The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Honourable Edward N. Lowassa, attended the 2006 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS – Uniting the World Against AIDS held at the UN Headquarters in New York held from 31 May to 2 June. This is a follow-up meeting on the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session: implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS

The main focus of the meeting is 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 roundtables 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.

Main issues discussed

  • Overcoming health worker shortages and other health systems and social sector constraints to the movement towards universal access to treatment
  • Breaking the cycle of HIV infection for sustainable AIDS responses
  • Universal access to treatment: the common challenge of strengthening health systems
  • Utilization of Global Fund Round 6 to integrate health systems strengthening
  • Sustainable and predictable financing for scaled-up AIDS responses
  • Ending the increased feminization of AIDS
  • Overcoming stigma and discrimination and changing the way societies respond to people living with HIV
  • Involvement of people living with HIV in policymaking
  • Dealing with marginalized groups.

Statement by Honourable Edward Lowassa, (MP), Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania at the High-Level meeting and comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the targets set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS – New York, 2 June 2006

Official website of the 2006 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS http://www.un.org/ga/aidsmeeting2006/index.html

2006 Report on the Global AIDS Pandemic http://www.unaids.org/en/HIV_data/2006GlobalReport/default.asp