Summary: February 26, 2001: General Assembly. Preparatory Process of the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS. Discussion on the report of the Secretary-General. Statement by Ambassador Pierre Schori, Permanent Representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union (New York)
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the EU, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as the EFTA countries members of the EEA, Iceland and Liechtenstein, align themselves with this statement.
Let me start by complimenting the Secretary-General. His report describes the spread of the epidemic and its impact on people and societies. It assesses national, regional and global responses to date. It identifies key lessons learned and examines elements of a successful response. This update is crucial. In order for the UNGASS to be a step forward in the fight against the epidemic, we need to make sure that we take our collective experience so far as a point of departure. In this respect we
also need to fully take into account the commitments made in earlier UN conferences and summits and their follow-up processes.
However, perhaps the most important point of departure is realising the profound and severe effects of the epidemic. HIV/AIDS is firstly the cause of tremendous human suffering. In addition to human tragedies, there are dramatic long-term consequences. Entire societies are being undermined. HIV/AIDS is an enormous shock to development and leads to systemic institutional and economic damage, making the attainment of the international development targets more difficult. HIV/AIDS is also a major
factor in the vicious circle that aggravates poverty and instability, which in turn increase countries' vulnerability to social destabilisation and conflicts. And more is yet to come: Recently, UNAIDS released statistics showing that the number of HIV infected people is increasing with a frightening speed. As many as 36.1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the world today. This is more than 50% higher than the WHO predictions in 1991.
Mr. President,
The deep and urgent seriousness of the situation requires a strong political commitment on the part of all countries. The Secretary-General's report shows that the need for political commitment on global and national levels is great and that international coordination for global response to the epidemic must continue and be strengthened.
But much more is needed in order to deal with the crisis. The report also shows that political commitment and leadership on national levels need to be translated into concrete action. Successful responses must be scaled up and governments must commit themselves entirely. Each country must take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS, notably through the development of a national, comprehensive and inclusive policy which makes way for a strategy that includes integrating AIDS policies and
programmes in non-health sectors and mainstreaming AIDS prevention through a multisectoral approach. Experience shows that such a policy and an adherent strategy greatly facilitates the implementation of activities against HIV and AIDS. Prevention activities, provision of care and support, and addressing underlying factors such as poverty, gender relations and human rights are fundamental for successful strategies.
On an international level, the fight against HIV/AIDS must be strengthened. HIV/AIDS should be part of the entire multilateral agenda clearly giving it the priority that is required. The European Union commends the UNAIDS for its work to coordinate international efforts, and we also praise the active involvement of other UN entities highlighted in the Secretary-General's report.
Mr. President,
Coming back to what should be the point of departure. The European Union wants to see the UNGASS as a powerful starting point to achieve improved and widespread knowledge, raised public awareness, increased political will, stronger leadership and effective mobilisation and use of resources.
We, as representatives of our governments, have the utmost responsibility to show the world that we are serious about preventing the further spread of HIV and serious about providing care and support to affected people. This responsibility forces us to be constructive, innovative and open to tackle sensitive issues related to HIV and AIDS. The UNGASS in June will emphasise to all countries, all societies and organisations, and to all individuals that HIV/AIDS is a priority to the UN. It is
essential that we capture this opportunity.
The General Assembly can, in a unique way, send a strong political signal to the world about HIV/AIDS. A political signal that more effort is needed to achieve the international targets established for HIV prevention and to implement existing programmes and engagements. It is clear, and has been for some time, what needs to be done and how it must be done.
Mr. President,
Allow me to summarise a few things that we do know about HIV/AIDS.
- Today, the knowledge of HIV/AIDS is considerable. As is underlined in the report, there is 20 years of experience of the fight against HIV/AIDS. We know what HIV/AIDS is, what the causes are, what can be done to prevent it and what kind of care and treatment people living with HIV/AIDS need.
- We know the fundamental importance of leadership at all levels to implement successful strategies for addressing the epidemic.
