§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the UN Aids Conference in New York. [2290]
§ Clare ShortThe Declaration of Commitment adopted by 189 delegations at the 26th Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly sets out a global consensus on future actions necessary to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The Declaration commits member states to a series of national targets and strategies to achieve them in the areas of leadership; prevention; care, support and treatment; HIV/AIDS and human rights; reducing vulnerability; children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS, alleviating social and economic impact; research and development; HIV/AIDS in conflict and disaster affected regions; resources and follow-up. The Declaration does not clearly identify those individuals and groups at highest risk of infection because of blocking action by a group of states. Uganda and Thailand have demonstrated that an open and honest approach to tackling the epidemic can lead to a reduction in the rate of transmission of the disease. Other countries must follow their example.
The Declaration confirms what we know needs to be done to begin to contain the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is now time to urgently transform commitments into action at country-level to tackle the epidemic.