Remarks at an ECOSOC Coordination and Management Meeting on Agenda Item 12(g): Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

Laurie Shestack Phipps
Adviser for Economic and Social Affairs
New York City
July 7, 2017

AS DELIVERED

Mr. President, Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, the United States commends UNAIDS on the tremendous progress outlined in the report of Resolution of ECOSOC on UNAIDS, report of the Executive Director of UNAIDS, the final report of the Global Review Panel, the 2016 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, the UNAIDS 2016-2021 Strategy, and the aligned works towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These efforts have set the tone for the work that lies ahead to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic globally by 2030 and the U.S. recognizes the role UNAIDS has played.

It is critical for all partners to continue to fast track the fight against HIV/AIDS. Continued global solidarity, coupled with an increasing shared responsibility and strategic investment as defined by the 90-90-90 global targets, can put us on a trajectory to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The United States encourages all governments to redouble the intensity of efforts to fight HIV/AIDS as they plan and implement the SDGs.

The United States recognizes the insufficient progress in reducing HIV infections among young women and adolescent girls and key populations and urge governments to ensure they are aligning their resources with the 2016 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. We commend UNAIDS on its continuous work on ensuring a multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS and encourage inviting new donors to join from both public and private sectors to ensure full funding for the Unified Budget, Results, and Accountability Framework. UBRAF.

The United States’ commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic is unwavering. As we move forward into our work we strongly urge member states to scale up domestic and international funding for the response in order to successfully attain the 2020 Fast Track milestones and targets that we all agreed upon. We are in our last few years before 2020 and we strongly emphasize that action is needed to ensure political, programmatic and financial accountability and sustainability at all levels of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Thank you.

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