Speech delivered by the Executive Director at the Special Meeting of an Extended Technical Committee on the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa in Pretoria, South Africa and presents his vision of a single African Drug Regulatory Agency

AIDS at the Tipping Point: Herculean challenges; Olympian benefits. The Olympic spirit we have seen and felt over the past two weeks is a remarkable social and political phenomenon. It has transformed the host city of Vancouver into a global hub of international solidarity. It has roused countries to showcase their best in competition rather than conflict. It has elevated the rewards of national pride, public accolades and the hope for a better future into international public goods.

In much of the world, the HIV epidemic among drug users is long-standing. But in some places it is newly emerging. In East Africa, HIV transmission due to drug use is rising. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia we are seeing a new upturn in infections in some countries of the region―a new generation of drug injectors is going through the same pattern of HIV spread as the previous generation. We must focus our efforts on stopping this chain of transmission. Above all, that means making it safer for those who are use drugs. This is harm reduction, and it is an effective and important form of HIV prevention and a key component of our pledge for Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

The Pacific regions response to the AIDS epidemic is as uneven as its economic growth and poverty reduction. Limited awareness and understanding of the potential impact of the epidemic, weak health care systems and an unsupportive legal environment have all contributed to varying degrees of response by Governments across the region. The Report of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific has clearly highlighted the factors inhibiting a strong and determined response to the epidemic. While some of these are known, it is for the first time that all the issues were addressed so comprehensively by the Commission.

Good morning, Your Holinesses, Eminences, Excellencies, colleagues and friends. I am so grateful to be here for what I know will be a fascinating meeting of minds. I want to thank our hosts the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance and Cordaid, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

BY: Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS DATE: 28 March 2010 PLACE: Bangkok, Thailand OCCASION: Opening Session, 122nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly

To launch a new national testing campaign UNAIDS Executive Director joined South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, Minister Motsoaledi, Premier Mokonyane and civil society representatives Ms Vuyiseka Dubula from the Treatment Action Campaign and Nkululeko Nxesi from the National Association of People living with AIDS.

For decades it has been clear that globalization demands concerted and collective responses to manage increasing interdependence. Today we are at a tipping point. The financial crisis presents the most immediate reason to address human security in both a more collective manner and a more developmental manner. And there are longer-term problems that must also be addressed to improve security and development. One of the most pressing is climate change. Last year we witnessed the failure of global institutions to keep up with this specific challenge. But we face many more. We are here today to share ideas on how to better manage the collective commons by improving our concerted responses to security.

Speech by UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director for Management and External Relations on occasion of the Parliamentary Breakfast on the G8/G20 and AIDS

The role of the workplace in providing universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support