“HIV and AIDS will remain a priority for Switzerland at both the national and international level"
New York, 9 June 2011 - SDC Director Martin Dahinden said at the High Level Meeting on AIDS that the fight against HIV and AIDS would remain a priority - both at national level and in international cooperation. Switzerland appreciates the consensus reached for a new joint declaration and supports the recommendations it contains.
“HIV and AIDS will remain a priority for Switzerland at both the national and international level. My country is delighted that it has been possible to find a consensus on a new joint declaration on HIV/AIDS and thanks the Secretary-General for his excellent report. We appreciate the data thus gathered and we support the recommendations made. While some of the results are encouraging, it must be noted that although the epidemic has been stabilized worldwide, the rate of infection in some countries continues to climb. There are still major challenges ahead, notably in areas closely linked to prevention and the protection of human rights. Homophobia, punitive laws concerning those who live with HIV/AIDS and sexist violence increasingly undermine efforts to extend HIV related services to key segments of the population.
Efforts to combat discrimination and the stigmatization are crucial. This is valid in Switzerland where we are taking concrete measures to better fight against such attitudes, but also at the international level where often key segments of the population – such as men who have sex with men, sex workers, persons who inject drugs, transsexuals and adolescents – have no access to information, prevention, treatment, care or support related to HIV.
In this context I would like to underline the positive experience which Switzerland has had with respect to those who inject drugs, notably in an effort to reduce the risks involved. The decrease in infections in this group shows how important it is to include those directly concerned by HIV/AIDS in the search for solutions. We encourage other countries to support efforts in reducing risks and including this key group in order to become common practices.
Switzerland is committed in its programmes, as well as in different forums and at various other levels, to making the promotion and protection of human rights, including those linked to sexual and reproductive health, and to equality of the sexes, a centerpiece of all efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Those directly concerned must have the power to decide for themselves on the future of their sexual and reproductive health. For example economic, social, cultural and legal factors which deny women and girls their fundamental rights must be eliminated. In this context we would like to underline the crucial role of men and boys with respect to sexual and reproductive health and efforts to combat HIV. Vi-olence against women and girls and homophobia must be outlawed by legislation which is rigorously applied. Also worth noting is the importance of respecting and protecting the rights of millions of children and adolescents affected and infected by HIV. Young people often have no access to sex education or to sexual and reproductive health services suited to their specific needs.
Switzerland has multiplied its efforts in the areas of prevention and the link between HIV and sexual and reproductive health. It is now known that a genuine strategy for prevention should be based on sound science that promotes shared responsibility for the protection of the sexual health of those affected.
Access to medicines remains a major challenge on an international scale. It is crucial to create strategic partnerships between different sectors and actors in an effort to ensure non-discriminatory access for all to basic health services and to medicines. Despite the many possible conflicts of interest, the private sector is increasingly becoming aware of its global social responsibility in the health sector, and this holds out new possibilities for cooperation. The Medicines Patent Pool for example seems to us to be an interesting initiative in this regard…
In conclusion, Switzerland intends to continue to give its full support to the implementation of the Dec-laration of Commitment of 2001, to the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS of 2006, and to the new one we are going to adopt at the end of this high level meeting. Thank you.”
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