Efforts to end the AIDS epidemic and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are closely linked and can lead to a wider, people-centred social transformation, argued a panel at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, taking place in New York, United States of America, from 8 to 10 June. The panel meeting, entitled, “AIDS within the Sustainable Development Goals: leveraging the end of AIDS for social transformation and sustainable development,” was held on 8 June.

A number of participants noted that the lessons learned from the successes of the AIDS response at the national and global levels act as a pathfinder for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030), adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015. This response has shown that working in a multisectoral way, with a range of partners and with an eye to challenging social, economic and gender inequalities using rights-based approaches, can lead to both health and development gains. 

In setting out a Fast-Track approach to end AIDS, the UNAIDS 2016–2021 Strategy firmly acknowledges the need to root the HIV response in Agenda 2030, recognizing the interdependence between HIV and the SDGs, from ending poverty (SDG 1) to promoting inclusive societies (SDG 16) and strengthening partnerships (SDG 17).

During her remarks, the Russian Minister of Health, Veronika Skvortsova, committed to removing all remaining restrictions related to the travel, stay and entry of foreign citizens living with HIV in the Russian Federation.

The panel members set out concrete examples of how the AIDS response could help to influence the profound structural, social and economic changes needed to end AIDS and make the SDGs a reality: by promoting accountability, through grassroots alliances with communities acting as agents of change and by challenging inequality, stigma and marginalization and leaving no one behind.

The panel discussion generated a sense of urgency as well as momentum and opportunity to implement the Fast-Track approach in synergy and convergence with Agenda 2030, towards greater inclusion, social justice and stability across societies.

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In a joint statement, several prominent International human rights experts are urging governments to seize the opportunity of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS to recommit to and ensure the full respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights in the efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The joint statement was signed by independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council. In their statement, the experts acknowledge that progress made in the past decades in the AIDS response is partly due to the meaningful participation of communities. The statement says that, “Using the language and power of human rights, people living with HIV and human rights defenders have secured important legal and judicial victories against HIV-related discrimination and human rights violations.”

The experts acknowledge that people are still being left behind in the AIDS response, noting inequalities, compounded forms of discrimination, exclusion and other human rights violations.

Experts said in the statement, “Ending the AIDS epidemic in a way that leaves no one behind requires bold policies and reforms that reach out to populations that are deeply marginalized and criminalized … We have a historic opportunity not to be missed.”

The human rights experts recommended, among other things, removing punitive laws, policies and practices; preventing and addressing violence against and violations of rights of key populations; eliminating gender, HIV and key populations-related stigma and discrimination, especially in health-care, workplace and educational settings; and ensuring health services meet the right to health framework criteria of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality, and are delivered without discrimination. 

In advance of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, released a video message entitled “Archbishop urges ‘great further step’ to end AIDS by 2030,” which was published on 18 May to help mobilize critical resources to communities most at need of HIV services. In the address, the Archbishop recognizes the great progress that has been made since the beginning of the epidemic, but pointed out that some communities are being left behind.

Six days later, on 24 May, Olav Fykse Tveit, Secretary-General of the World Council of Churches, released his own video message, entitled “World Council of Churches General-Secretary Olav Fykse Tveit’s message on interfaith action on HIV.” In the message, he says that the global community is facing a “crucial opportunity” to end AIDS by 2030, a goal he adds that is within our power.

The United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS will be held in New York, United States of America, from 8 to 10 June. United Nations Member States will draft a Political Declaration on Ending AIDS designed to reach the end of AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Both messages come after a recent statement by Pope Francis, “The encyclical letter Laudato si’ and other teachings of Pope Francis: an ethical basis for efforts to Fast-Track a more effective global AIDS response.” The statement by Pope Francis, in which he calls on the world to “find the will, the technical expertise, the resources and the methods that provide access to diagnosis and treatment available to all,” was presented at two consultations held in the Vatican City in April and May hosted by Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. 

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Increasing the use of social protection services towards ending the AIDS epidemic was the topic of discussion at an event held on 24 May on the margins of the 69th session of the World Health Assembly, held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Organized by UNAIDS, the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the event brought together senior government, United Nations and civil society representatives to exchange views on the importance of social protection services in HIV prevention, treatment and care.

Speaking at the session, Luiz Loures, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS, said that 2016 is a critical year in the mission to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. That goal cannot be met, he warned, unless social and structural drivers of HIV are addressed. 

He added that people living with, at risk and most affected by HIV are vulnerable and at higher risk of HIV infection because of the social determinants of HIV—poverty, inequality and discrimination. “Social protection—ranging from social insurance to social assistance—is a game-changer that we must invest in to end the AIDS epidemic,” Mr Loures said.

Paul Ladd, UNRISD Director, said, “Let us make the next five years the years when we ensure that every person living with, at risk of and most affected by HIV in need of social protection is able to access it. Only then are we going to be on course to end AIDS by 2030.”

Thorsten Behrendt, ILO Health Policy Specialist, emphasized that, to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, it will be necessary to provide both access to needed services and medicine, as well as basic income security. Moving from charity to rights will be crucial and requires the development and implementation of inclusive legislation to respond to poverty, exclusion and stigmatization, and at the same time empower people living with, at risk of and affected by HIV.

Social protection can also empower communities left behind, such as older people, to achieve a life of dignity free from poverty, said Stefan Hofmann, Director of Kwa Wazee, Switzerland. He added that, for programmes to succeed, it is important to take into consideration the family and community system on which most vulnerable people depend.

Martine Weve, Senior Policy Advisor on Livelihoods and HIV at STOP AIDS Now!, emphasized the key role support groups of people living with HIV have in increasing access to social protection services for their members.

According to Charles King, Chief Executive Officer of Housing Works, a dollar spent on HIV treatment that does not lead to viral suppression is a dollar wasted. He said subsidized housing for homeless people and people who use drugs are critical for achieving viral suppression.

Archana Patkar, of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, said people living with HIV who lack access to clean water and sanitation are more vulnerable to diarrheal diseases linked to morbidity and mortality. Removing stigma and discrimination and ensuring they have adequate access is key to saving lives.

A meeting has been held at the Vatican to finalize a road map to improve access to HIV treatment for children. The meeting, held on 16 and 17 May, was a follow-up to an earlier meeting in April that explored ways to provide greater access to testing and treatment services for diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis. 

Both meetings were hosted by Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Participants included representatives of national governments, faith-based organizations and people living with HIV, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Luiz Loures and the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Deborah Birx.

The road map will be presented at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, to be held in New York, United States of America, from 8 to 10 June.

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