02-06-2005 - HIV/AIDS - Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations

New York

Permanent Mission address: 150 East 42 Street, Level 33, New York, New York 10017 - Telephone: 1 212 351 6600 - Fax: 1 212 351 6610

United Nations
2 June 2005

Australian Statement to the General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS

Statement delivered by Annmaree O’Keeffe,
Australia’s Special Representative for HIV/AIDS

(Check against delivery)

HIV/AIDS is a global crisis but with very immediate and devastating regional and local impacts. It is not just a health issue, but also an economic, social, humanitarian, human rights and security issue. Addressing the challenges it presents us is fundamental to development and poverty alleviation. Our response must be multifaceted and comprehensive.

The Australian Government is deeply concerned at the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS globally, but most particularly in our region, Asia and the Pacific. We are matching this concern with action and resources. The Australian Government has committed A$600 million over ten years (to 2010) to the fight against HIV/AIDS. We are working with partner countries and multilateral and regional agencies to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and to mitigate the effects on people living with HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific. Our assistance is helping developing countries achieve the MDG of combating the pandemic.

Asia and the Pacific – Where the global battle against HIV/AIDS will be won or lost
Today, almost a quarter of the people in the world living with HIV/AIDS, some 8.2 million, are in Asia and the Pacific. The virus is continuing to spread rapidly in the region. In 2004 new infections in Asia totalled 1.1 million. Predictions are that if the region is unsuccessful in turning this disease around by 2010, 40 per cent of all new global infections will be in the Asia Pacific. Without vigorous and effective prevention responses now, the region could easily become the new epicentre of the pandemic.

A dynamic and diverse epidemic – a critical challenge

The epidemic in Asia and the Pacific is dynamic and diverse. The various and shifting modes of transmission across and within the region compound the challenges of prevention and treatment. Injecting drug use has become the major mode of transmission in many parts of Asia. Other concentrated epidemics across the region include men who have sex with men and commercial sex workers. In the Pacific, heterosexual sex is the main mode of transmission. While prevalence is generally low, high risk factors such as high prevalence of sexual transmissible infections, multiple sexual partners, gender inequality and gender violence increase the region’s vulnerability to the virus. Papua New Guinea reports the highest rate of HIV infections in the Pacific. It is generally accepted that the country has reached the point of a generalised epidemic and is exhibiting many of the characteristics that are prevalent in some of the hardest hit countries in Africa.

Australian response to the challenges in Asia and the Pacific

The challenges in the fight against HIV/AIDS are formidable, but the opportunities have never been greater. The Australian Government has taken an early and central role in combating the epidemic, both internationally and domestically. Our experiences at home of early action on prevention which were critical in averting an epidemic have informed our approach to assisting our region. Our achievements in mitigating the spread of HIV/AIDS are largely due to the cooperative partnership between all levels of government; community organisations; the medical, health care and scientific communities; and the people who themselves are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. This partnership approach underpins our work internationally.

Australia’s response is tailored to individual country circumstances. Just as the face of the epidemic in Asia and the Pacific is diverse and complex, so must our responses be. We draw on our comparative advantage in providing technical assistance, knowledge and training, gained through our domestic response to HIV/AIDS and our development experience in the region. Australian support focuses on providing an appropriate balance between prevention, and treatment and care.

Priority action areas of Australia’s response

The overarching aims of Australia’s international strategy for HIV/AIDS are to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to mitigate the effects on people living with HIV/AIDS and on the society to which they belong. To achieve these aims we work with our development partners on five key priorities:

1. Promoting leadership and advocacy
2. Building capacity
3. Changing attitudes and behaviours
4. Addressing HIV transmission associated with Injecting Drug Use
5. Supporting treatment and care

Another critical part of our approach is to mainstream HIV/AIDS into all our development cooperation programs. To achieve these priorities Australia is expanding and deepening partnerships with developing countries, other donors, international agencies, as well as professional and community groups. We are conducting social, behavioural and economic research to further our understanding of the epidemics in our region. This will strengthen the capacity of both Australia and our partner countries to deliver effective interventions.

Tackling the causes of HIV/AIDS, prevention of its spread and treatment for those living with the virus and its impact is a formidable task. But we know how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and we know how to stop it. What is required is leadership, partnerships and actions. Australia’s response is both substantial and effective.