.

In prevention matters, safe blood transfusions must be guaranteed to all and universal access to strategies that allow for a decrease in perinatal transmission must be made available.

In Mexico, we have succeeded eliminating infection due to blood transfusions and reducing perinatal transmission by more than 50%.

In our region, AIDS is a problem closely related to sexuality. This is why we need a wide and open solution, that fully recognizes the socio-cultural aspects involved. Promotional activities are also required, in the form of strategies of prevention for the young, sexual education and the availability of the precise and clear information on preventive measures, including the use of condoms.

Comprehensive care to those who live with HIV/AIDS implies having the infrastructure and the necessary resources to offer services of case detection, counseling and quality medical care, including access to laboratory tests and the necessary drugs.

Currently, Mexico offers comprehensive care through specialized medical services for HIV/AIDS throughout the country, including coverage with free antiretroviral treatment to 85% of the patients with AIDS.

While discrimination, stigmatization and human rights violations continue to exist towards the group of people that live with HIV/AIDS, or towards those that are in greatest risk of acquiring the disease, there is very little that can be done towards progressing in the area of prevention. Respect and protection for the people affected by this disease, implicit in human rights, are supported in Mexico, following the letter and spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as other international treaties.

The AIDS epidemic in Mexico is concentrated in men having sex with other men, commercial sex workers and intravenous drug users, groups in which prevalence reaches up to 15 percent. This means that there is still an opportunity to avoid the generalization of the epidemic in the population as a whole.

A concentrated epidemic, as it is in our country, requires strategies focused in men and women who are most vulnerable and are in greatest risk of infection with HIV. During the next six years, Mexico will reinforce its preventive efforts centered on those groups, with the collaboration of the civil society organizations.

Indeed, the active participation of civil society and of the people that live with HIV/AIDS, has played a fundamental role in the design, execution and evaluation of the programs and actions and on the definition of public policies, which is why the Mexican Government will continue to encourage spaces for discussion and joint mechanisms to enable this participation.

Mexico is a country that is convinced of the importance of multi-sectoral, regional and international cooperation as a fundamental axis towards a global answer against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. That is why we have actively participated in this area and we reiterate our compromise to continue supporting processes and actions that allow development of a greater response capacity at every level.

Mexico ratifies its support towards the Global Leadership of UNAIDS, the UNAIDS Unified Strategic Plan and the creation of a Global AIDS and Health Fund.