The High-level meeting on a comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS took place on June 10-12, 2008 at the United Nations headquarters, New York.  More than 160 Member States took part in the event. 

Two parallel events were going on simultaneously one the debate at the General Assembly and the other the Panel presentations and Civil Society Hearings with numerous side events, both inside and outside the UN.  In all there were 5 panel discussions on the following topics:

1) How do we build on results achieved and speed up progress        towards    universal access by 2010 – moving on to reach the MDGs by 2015?
2) The challenges of providing leadership and political support in countries with concentrated epidemics
3) Making the Response to AIDS Work for Women and Girls- Gender
Equality and AIDS
4) A Multigenerational Challenge – Providing a Robust and Long Term Response
5) Resources and Universal Access: Opportunities and Limitations 

Secretary-General (SG) Ban Ki-moon presented a comprehensive report based on national progress reports from 147 countries.  The SG’s report showed that although a significant amount of work still needs to be done, progress had been made in almost every regions of the world.  It further showed that as of December 2007, an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide were living with HIV.  More than 80% of countries, including 85% in sub-Saharan Africa, have policies in place to ensure equal access of women to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.  Overall, antiretroviral coverage had risen by 42 per cent in 2007, reaching 3 million people in low- and middle-income countries.  SG called for a change in laws that uphold stigma and discrimination.  This change also needs to address restrictions on travel for people living with HIV. 
 
The European Union was moving from ear marked projected financing towards budget support and results orientation.  This was critical to strengthening country ownership and providing fiscal space to strengthen social sectors and enabling countries to invest in recurrent costs.  The Indian delegate stated that 75% of the National AIDS Control Program’s budget was allocated for preventive services, particularly among high-risk groups such as commercial sex workers, injecting drug users, truckers and migrant workers. 
 
The Civil Society members met the day prior to the opening of the official sessions.  It was stated that over 1500 members had pre-registered for the event.   Interfaith vigil worship took place at St. Peter’s Church on June 9th evening.  The opening session was addressed by a HIV positive woman, which made a great impression and was even quoted by the Secretary-General. In an informal civil society hearing, some 20 representatives of non-governmental organizations shared views on their individual foci with national representatives.

It was brought out that for every two people that begin HIV treatment, there are five new HIV/AIDS infections.  The world’s renewed momentum to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic must be matched by accelerated efforts to implement commitments to obtain universal access to prevention, treatment and care by 2010, said the General Assembly President in his closing statement during the 3-day event. He called for an effective response to the pandemic to become the central feature of all development efforts. He further added that the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, and other vulnerable groups needs to be protected, including women’s rights to make informed decisions about their sexual health. He went on to say that HIV/AIDS pandemic is a public health as well as a development issue.  Some delegations made the point that in their respective countries, HIV/AIDS is among the biggest threats to their sustained economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  The Members called for scaling up efforts to attain universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and support by 2010. 

The Holy See Observer from Geneva was present for the sessions and was a panelist in one of the events. The Holy See Observer hosted a side event on  “Treating, Preventing and Caring: Three approaches to addressing HIV and AIDS” which was very well attended.  Faith-based organizations (FBOs) through Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance played a very key role in the entire civil society members’ engagement process.  A room at the UN was allotted for meetings of Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance whose membership consists mostly of faith-based organizations.

On Tuesday 10 June, an interactive civil society hearing was convened with Member States and observers to discuss the myths and realities of scaling up to universal access.

The civil society participants made a declaration at the high level meeting.  They stated that it was disappointing to note that few heads of state chose to attend this meeting and that many governments, from both resource-rich and resource-poor countries, failed to report the reality on the ground, about 40 countries did not report at all.  They called to put human rights at the center of all responses to HIV.  Some civil society members held protests in front of a mission that had laws violating rights of persons with HIV.

For additional information please visit: www.unaids.org