Barbara Lee Statement on the United Nations High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS
Media Contact: Joel Payne, (202) 225-2661
Washington, DC - Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) released the following statement on a recent United Nations High-Level meeting on HIV/AIDS in New York City:
“The adoption of the 2011 United Nations Declaration on HIV and AIDS will intensify our efforts to eradicate this deadly epidemic. This Declaration is vitally important in the continuing fight against HIV/AIDS, recognizing our accomplishments and renewing our commitment to human rights for all.
“Key to the strength of the new Declaration is its targets; notably the commitment to treat 15 million people by 2015, reduce tuberculosis deaths in people living with HIV by 50% and to once and for all eliminate mother to child transmission of the virus.
“The United Nations Declaration rightly recognizes that marginalized populations – including men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who inject drugs– are in many cases disproportionally impacted by the disease. The Declaration also shines a critical spotlight on the need to eliminate gender inequalities and to expand sexual and reproductive health services.
“As we enter the fourth decade of our fight to control this epidemic, those of us on the frontlines know that much work remains. But as recent encouraging scientific evidence demonstrates, the prospects for ending the epidemic are great.
“I look forward to continue working with community partners, as well as my colleagues in Congress, the Office of Global AIDS Coordinator and the White House to ensure necessary resources are invested to make these goals a reality.”
###