61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly
21 May 2007
Follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
Statement by H.E. Robert Hill, Ambassador and Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations
(As delivered)
Madam President
Today we are reviewing our progress in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. Australia commends the significant increase in funding devoted to tackling the epidemic and the progress in treatment, care and support that has occurred since the 2001 Declaration. We praise the commitment and leadership of UNAIDS, but HIV is still spreading, and we must strengthen our efforts to prevent new infections.
In the Asia-Pacific region, where 8.5 million people are currently living with HIV, the next five years will be critical. Collectively, we need to make our response more effective. Australia is prepared to play its part. We have committed $600 million toward prevention and treatment programs. Our successful national response to the epidemic over the past 25 years has helped us to support our regional partners to tackle the virus.
To make headway against HIV we need to understand the drivers of the epidemic. The behavioural risk factors are well known. Less well-explored are the socio-economic drivers. These include gender inequality, stigma and social exclusion, and patterns of economic development and associated labour mobility. These social issues are not easy to address and will not be resolved through awareness campaigns – they require a more far-reaching and considered response.
Gender equality is at the centre of Australia’s efforts more broadly to reduce poverty and increase the effectiveness of aid. Gender equality lies at the heart of economic and social progress and is a critical component of efforts to achieve sustainable development.
Madam President,
We know that gender inequality is a key cause of HIV vulnerability and that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by the epidemic.
The vulnerability of women to HIV is aggravated by lower literacy levels and violence including sexual assault. Statistics are alarming. In communities of Africa and South East Asia that are heavily affected by HIV, one third to one half of new infections acquired by women are from their husbands within marriage. Moreover, studies have shown that men who are violent to women are likely to have more sexual partners, and women who experience partner violence have higher HIV rates. We see a vicious circle.
Effective responses to HIV must focus on addressing the social determinants of vulnerability and gender-specific barriers to accessing and maintaining treatment. Strategies to address gender inequality must be integrated into all HIV/AIDS activities and mainstreamed into all development activities. Australia is committed to ensuring gender issues are addressed in all development assistance programs and urges our development partners to commit to ensuring that planning, implementation and monitoring of HIV programs address this critical aspect of the problem.
Madam President,
In order to tackle the huge challenge confronting us we must find and use creative, innovative and effective ways to ramp up the response and “Make the Money Work”. The challenges in the fight against HIV are daunting and we must broaden and deepen our partnerships to ensure we progress towards universal access targets by 2010. Business recognises the challenge of HIV and is already working in some countries in the provision of prevention programs, treatment, care and support to staff and their families.
However, business can and must do much more.
Business has the wherewithal to influence its employees, its partners and its customers. It has expertise in selling products, spreading knowledge and in shaping attitudes and behaviour. Together, business and government can create a formidable opposition to HIV. Australia is supporting a nascent and vibrant group of Business Coalitions against HIV/AIDS in the Asia-Pacific region. They will come together with Ministers from the region in July this year to harness and strengthen the business engagement with HIV.
Engaging with HIV is a long-term challenge. With no vaccine or cure in sight, countries will be dealing with HIV for generations to come. We urge all Member States to create an enabling environment to effectively engage their business sectors as true partners in the HIV response.
Thank you Madam President.