To be a partner for women and girls against violence and injustice, you do not have to be experts on human rights or gender. You do have to be committed to always asking in your daily work: “How can I better engage women and girls to understand what they need? How can I better support human rights, gender equality and an end to sexual and other forms of violence?” These answers should change your work and will enable churches to be more compassionate for the cause of women and girls.

African countries have learned that investing in AIDS is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing. It is like putting money in the bank. Averting disability and deaths from AIDS results in higher productivity in factories, farms and office buildings; fewer orphans needing support; and lower costs of medical care for AIDS-related illness.

Funding sustainable health care is a moral obligation, a right not a luxury. In this, the faith community and the Church are among our strongest allies in calling for robust, comprehensive and lasting national responses to HIV. To do this, the faith communities and the AIDS movement must come together and speak with one voice. The world is not hearing us because we are talking over, and sometimes in opposition to, each other.

We are convinced that fresh political commitments around this new resolution will enable the UN to effectively contribute to the efforts of Member States to address the impact of AIDS on peace and security. In so doing, Member States will also be encouraged strengthen their response AIDS in National Strategic Plans, and put into place appropriate strategies, policies, capacities and resources.

El movimiento del sida es una historia de personas que rompen con la conspiración del silencio y que exigen igualdad y dignidad. Y es la historia de personas que se enfrentan a las injusticias sociales y que se aferran a sus derechos. Es la historia de personas indignadas y de su llamada apasionada en favor de la justicia social.

Since we last met in December, together we have: Launched a new investment approach for an effective response to HIV; Renewed the global commitment to universal access; Mobilized the contributions of key partners for their engagement in the High Level Meeting and beyond; Supported a highly successful 2011 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on AIDS and a groundbreaking new Political Declaration; Continued progress on implementing internal reforms at UNAIDS; Finalized a visionary budget that will enable UNAIDS to deliver bold results.

Through this transition, the five BRICS countries are bringing a new voice, a new perspective and new solutions to today’s global challenges. It is a voice with incredible economic, technological and innovative strength behind it, and at the same time, a voice intimately connected to the needs and interests of the developing world.

It is morally wrong to make a mother choose between treatment for herself and treatment for her newborn. It is morally wrong that people should be dying of AIDS when treatment is available. It is morally wrong that babies are still being born with HIV when we know how to prevent it. It is morally wrong that children are still growing up as AIDS orphans.

Let us remember, eight years ago, strategists were predicting a devastating “second wave” of the HIV pandemic would sweep across Asia. By 2010, they said, India would have the highest number of infections in the world. Fifteen million would be infected in China. HIV would spread rapidly through the general population and millions would die. But there was no wave.

It is time for the AIDS response to bridge the gap with the movement for the fight against women's cancer. The alliance between HIV and women’s heath has unlimited potential and will resonate across the world. This Pink Ribbon-Red Ribbon coalition will prevent much suffering and many deaths.