Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release30th May 2006
World Leaders Gather in New York to Step Up Fight Against HIV & AIDS
This week, world leaders are gathering in New York, in a Special Session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting is dedicated to a review of progress made in the international fight against HIV and AIDS
"Five years ago, world leaders also met in New York to discuss AIDS, and they agreed a 'Declaration of Commitment' to fight the disease. This week, they will be forced o admit that the verdict on their efforts is: must do a whole lot better." said Hans Zomer, Director of the aid agency umbrella organisation Dóchas.
In 2001, 189 governments agreed a plan of action that was meant to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS. This year, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan produced a report demonstrating a major gulf between the stated commitments and what governments actually delivered. (see notes below)
"Ireland is among the countries that have taken the 2001 promises seriously. We are seen by many countries to lead the way in the fight against HIV and AIDS. We are calling on the Taoiseach to use this leadership position to make sure all UN member states agree clear and precise targets, and not let them leave New York with more vague promises. Too many people have already died." continued Zomer.
For further information, please contact the Irish NGO representatives in New York:
Breda Gahan, Dóchas HIV/AIDS Working Group Chairperson tel. 086 233 6377
Ann Nolan, Dublin AIDS Alliance, tel. 087 2415286
Tim France, Health & Development Networks, tel. 086 8192 324
Notes for the editors:
1) The UN General Assembly Special Session will take place in New York from 31 May to 2 June 2006. See http://www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2006/
2) The 2001 Declaration of Commitment is available on the UNAIDS website:
http://www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2006/
3) The 2006 report by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on implementation of the commitments in the period 2001-2005 is available at http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/284/16/PDF/N0628416.pdf?OpenElement
4) To date, more than 65 million have been infected with HIV, more than 25 million people have died and nearly 1 in 20 children in Sub-Sahara Africa have been orphaned by AIDS. Despite the progress made since 2001, the epidemic continues to outpace the global response. In 2005, there were more new infections (4.9 million) and more AIDS deaths (3.1 million) than ever before.
5) Dóchas has developed a position paper calling on the Irish Government to show leadership at UNGASS by advocating for clear, up-scaled and time-bound commitments which address current barriers to reversing the spread of HIV and the provision of treatment care and support to those infected and affected.
Dóchas calls on the government to ensure that increased, accelerated and time-bound financial investment targets for donor countries are incorporated into the Declaration of Commitment document with strong accountability mechanisms for delivery.
Ireland should propose that all countries commit to effective mainstreaming for HIV and AIDS risk, vulnerability and impact reduction in their development programmes. This relates to development and emergency programmes, and policy processes. This issue must be strongly worded and target bound in the Declaration of Commitment document.
Dóchas urges the Irish government to play a leading role at UNGASS in ensuring that resources and strategies for mainstreaming HIV and AIDS concerns across development and humanitarian programmes, and policy processes, are included centrally in the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment document.