1 June 2017: UN officials and Member States called for a reinvigorated global response to HIV/AIDS during the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) discussion of the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on the topic. Participants recognized progress on tackling HIV/AIDS, but stressed that a major push is necessary to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.The report titled, ‘Reinvigorating the AIDS response to catalyse sustainable development and UN reform’ (A/71/864), finds that progress on reducing new HIV infections among adults has stalled, women and girls continue to be disproportionately affected by the AIDS epidemic, particularly in Africa, and financing for a global response is not sufficient. The report further highlights challenges related to higher risks of HIV infection among key populations, and the relationship between gender-based inequalities and higher rates of new HIV infections among vulnerable women and girls.

“A blunt assessment would say that to date our achievements have been mixed,” UNGA President Peter Thomson reflected, pointing to stalling HIV prevention rates and increasing rates of new infections in some regions. Thomson stressed that ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 will require an inclusive, comprehensive approach that targets education, information and services to people living with HIV and those at risk from HIV. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed called for a “life-cycle approach” to addressing HIV, to ensure that people have access to the services they need at every stage of life.

Thomson and Mohammed both underscored the connections between achieving AIDS-related goals and the 2030 Agenda. Mohammed said both are “grounded in equity, human rights and a promise to leave no one behind.” She further highlighted that global commitments to eliminate gender inequalities, promote, protect, respect and fulfill human rights and achieve universal health coverage “mutually reinforce efforts to eradicate AIDS.” Mohammed called on Member States to reflect lessons learned at the national level in responding to AIDS in their voluntary national reviews (VNRs) at the 2017 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), convening in July. Thomson called for building on synergies between the global AIDS response, and efforts to achieve universal health coverage and well-being .

During the debate, Member States shared national progress and called for fighting discrimination and stigma, addressing women and girls’ vulnerability, redoubling efforts to ensure access to affordable drugs, and enhancing international cooperation through UNAIDS and other UN programmes. Gambia for the African Group said HIV/AIDS threatens sustainable development, emphasizing that poverty and unemployment aggravate HIV and AIDS. Norway raised concerns about HIV rates in female prison populations. Japan said achieving universal health coverage is the most effective means to ensure universal access to services and leave no one behind. France shared how her country has mobilized nearly 60% of the annual budget of the international drug purchase facility UNITAID through a tax on airline tickets and financial transactions.

The UNGA also addressed: establishing a culture of accountability and strong performance management with a focus on delivery and people; grounding success at country and community levels, including through finding and supporting community-driven solutions; and closing the US$7 billion funding gap for the global AIDS response.

In its 2016 political declaration on HIV and AIDS, the UNGA decided to set a date, by its 75th session, for a high-level meeting on HIV and AIDS to review progress on the commitments made in the Declaration towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 and how the response, in its social, economic and political dimensions, continues to contribute optimally to progress on the 2030 Agenda and “the global health goal.” [UN Press Release] [UN Meeting Summary] [Statement of UN Deputy Secretary-General] [UNGA President Statement] [Report of the Secretary-General] [2016 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: On the Fast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV and to Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030 (A/RES/70/266)] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Secretary-General’s Report]