UNITED NATIONS: Global anti-AIDS strategy adopted

NEW YORK, 27 June (IRIN) - The UN General Assembly's historic Special Session on HIV/AIDS ended on Wednesday with what Secretary-General Kofi Annan described as a "clear strategy" for tackling the epidemic.

"What is important is that, after today, we shall have a document setting out a clear battle plan for the war against HIV/AIDS, with clear goals and a clear timeline. It is a blueprint from which the whole of humanity can work, in building a global response to a truly global challenge," Annan said.

After three days of deliberations, the Final Declaration establishes a consensus on a framework for action. It highlights general issues of leadership, prevention, care, support and treatment, human rights, vulnerability, orphans and the impact on development. "If there is one idea that stands out clearly from the declaration, it is that women are at the forefront of this battle," Annan noted.

Civil society groups, generally welcomed the declaration as a step in the right direction. "Although we would have liked to see greater detail with regard to identifying particular vulnerable groups and HIV/AIDS as a human rights issue, we believe this declaration represents a significant commitment by the international community with regard to their roles and responsibilities in combating HIV/AIDS," CARE spokesperson Phillipe Leveque said in a statement.

The real test, however, is whether the words can be turned into deeds - particularly in terms of contributions by wealthy countries to the Global AIDS and Health Fund due to be operational by the end of the year. The declaration called for an annual target of US $7-10 billion to be reached annually by 2005 for the fund.

"The UN did what it could: Leaders of nations, rich and poor, had to confront the need for a truly global effort to tackle the AIDS pandemic by treating the sick and preventing its further spread. Now it's up to the leaders of the G-8 rich nations to underwrite this effort at their meeting next month in Genoa," said health advisor to Oxfam, Mohga Kamal Smith.

Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, who chaired the General Assembly panel on international funding, said at a press conference that African countries were committed to raising their health spending but "at the same time traditional development partners should be forthcoming". He said a well-endowed fund would "consolidate the flow" of resources.

Stressing the connection between poverty and the spread of HIV, Mkapa called for deeper debt relief for African countries. According to an Oxfam report, out of 17 states that have qualified for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, 8 were still paying more in servicing loans than it would cost to establish a basic HIV/AIDS treatment, care and prevention programme based on the HIV rates in their respective countries.