A new United Nations political declaration on HIV and AIDS adopted at the High Level Meeting in New York will drive greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA), more ambitious treatment targets, and acknowledgement of the power of treatment as prevention, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations said today.
The declaration also recognised the importance of services to support people living with HIV as they age.
"The 2021 Declaration, adopted by the overwhelming majority, and opposed by only four countries, reflects ground-breaking new targets for treatment, prevention, human rights, and community leadership in the global response to the HIV epidemic," AFAO CEO Darryl O'Donnell said.
"Through its adoption, the United Nations General Assembly has established unprecedented targets to support people touched by the HIV epidemic, including those living with HIV, gay and other men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers and people who use drugs. These people are now absolutely central to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the global HIV response."
In 2019, these key populations and their sexual partners comprised approximately 62% of all new HIV infections, despite being a small percentage of the global population. Today, 165 countries committed to centralising the voices of those most affected through funding the community-led delivery of 30% of HIV testing and treatment services and 80% of HIV prevention services.
The Declaration includes access to sexual and reproductive health services and education, which are vital to improving health outcomes for women, adolescents, girls and LGBTQ people. Disappointingly, countries could not come to an agreement on inclusion of sexual reproductive health and rights or comprehensive sexuality education. However, funding and supporting community-led service provision with the HIV response is a vital first step for ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education for young people in affected communities.
AFAO has worked alongside Australia's Mission to the United Nations, led by Ambassador Mitch Fifield, and DFAT over the course of the negotiations.
The process revealed a small group of countries, led by Russia, were willing to undermine the global HIV response as a broader strategy to disrupt consensus within the multilateral system. While an unprecedented vote on the Declaration was disappointing, the commitment of the overwhelming majority of UN member states to reach a compromise reflects the global support behind the HIV response, and isolates dissent to a small group of bad faith actors.
Supported by DFAT, AFAO has worked closely with our members and other stakeholders to unlock the expertise of the Australian HIV sector to support Australia in its role as Co-Chair of the 2021 United Nations High Level Meeting on HIV and ensure the voices of Australia's affected communities are included in the process.
We warmly commend Australia on its outstanding leadership during the process, and in particular its inclusion of the experience of communities living with and affected by HIV.
"Today's Declaration provides high level political endorsement of the 2016-2021 UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy. AFAO looks forward to working with the Australian government to realise the promises made in this Declaration, and to continue to support Australia's position as a global HIV leader."
