Let us stimulate a reenergized movement which, together with the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, can leverage the AIDS response, in this region, and globally, as an entry point for people-centred development, respect for human rights and social transformation.

Africa is changing! This change is visible in economics and in the increasing world interest for doing business in Africa. But the winds of change on our continent also blow on culture and society. The fact that we are all here today, calling for “zero human rights violations for LGBT people in Africa” is another illustration of this change. This change is not given. It is the fruit of the struggles and activism of many in this room and across the continent.

We need to be courageous enough confront society’s wrongs. It is unacceptable that women and girls, sex workers, drug users, migrants, prisoners and men who have sex with men are assaulted, violated and murdered, and yet our conscience is not revolted, nor our sense of human dignity challenged. How can the world accept that some people have access to services while others are excluded because of race, social status, income or sexual orientation? We must reject this double standard wherever we encounter it.

Ending AIDS will be a global achievement of historic dimensions. Not only will millions of lives be saved, but ending AIDS will drive better health, poverty and equity outcomes for the entire human family. Nobody has embodied this passion better than my friend and brother Ambassador Eric Goosby. Even if he is not with us today, I want to recognize his leadership of PEPFAR and the many contributions he made to the global AIDS response with distinction and heart. This is also the last PCB for Mabel Bianco from the NGO Delegation. Mabel, you have always been a great source of support and encouragement, and we will miss you. Finally, thanks to your support, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has extended me into a second term as Executive Director of UNAIDS. I look forward to continuing our collaboration, and I remain at your service.

When we talk about the social drivers and the structural dimensions of poverty, I always think about how it comes down to power— the power of relationships in society and the politics behind them. If we want to achieve the kind of transformation that will build more equitable societies, we must address the larger governance issues and the role of social empowerment. How do we harness the power of community movements to create demand for services, for access and for equity? We must not lose this perspective.

Sports is the great equalizer of humankind—uniting rich and poor, young and old, majority and marginalized on a level playing field. The capacity of sports to reach and inspire people in society who can be difficult to reach—rural and urban poor, migrants, out-of-school youth and other people at risk—is unique and profound.

Au-delà de la langue qui nous unit ce soir, je crois que ce que nous véhiculons ensemble ce sont des valeurs communes, des principes de lutte contre la discrimination, l’exclusion et la stigmatisation. Ce n’est pas un hasard si la déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme fut rédigée en français. Nous ne sommes pas là ce soir pour avoir peur du futur. Bien au contraire, nous sommes ensemble aujourd’hui pour définir et donner un sens à notre avenir, pour faire en sorte que quelque part un jour des personnes se réunissent pour se dire que le monde francophone a contribué à mettre fin à cette épidémie. Le combat contre cette maladie, la lutte contre le sida ne peut être réduit à un simple problème, mais doit s’entendre comme un processus transformatif d’ampleur mondiale.

I call on conference participants to adopt a bold, visionary conference declaration that answers my most difficult questions. This conference must show to the world that this region is serious about halting this epidemic. We must strengthen international and regional cooperation to ensure our successes are scaled up, sustained and expanded across the region. I also want us all to remember that in 1958, the Soviet Union proposed to the world that smallpox must be eradicated within 10 years. This led to one of the greatest global health victories of the 20th century. We cannot end the AIDS epidemic without the Russian Federation taking a decisive leadership role here in Russia, across this region and around the world.

May I begin, Taoisech Ahern, by paying tribute to the initiative you have taken in making AIDS a central issue for Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union. In doing so, you are breaking down some of the most dangerous myths surrounding AIDS today: the myth that AIDS is only an African problem, and the myth that, on this continent, AIDS has been defeated.

Keynote speech to the Second Eastern Europe and Central Asia AIDS Conference