- We know that complacency is leading to resurgent infection rates in some countries.
- We know that prevention works and that it is the most effective strategy against HIV/AIDS. This shows the way forward and gives us some reason for optimism!
- We know that some groups, notably women, young people and children, are particularly vulnerable and that their education and awareness needs special attention.
- We know that AIDS is a trans-boundary issue and that regional and sub-regional cooperation for containment of the disease is essential.
- We know how important it is to involve people living with HIV/AIDS.
- We know that risk behaviours, such as unprotected sex and sharing of needles for injections, increase the spread of HIV. The susceptibility to HIV also tends to increase with the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- We know the enormously positive preventive force there is in openness, not only about HIV/AIDS but on human sexuality as such, and that changes in human behaviour is one of the most essential factors behind success in the work to prevent HIV/AIDS.
- We know that information, education and well-functioning healthcare systems, both nationally and locally, are vital to prevention, care and support.
- We know of the risks and consequences of opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis.
Mr. President,
This knowledge has guided the fight against HIV/AIDS so far and must continue to do so. But this knowledge has to be spread and used with sufficient resources and commitment. The UNGASS must contribute by adopting a strong political declaration of commitment. Our intention is not to create a new plan of action, but rather to highlight, in a declaration, our response to the importance of the following issues raised by the Secretary-General in his report:
- Alleviating the social and economic impact: There is a need to analyse impact and prescribe policy interventions from a holistic point of view in order to tackle the pressing effects on development.
- Reducing vulnerability: The key issue here is power and the need for gender equality and responsibility in sexual relationships. Children are particularly affected and we would like to refer here to the joint EU-SADC seminar last fall on children and HIV/AIDS. The meeting stressed, among other things, the need for openness with regard to sexuality and the need for dissemination of sound and correct information.
- Prevention: It is the only way to reduce the overall future impact of HIV/AIDS. The EU has undertaken considerable efforts in this area and it remains our main priority. Substantial contribution is given to different UN entities by Member States within the Union. Recently, some Member States gave additional contributions to UNFPA's prevention efforts. We are committed to continue to work with developing countries and with countries with economies in transition.
- Care and support: A comprehensive approach to care and treatment is needed along with support for strengthened partnerships with civil society including the pharmaceutical enterprises to significantly improve equal access to care and treatment and to a recognition of prevention and care as integrated agendas. A programme of accelerated response to HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis - addressing prevention, care and support - is in a process of being adopted by the EU. Also, an international
conference on access to treatment will be organised in Dakar in November 2001 as a result of a French initiative.
- International public goods: There is a distinct need for continued promotion of and support to research for safe, effective vaccines. Here, a distinct priority within the EU is to build increasing capacity for research in developing countries. And, for the scientific world, the 14th International Conference on AIDS will be held in July 2002, in Barcelona, Spain.
- Resources: While there is a clear need for financial resources, they can only be put to good use with effective leadership on national and community levels.
Mr. President,
The European Union believes that now that the complex organisational matters related to the special session are behind us, we can move on to matters of substance related to HIV/AIDS. We look forward to discussing these with our partners. However, much remains to be done before June, including the organisation of the roundtables, which we hope, despite their large size, will be truly interactive and provide us with a forum to discuss the pertinent issues surrounding HIV and AIDS.
Mr. President,
The European Union would like to stress, that only with contribution from the civil society actors and with their extensive participation in the preparatory process and in the special session itself will we be able to identify major issues and concerns regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The civil society is crucial in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The European Union would like to take this opportunity to commend their work and to praise the devoted individuals within the civil society
organisations.
The European Union is committed to achieving a successful outcome of the UNGASS. We envisage that the President of the General Assembly will consult with Member States on a regular basis throughout the work of outlining the Declaration of Commitment - in a similar manner to the preparation of the Millennium Summit last year. We have full trust in the President and his co-facilitators and we are confident that this task will be fulfilled with perfection.
Thank you.
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