Press conference by Dr. César Núñez, Director of the UNAIDS New York Office, on World AIDS Day (marked on 1 December).
A top UNAIDS official said, “Equalize access to rights, equalize access to services, equalize access to resources, equalize access to the best science and medicine. This is how we will end AIDS.”
Briefing reporters today (29 Nov) ahead of World AIDS Day marked on 1 December, Dr. César Núñez, Director of the UNAIDS New York Office, presented the new UNAIDS report "Dangerous Inequalities," which shows that inequalities are blocking the end of the AIDS pandemic.
He said, “we call the world's attention to a painful reality. Currently, we are not on track to end AIDS by 2030. And the reason is inequalities. But there is good news by equalizing, we can end AIDS.”
UNAIDS set out earlier this year that the AIDS response is in danger, with rising new infections and continuing deaths in many parts of the world.
Today in its latest report, UNAIDS shows that urgent action to tackle inequalities can get the AIDS response on track.
The study documents three key inequalities on which immediate action is possible and urgent: Gender inequalities and harmful masculinities driving HIV; Stark lack of progress for key populations, driven by inequalities that undermine the overall AIDS response; Inequalities for children whose lives must matter more than their market share.
According to the report, worsening financial constraints are making it more difficult to address those inequalities.
The report also shows how world leaders can tackle those inequalities and calls on them to be courageous to follow what the evidence reveals.
Núñez explained, “HIV has not gone away. In the midst of a crisis of debt, austerity, and inequality hitting developing countries, cuts in aid for global health are not strategic. Now it's not the time to step away. It is a time to step up. There's some international solidarity that will reduce inequalities in financing and make amazing gains against aids, including bringing more than 20 million people on to life-saving treatment.”
