Thaindian News

New York, June 8 (IANS) More than 3,000 people came together at the United Nations for the UN General Assembly high level meeting on AIDS that began here Wednesday, a statement said.

The meeting, which will conclude Friday, will provide an opportunity to take stock of the progress and challenges of the last 30 years and shape the future AIDS response, the statement added.

“The high level meeting on AIDS is taking place 10 years after the historic 2001 United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS, and the 2006 signing of the Political Declaration where UN member states committed to moving towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support,” the statement added.

“More than 30 heads of state, government and vice presidents will attend the meeting which will include official plenary and five panel sessions along with 40 individual side events. On the final day, UN member states are expected to adopt a declaration which will guide country responses to HIV over the next five years,” it added.

Twenty-two countries have achieved universal access to services which prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the statement said.

The rate of new HIV infections has decreased by 25 percent in the last 10 years, deaths have reduced by 20 percent in the last five years and 6.6 million people are now accessing antiretroviral therapy, compared to just a few thousand in 2001, it added.

Progress has also been made in breaking down barriers to stigma and discrimination and in removing punitive laws such as travel restrictions for people living with HIV, it said.

“Inequity, discrimination and laws against people living with or at risk of HIV continue to block access to HIV services for people most in need. We need a response to HIV that is grounded in human rights and one which promotes equality and equity. Achieving this will open the way to a world free from HIV,” said Michael Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).