Mr. President, Excellencies and colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^, Serbia^ and Albania^, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, and Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align with this statement.  

With the COVID-19 pandemic still keeping its firm grip on large parts of the world and Russia’s brutal, unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine, which is affecting people in all corners of the world - the world clearly focuses on immediate urgencies. Against this backdrop the HIV/AIDS epidemic/pandemic seems a forgotten or a solved issue. But it clearly is not.

The SG’s report offers evidence and analysis of the situation and urges action with concrete recommendations. Reducing inequalities that drive the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the key to getting back on track – if we fail, we will not only miss SDG 3.3 [ending HIV/AIDS as an epidemic until 2030], but be responsible for the continuation of 13.000 people dying of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses every week.

We know what needs to be done and must fully implement the commitments we made in the HIV/AIDS Political Declaration!

Mr President,

We clearly see, that in order to have an effective HIV/AIDS response:

We need to keep key populations in the focus, as they are particularly vulnerable to HIV and frequently lack adequate access to adequate services including HIV-prevention, treatment and care.

We need to work against stigmatization, which is often linked to sexual orientation and gender identity and to punitive laws.

We further need to improve universal access to quality and affordable, evidence-based comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, including on sexuality, to address discrimination and to ensure equitable access to diagnostics and treatment as well as preventive measures.

We need a stronger focus on the overall prevention agenda, too many new infections are still occurring.

To ensure the implementation of the targets, there must be a rigorous set of indicators to measure and monitor progress and investments, especially on the community leadership and the 10-10-10 societal enablers.

In line with the Political Declaration and the Global AIDS Strategy – which has our full support - the EU is fully committed to getting on track to end AIDS by 2030 and will continue:

• to work towards ending inequalities that drive the AIDS epidemic, ensuring gender equality and protecting human rights,
• to prioritize people who are not yet accessing life-saving HIV services, particularly girls and young women - as adolescent girls and young women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV.

We will do so by putting people at the centre of our efforts, supporting community-led initiatives, and in particular by building sustainable and resilient health systems, including community health, which is a major objective of the EU in the health sector, with a view to reach Universal Health Coverage.

However, we note with concern that at the recent WHA, the WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV was adopted not by consensus but for the first time by a vote. Important approaches which are at the core to addressing these diseases have been removed from the strategy or were moved to an annex, like on information and education, including on sexuality, gender identity, gender-responsive approaches, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence.

Mr President,

Forty years ago, HIV seemed unbeatable. But global solidarity has turned the tide against the virus. With extraordinary multi-stakeholder engagement the world has come a long way in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Communities have been leaders in shaping the response from the start. In 1994 the UN combined forces in the establishment of the UN Joint program on HIV/AIDS and 20 years ago the Global Fund was established, of which the EU and many EU MS are proud supporters. Today people with HIV can lead long, fulfilling lives.

The Global Fund is heading towards its replenishment this fall and will need every contribution to continue the qualified and important work done. In addition, UNAIDS as a technical partner to the Global Fund, needs to be adequately resourced to lead the global response on HIV/AIDS.

Let us continue our efforts together, so that by 2030, we can declare victory over AIDS!

Thank you.

* The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.