Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. Opening Session of XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, Austria. 18 July 2010

AIDS 2010

Speech by: Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. Date: 27 July 2010 Place: Kampala, Uganda Occasion: Organization of African First Ladies Against AIDS General Assembly

At the end of the 18th century, a British economist named Thomas Malthus predicted that population growth would be an obstacle to human development, and would even lead to crisis.

Papua New Guinea is a rich in culture, diversity, natural beauty and history. But it has the highest HIV prevalence in the Pacific. The latest data show that the epidemic may be leveling off, but the risk factors that contribute to HIV infection have not changed.

We meet at a moment in time when the AIDS response is at a crossroads. We have achieved some lasting gains against the epidemic: The conspiracy of silence has been broken. Over five million people are on lifesaving treatment. Infection rates are dropping. People living with HIV and engaged and active in ways we have never before seen. Young people have reduced their HIV prevalence 25% in 15 of the highest-burden countries. We expect to virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in just a few years

NGOs tackle the work that governments will not do, cannot do, or dont do well. UNAIDS Executive Director calls on NGOs to lead the next big step forward. To make investments and momentum for AIDS into a bridge for producing larger health and development outcomes. Only with the leadership role of NGOs can we take AIDS out of isolation and fully integrate the AIDS response with the MDGs.

Like your diamonds, they are precious. And like diamonds, they are unbelievably strong. They are the solid centre of human life—of families, of communities, of care—the places where AIDS is most effectively challenged. And like Liberia’s diamonds, they bring pride to this country, and they deserve to be free.

It is a pleasure to be here in St. Maarten, at this timely and important point in PANCAP’s history. I am truly inspired to be with so many of the very people who broke the conspiracy of silence around AIDS in the Caribbean

I deeply appreciate UNIDO’s leadership on the link between industrial development and public health, and specifically for being a valuable partner to the AIDS response in promoting drug production in developing countries.