An HIV-infected woman takes her pills at a refugee camp near Gulu, Uganda. © Reporters / DPA
‘AIDS 2010’ Conference, 18-23 July, Vienna, Austria: “Rights here, right now”
‘AIDS 2010’ Conference, 18-23 July, Vienna, Austria: “Rights here, right now”
In 2008, some 33.4 million people worldwide were living with HIV. Sixty-seven per cent of those living with HIV and 91 per cent of new infections among children were in sub-Saharan Africa (AIDS Epidemic Update 2009 [UNAIDS/WHO]).Though there has been progress in fighting HIV/AIDS, the statistics prove that much more must be done.
Under the theme ‘rights here, right now’, the biennial 2010 International AIDS conference focused on protecting and promoting human rights to combat HIV/AIDS. Organised by the International AIDS Society, 18-23 July in Vienna Austria, it gathered 19,300 scientists, practitioners, advocates and world leaders from 193 countries.
“I commend those leaders who have recognised that denial of treatment is a denial of the human right to life”, said Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a video address at the closing ceremony.
Universal access to HIV prevention, care, treatment and support, strengthening the use of evidenced-based interventions, sustained financing and progress in finding a cure were other conference themes.
The Vienna Declaration, calling for more rational and scientifically sound drug policies to strengthen HIV prevention for drug users had been signed by more than 12,725 people by the conference’s close. Moreover, global leaders were called to commit at least $US20bn (€14.5bn) for the period 2011-2013 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The eventual commitment of $US11.7bn (€8.5bn) made at the Fund’s 5 October replenishment meeting fell short of this call. However, the European Commission pledged to scale up its contribution from €100M during 2008-2010 to €330M over the next three years.
For more information: www.aids2010.org