November 30, 2005
“Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. More than 25 million people have died of this devastating disease since 1981, and today more than 40 million people are infected globally—the vast majority in Sub-Saharan Africa. The United Nation’s Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that this year alone HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of nearly 3 million people, including over half a million children, while infecting over 5 million more.
“On World AIDS Day this December 1st, we again stand together in solidarity to take stock of our progress in fighting this disease and to recognize the tragic toll that AIDS has collectively taken on our global community. In the spirit of this year’s World AIDS Day theme, “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise” we rededicate ourselves to this global struggle pledging never to forget those who have already been lost to this disease and never to ignore those who are still vulnerable.
“Our efforts this year in Congress have specifically focused on addressing the devastating impact of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic on the hundreds of millions of children around the world.
“Many of these children lack access to basic healthcare, adequate nutrition, school, employment opportunities, psychosocial support, AIDS treatment, and are even denied their own land and inheritance rights.
“Working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate, I introduced H.R 1409, The Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, in order to better focus and coordinate US foreign assistance to care for these children.
“After passage in the House and Senate, President Bush formally signed this important bill on November 8th 2005, making it Public Law 109-95.
“Although the passage of this bill represents a modest first step towards mitigating the impact of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic on children, it must be followed with at least $340 million in funding, and a recognition that much more needs to be done before we can fully defeat this disease.
“We must still address the persistent social, political, legal, and economic gender inequality that increases the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection. We must empower women with the tools to protect themselves, including female condoms, microbicides and the ability to negotiate safer sex with their partners.
“The reality is that we need to employ every method and every organization that has a proven track record in fighting this disease.
“We must repeal the 33 percent earmark for unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that do not provide a comprehensive and balanced approach to prevention.
“We should not allow ideologues to place limitations on how our prevention money will be spent, and equally so we should not allow them to extend the global gag rule by denying HIV/AIDS funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide comprehensive family planning services to women.
“Above all we need more far money to build health care capacity, and pay for the equipment and drugs that can test for and treat this disease.
“The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has made significant strides in the global fight against these three diseases in each of these areas, but unfortunately the United States continues to underfund this valuable international partnership between governments, civil society and NGO’s. We must increase our support for the Global Fund and provides at least $150 million more in funding this year.
“Here at home we must move to quickly re-authorize and expand funding for the Ryan White CARE Act. This important initiative provides funding for HIV prevention programs, life-saving drugs and supportive services to tens of thousands of individuals, while supporting local health facilities, capacity building for AIDS Service Organizations, and outreach to affected communities.
“We must also make a concerted effort to tackle the devastating spread of HIV/AIDS among the African-American community. Despite only representing about 12 percent of the population, African Americans account for nearly half of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, while African-American women account for over 60 percent of all infections among women.
“So today, while we remember those who have died, let us not forget the struggle that still remains before us. Our charge is not an easy one, but as a nation and as a global community we have a moral duty to act with resolve and with purpose and above all with compassion to keep the promise and end AIDS.”
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s Statement on World AIDS Day
(Oakland, CA) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) released the following statement on the progress and challenges in fighting the global HIV/AIDS pandemic on the eve of World AIDS Day, December 1st:“Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the beginning of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. More than 25 million people have died of this devastating disease since 1981, and today more than 40 million people are infected globally—the vast majority in Sub-Saharan Africa. The United Nation’s Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that this year alone HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of nearly 3 million people, including over half a million children, while infecting over 5 million more.
“On World AIDS Day this December 1st, we again stand together in solidarity to take stock of our progress in fighting this disease and to recognize the tragic toll that AIDS has collectively taken on our global community. In the spirit of this year’s World AIDS Day theme, “Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise” we rededicate ourselves to this global struggle pledging never to forget those who have already been lost to this disease and never to ignore those who are still vulnerable.
“Our efforts this year in Congress have specifically focused on addressing the devastating impact of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic on the hundreds of millions of children around the world.
“Many of these children lack access to basic healthcare, adequate nutrition, school, employment opportunities, psychosocial support, AIDS treatment, and are even denied their own land and inheritance rights.
“Working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate, I introduced H.R 1409, The Assistance for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, in order to better focus and coordinate US foreign assistance to care for these children.
“After passage in the House and Senate, President Bush formally signed this important bill on November 8th 2005, making it Public Law 109-95.
“Although the passage of this bill represents a modest first step towards mitigating the impact of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic on children, it must be followed with at least $340 million in funding, and a recognition that much more needs to be done before we can fully defeat this disease.
“We must still address the persistent social, political, legal, and economic gender inequality that increases the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV infection. We must empower women with the tools to protect themselves, including female condoms, microbicides and the ability to negotiate safer sex with their partners.
“The reality is that we need to employ every method and every organization that has a proven track record in fighting this disease.
“We must repeal the 33 percent earmark for unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that do not provide a comprehensive and balanced approach to prevention.
“We should not allow ideologues to place limitations on how our prevention money will be spent, and equally so we should not allow them to extend the global gag rule by denying HIV/AIDS funding to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide comprehensive family planning services to women.
“Above all we need more far money to build health care capacity, and pay for the equipment and drugs that can test for and treat this disease.
“The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has made significant strides in the global fight against these three diseases in each of these areas, but unfortunately the United States continues to underfund this valuable international partnership between governments, civil society and NGO’s. We must increase our support for the Global Fund and provides at least $150 million more in funding this year.
“Here at home we must move to quickly re-authorize and expand funding for the Ryan White CARE Act. This important initiative provides funding for HIV prevention programs, life-saving drugs and supportive services to tens of thousands of individuals, while supporting local health facilities, capacity building for AIDS Service Organizations, and outreach to affected communities.
“We must also make a concerted effort to tackle the devastating spread of HIV/AIDS among the African-American community. Despite only representing about 12 percent of the population, African Americans account for nearly half of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, while African-American women account for over 60 percent of all infections among women.
“So today, while we remember those who have died, let us not forget the struggle that still remains before us. Our charge is not an easy one, but as a nation and as a global community we have a moral duty to act with resolve and with purpose and above all with compassion to keep the promise and end AIDS.”