Feature story

AIDS response remains a priority for La Francophonie

15 October 2012

At the end of the XIV Summit of La Francophonie, held from 12-14 October 2012 in Kinshasa, Heads of State and Government issued the Declaration of Kinshasa, a compilation of decisions taken by the International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF) that will serve as a roadmap in the coming years.

UNAIDS congratulates La Francophonie for including in the Declaration an article dedicated to the HIV response. Heads of State and Government of La Francophonie committed, in Article 30, to “redouble their efforts towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and reduce the number of deaths among mothers due to this pandemic.” They also affirmed their “will to promote more effective and equitable governance, develop models of sustainable funding and facilitate better access to medicines and care.”

By including these statements in the Declaration, IOF member states subscribed to key elements of the UNAIDS report: Decision Point La Francophonie: No New HIV Infections, No One Denied Treatment, launched in Kinshasa on 12 October by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. They committed to promote access to treatment, eliminate HIV transmission from mother to child, and adhere to the principle of shared responsibility, while supporting the development of innovative funding and good governance.