Utrikesminister Tuomiojas tal vid specialsessionen om HIV/AIDS i samband med FN:s generalförsamling
Follow-up to the outcome of the 26th Special Session on HIV/AIDS; High-Level Plenary Meeting New York, USA 22 September 2003
Mr Chairman,
The Declaration of Commitment at the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on June 2001 set a wide and challenging agenda. In the perspective of two years since our commitment we can see an increased attention to and recognition of HIV/AIDS as a major global emergency, which also threatens global security. We are here to discuss the report of Secretary-General on the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment. In this year's follow-up we will look particularly at the policy framework.
The report of the Secretary-General highlights some progress made. We have seen various global initiatives, such as the Global Fund against Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which serve to raise the awareness of the urgency of the epidemic, as well as the need of increased resources to tackle it. Consequently investments in HIV/AIDS programmes at country level have grown significantly. Positive steps have been taken on national level regarding national leadership. Media coverage has increased. The report states that national multisectoral hiv/aids -strategies have been created in 3 out of 4 of the countries. These are good achievements and we should not underestimate them.
However, despite the increased attention and manyfold action, HIV/AIDS remains one of the biggest challenges to the international community. Though Sub-Saharan Africa is most affected, there has been a rapid spread of infection in many other regions, for example the Eastern Europe. It seems that we will not achieve in the set timeframe many of the targets we committed ourselves to. The Report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up confirms that time is definitely not on our side.
Mr. Chairman,
Let me highlight only a few of the set objectives that Finland regards to be of particular relevance in todays special session:
Firstly, we have to ensure that all people, particularly young girls and boys, know how to avoid infection. According to the progress report by the Secretary General, the epidemic is growing fastest, where the majority of new infections occur in young people. Basically this means that all people, and particularly the youth, should have access to the information that will enable them to make responsible decisions. As our special focus is on youth, education systems and school curricula should be fully tuned to providing youth-friendly and good-quality information on sexual and reproductive health and rights. We must not forget the out-of-school children either, who face special risks of being infected.
In relation to this I want to emphasise that respect for human rights is essential in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Discrimination and stigma are key barriers in advancing the set goals. Knowledge is but one important element in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Elimination of discrimination against women and girls and of gender-based violence must have a central role in our joint efforts. HIV-transmission linked to trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is a tragic example of violation of human rights of women, girls and boys.
And finally, while we are increasing our endeavours to meet unprecedented and urgent needs of access to treatment and care, it has become evident that we cannot advance on these if we at the same time do not tackle the problems of sustainability and harmonisation of the interventions. In view of the immense economic impact the pandemic is having in several countries I wish to emphasize the need to carry out this work closely with the implementation of poverty reduction strategies. In this connection I would like to mention UNAIDS, which is doing an impressive work, with strenuous inputs in collecting data, doing advocacy globally , and providing guidance and norms for the use also far outside the UN. Finland warmly supports UNAIDS in these efforts and will continue to contribute to its work.
Our focus today is on policies. But however good the policies and strategies are, they do not matter, if they are not implemented at country level. This will be our major challenge in the next years.
Thank you Mr.Chairman