From May 31st–June 2nd 2006, the UN General Assembly convened a special session to assess global progress in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic and issued a Declaration of Political Commitment. It has been five years since the General Assembly, in its first session on HIV/AIDS, adopted a consensus document to establish a framework for reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2010. Many of the goals outlined in that agreement have not been met while the epidemic continues to grow.
The 2006 Declaration of Political Commitment calls for a further increase in funding for HIV/AIDS programs with an emphasis on prevention strategies. The declaration recognizes that strategies that empower women and address gender inequality and gender-based violence are necessary to halt the feminization of HIV/AIDS. The declaration also affirms the importance of providing women with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, and services; the need for access to male and female condoms; and a commitment to providing antenatal care and HIV services to prevent mother-to-child transmission in a manner that respects women’s rights and ensures ongoing access to treatment.
However, the resolution has been criticized for a number of significant limitations, including inadequate recognition of human rights abuses in relation to the epidemic; failure to define "vulnerable groups"; and the absence of specific and measurable targets for addressing the pandemic. Civil society organizations have also appealed for more transparency during negotiations and greater civil society participation in future meetings.
For more Information on the recent UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, please visit the following links:
To learn more about the nexus between reproductive rights and HIV/AIDS, please visit:
UN Committee Calls on Russia to Improve Teen Access to Reproductive Health
