Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me thank first of all former President Kenneth Kaunda and former Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi for their leadership of the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa. I congratulate all the Commissioners on producing this important report, which should help Africa sharpen its response to the AIDS pandemic. I am also very pleased to meet His Excellency the Prime Minister of Swaziland [Mr. Absalom Themba Dlamini], and for his participation and contribution today.

When the Commission was first established five years ago, the AIDS pandemic was ravaging African countries, decimating its skills base and reversing economic progress. The challenges seemed daunting and insurmountable. But the global community rose to the occasion.

We have seen an international movement towards universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support – a movement bringing together Governments from north and south, civil society and the private sector. We have seen the growth of the Global Fund, which was established within these walls, and which last year alone disbursed more than 10 billion dollars in support of these efforts.

In Africa itself, we have seen leaders show political will and courage. Vice-Presidents and Prime Ministers head the national AIDS councils of several African countries. More than two million Africans received life-saving anti-retroviral treatment last year. Over 470,000 pregnant women living with HIV received anti-retrovirals to prevent mother-to-child transmission. In some countries, prevalence is leveling off or even falling.

But serious challenges remain. In several countries, prevalence is rising among young people as well as women and girls. Five million Africans still need treatment. Some countries have to spend more than a quarter of their health budget on treating HIV/AIDS.

This is why the eight messages in Securing Our Future are crucial. It is why we must act on the understanding that Africa has multiple AIDS epidemics, and one-size-fits-all policies will not work across the region. It is why we must learn better to grasp how cultural norms and attitudes increase the risk of infection. It is why we must enforce laws to eliminate violence against women and girls and take action to improve the lives of AIDS orphans.

I pledge my full support and solidarity for the task ahead. And I commend all of you for undertaking this important assignment.

Thank you very much.