Closing remarks by H.E. Mr Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th session of the General Assembly at Informal Interactive Civil Society Hearing as part of the preparatory process towards the 2016 high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS
6 April 2016
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I want to thank all our speakers for the excellent comments made during today’s hearing.
I understand there was a great diversity of views shared, but several points have come out clearly.
First, the world now has the ability to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, as underscored in the Sustainable Development Goals – this in itself is an incredible vista that should inspire us all.
Second, to reach our destination, we need continued commitment and accelerated action by all.
Civil society and other stakeholders are committed to doing their part, while the primary responsibility and accountability rests with governments.
Third, we must focus on protecting future generations from acquiring HIV; on halting the spread of HIV/AIDS in vulnerable communities, especially for women and girls; on tackling income inequality; and on creating platforms for mutual accountability.
Fourth, ending the AIDS epidemic requires that no one is left behind.
In this regard, we must ensure the provision of comprehensive sex education and youth-friendly health services at the local level.
Fifth, ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 requires that the High Level Meeting in June – and the Declaration – set out ambitious targets for treatment, prevention and human rights.
But targets will be meaningless without increased and innovative investment to achieve those targets.
Partnerships, therefore – across various sectors and among diverse stakeholders – will be the engine to move the response forward, to end stigma and discrimination, and to mobilize continued political will and commitment, as well as necessary resources.
These resources should be invested strategically, where they can make the most impact.
Strong investment must also continue in order to promote the work of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which has been an indispensable organization in mitigating the spread of the disease.
Finally, scientific evidence and innovation are also essential in the enhancement and efficiency of this response.
This requires investment in new technologies, better regulation and steps to remove barriers which prevent access to anti-retrovirals.
These are among the many points made that will serve as valuable inputs into the preparations for the HLM, including the Political Declaration.
I encourage you to work closely with Member States in support of the commitments and priorities you seek.
The world is at a defining moment in tackling AIDS.
Let us all work together to ensure that the HLM is a success, with a visionary outcome that will drive global efforts to achieve our shared mission of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.