Congresswoman Lee Attends 2018 International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam
Washington, D.C. – Today, at the 2018 International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Congresswoman Lee issued a call to action to the global community to end AIDS by 2030 and address discrimination and inequality in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care.
“If we fail to address the inequalities within our communities, this turning point in our struggle to end AIDS will become a missed opportunity. Stigma, discrimination and inequality are holding us back,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “There are huge gaps in treatment, prevention, and care between low-income and wealthy countries. And these disparities also exist within the same countries. Without tackling the underlying structural issues of poverty and racism, we cannot accomplish our goal of an AIDS-free generation.”
In her speech, Congresswoman Lee also noted the return of the AIDS Conference to the Bay Area for the first time in 30 years. “My community of Oakland, California has been struggling in the fight against AIDS for many years. And because of racial and economic disparities, all too often my community has not been at the table,” added Congresswoman Lee. “I will fight alongside you to ensure that the 2020 AIDS Conference is safe, inclusive, and welcoming.”
At the conference, Congresswoman Lee also participated in a parliamentarian panel entitled “Leading the Fight Against AIDS,” highlighting the work on HIV/AIDS happening in democratic bodies around the world. On the panel, Congresswoman Lee discussed her work drafting bipartisan policy initiatives including PEPFAR and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the future of those efforts. Her remarks can be viewed here.
During the AIDS Conference, the Congresswoman also met with activists, researchers and leaders devoted to addressing HIV/AIDS, including former President Bill Clinton, Dr. Paul Farmer, and Ambassador Deborah Birx.
###