5 April 2005
International Commission on Population and Development
Statement delivered by Ms Natasha Smith, Counsellor (Development), Australian Mission to the UN on HIV/AIDS
(check against delivery)
Mr Chairman, I would like to begin by congratulating you on your election as Chair of CPD and thanking Ms Obaid, Dr Zewdie and others for their presentations yesterday and today.
Mr Chairman, the Australian Government is particularly pleased that HIV/AIDS is the theme of this year’s CPD. Not only because of the importance of the global response to the disease and the high priority we place on HIV/AIDS programs as part of our development assistance, but also because it serves to raise the profile of the critical links between HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health.
HIV/AIDS is not just a health issue, but also an economic, social, humanitarian, human rights and security issue. Addressing the challenges it presents us is fundamental to development and poverty alleviation. Our response must be multifaceted and comprehensive.
Mr Chairman, in this statement on Australia’s experience I will focus on the two dimensions of our national experience – firstly our role in supporting our development partners in their fight against the pandemic, and secondly our domestic efforts to combat HIV/AIDS at home.
Australian international HIV/AIDS assistance is focused on our partners in Asia and the Pacific. We are deeply concerned at the impact that HIV/AIDS has in Africa and other parts of the world, but it is in Asia and the Pacific where our broader development assistance program is focused and our comparative advantage to assist is greatest.
While we are conscious that the number of cases of HIV/AIDS is highest in Africa and the region quite rightly receives a lot of attention, the rates of infection in Asia and the Pacific are of great concern. In 2004 new infections in Asia totaled 1.1 million. In the Pacific, PNG is showing all the characteristics of an Africa-style epidemic with rapidly escalating prevalence in the general adult population. Our objective is to assist countries in Asia and the Pacific to take steps now to prevent and treat the epidemic, to avoid an Africa-style epidemic throughout the region. Because if the Asia- Pacific is unsuccessful in turning this disease around, by 2010, 40 per cent of all the world’s new infections will be in our region.
Mr Chairman, the Australian Government is backing up our concern over the spread of HIV/AIDS with action and resources. Last year the Australian Government launched our international HIV/AIDS strategy, ‘Meeting the Challenge’. The strategy is backed up by a commitment to spend A$600 million on HIV/AIDS by 2010. A Special Representative for HIV/AIDS has also been appointed to lead implementation of the strategy, promote the role Australia is playing in the fight against the pandemic and to advocate domestically and internationally for effective responses to the disease
The overarching aims of our international strategy for HIV/AIDS are to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to mitigate the effects on people living with HIV/AIDS and on the society to which they belong. To achieve these aims we work with our development partners on five key priorities:
1. Promoting leadership and advocacy
2. Building capacity
3. Changing attitudes and behaviours
4. Addressing HIV transmission associated with Injecting Drug Use
5. Supporting treatment and care
Another critical part of our approach is to mainstream HIV/AIDS into all our development cooperation programs.
Mr Chairman, Australian support in the fight against HIV/AIDS is provided across Asia, the Pacific and in Africa. For example, in PNG we are supporting the implementation of PNG’s own National HIV/AIDS Medium Term Plan. This is our largest single HIV/AIDS program with A$60 million committed over 5 years. The STI rates in PNG are potentially fuelling a greater HIV epidemic. The World Health Organization has reported that PNG has the 2nd highest prevalence of syphilis and highest prevalence of genital Chlamydia, and gonorrhea in the Asia - Pacific region.
In Indonesia we are providing capacity building support for AIDS commissions at the national, provincial and district level and also assisting vulnerable groups such as IDU’s and commercial sex workers. In Africa we are supporting Australian NGOs working across a number of countries and on priorities such as awareness raising, education and prevention; community/family-based care and support programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS, including orphans; economic, social development and human rights activities which are HIV/AIDS focused.
Mr Chairman, the Australian Government is also pleased to be working with UNAIDS, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and other UN organizations in the implementation of our HIV/AIDS strategy. We have also made an initial contribution of A$25 million over three years to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Australia also plays a leadership role in the Asia Pacific region on HIV/AIDS issues, particularly through the Asia Pacific Leadership Forum.
Mr Chairman, finally I would like to talk about our domestic efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a truly global challenge. Countries like Australia are not immune nor can we be complacent about the spread of the disease at home.
The Australian Government's domestic response to HIV/AIDS is guided by our National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Our achievements in mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS are largely due to the cooperative partnership between all levels of government, community organisations, the medical, health care and scientific communities, and the people who themselves are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. This partnership approach also underpins our work internationally.
We are currently developing our fifth National HIV/AIDS Strategy. This Strategy will revitalise Australia's response to HIV/AIDS and address new challenges posed by the changing HIV epidemic.
Mr Chairman, again we appreciate this opportunity to discuss HIV/AIDS as part of the Commission on Population and Development. We are also looking forward to the High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS in June this year.
Thank you