Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
Plenary Meeting to consider Agenda Item 10 (Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the political declarations on HIV/AIDS)
19 June 2024, 10.00 AM, General Assembly Hall
[As delivered by VP]
Excellencies,
The global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic stands as a multilateral success story – having made remarkable gains.
Since peaking in 2004, it is encouraging to note that the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths has significantly declined.
Moreover, easier accessibility to HIV/AIDS treatment, increased equity in health systems and improved access to education and healthcare – including improved prevention, testing and treatment services – has averted almost 20.8 million HIV/AIDS-related deaths over the past three decades.
Excellencies,
Despite these gains, more work is needed to completely end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030 – as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 3.3.
Millions still lack access to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment – and gender inequalities, stigma, and discrimination persist as major barriers to those services.
Additionally, there is untapped potential for HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, and the funding gap for national responses – especially in developing countries – is widening and concerning.
Therefore, we must scale up national and regional interventions and responses – and forge strong multistakeholder partnerships to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.
Excellencies,
To achieve our goals, we must keep HIV/AIDS high on the multilateral agenda.
Importantly, we must close the financing gaps, address technology transfer, improve access to medicines, diagnostics, and other health products in developing countries – and significantly scale up research and development, as well as capacity-building, including for local pharmaceutical production.
Given that the HIV/AIDS challenge extends beyond the public health sector, a comprehensive response – with a human rights perspective and a development lens – is crucial.
We need to build on the commitments made in the Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage – to improve the capacity of national health systems to deliver quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for all, including HIV/AIDS interventions.
Likewise, we must make full use of upcoming events – including the High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance in September 2024, and especially the next High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in 2026 – to streamline and accelerate our efforts, ensuring we are on track to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I conclude, let us be mindful that the path ahead is, indeed, challenging.
But with our collective will to fully implement the commitments made in the latest Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: Ending Inequalities and Getting on Track to End AIDS by 2030 – we can accelerate our efforts to overcome the obstacles, and end this epidemic once and for all, leaving no one behind.
Together, we can – and indeed must – build a future where HIV/AIDS is no longer a threat to global health, and where every individual can live with hope and dignity.
I thank you.
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