31 May - 2 June, United Nations, New York
The 2006 follow-up meeting on the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS took place from 31 May - 2 June at the United Nations in New York, USA. (Information Note 2)
This year, the Secretary-General presented the report to the General Assembly on progress made until the end of 2005, a year when targets in the Declaration were due. The main focus of the meeting was to review progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment and to:
review progress in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, focusing on both constraints and opportunities to full implementation;
consider recommendations on how the targets set in the Declaration may be reached, including through the "towards universal access processes" and to renew political commitment.
The meeting involved all sectors of the international community, governments, civil society and the private sector. The opportunities provided for civil society organizations to take part in the meeting was unprecedented.
For the first time, a person living with HIV addressed the General Assembly plenary, normally reserved for Member States and UN officials. There was also a civil society hearing, which provided civil society an opportunity to exchange views with Member States.
The meeting featured a series of panel discussions as well as round tables covering diverse topics. Building on these discussions, a high- level meeting took place on the third day. This meeting culminated in the adoption of a political declaration aimed at reaffirming and expressing recommitment to the full implementation of the Declaration in the coming years.
Closing remarks on 2006 High-Level Meeting on AIDS by Assembly President Jan Eliasson
