Statement delivered by UNAIDS to the Sixty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York on 18 March 2019.

The INCB’s scientific impartiality and independence gives you a unique role to support countries to address issues related to drugs. UNAIDS would be grateful if you would consider using your mandate to go further and speak louder than those of us who are guided by consensus among UN Member States. UNAIDS stands ready to work more closely with INCB and other UN agencies to be agents of change. Drugs and drug policy are about health, human rights, and development. Together we need to ensure that we keep the promise of Agenda 2030 to leave no one behind.

The ICPD Programme of Action has put international human rights principles, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, autonomy, non-discrimination, equality, participation, empowerment, meaningful decision-making, and accountability at the core of the Agenda. Today, almost 25 years later, the Agenda and especially the unfinished ICPD Agenda, is still relevant for many countries.

At the halfway point to the 2020 targets, this is our wake-up call. Let us quicken our pace. We have come so far. But we have miles to go.