Global Action
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“…The global HIV/AIDS epidemic, through its
devastating scale and impact, constitutes a global
emergency and one of the most formidable
challenges to human life and dignity, as well
as to the effective enjoyment of human rights,
which undermines social and economic
development throughout the world and
affects all levels of society—national,
community, family and individual.”
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
UNGASS on HIV/AIDS, 2001
|
Last year, the Secretary-General of the
United Nations issued a worldwide call to
action that focused on five priorities: preventing
further spread of the epidemic; reducing
mother-to-child transmission; caring for
those already infected; delivering research
breakthroughs, especially a vaccine; and
alleviating the impact of AIDS on the
most vulnerable, particularly orphans.
Responding to this call for leadership, the
membership of the United Nations met in
a special session in June 2001—the United
Nations General Assembly Special Session on
HIV/AIDS. In a Declaration of Commitment
setting out time-bound targets and globally
agreed-upon goals, each government pledged
to take action relating to prevention, care,
support and treatment, impact alleviation, and
children orphaned and made vulnerable by
HIV/AIDS, as part of a comprehensive AIDS
response (see summary of goals on last page).
The event, convened at the highest political
level, was held to intensify national and international
action to fight the epidemic and to
mobilize the resources needed. It was heralded
by the Secretary-General as “a turning point
in the fight against HIV/AIDS”. UNFPA
organized two ministerial-level panel discussions,
one on “Gender and HIV/AIDS: A
High-Level Discussion of National Action”
and the other on “Strategic Programming
for Prevention of HIV in Young People”.
<<
Back
Home Next >>
|
