2016 HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON ENDING AIDS

United Nations General Assembly New York | 8–10 June 2016

In 2015, the world delivered on the AIDS targets of Millennium Development Goal 6—halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic. This remarkable achievement marks the first time a global health target has been met and exceeded. By mid-2015, the number of people accessing antiretroviral therapy reached nearly 16 million—double the number just five years earlier. Ending AIDS by 2030 is an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were unanimously adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015. The lessons learned in responding to HIV will play an instrumental role in the success of many of the SDGs, notably SDG 3, good health and well-being, and the goals on gender equality and women’s empowerment, reduced inequalities, global partnerships and just, peaceful and inclusive societies. To end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 will require countries to take a Fast-Track approach over the next five years. To ensure Fast-Track to ending AIDS 5 that global efforts are accelerated in this short window, the President of the United Nations General Assembly is convening a High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS from 8 to 10 June 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. At this meeting United Nations Member States will come together to draft a new Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. The meeting will be co-facilitated by Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, and Patricia Mwaba Kasese-Bota, Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations. In the lead-up to the meeting, communities of people living with HIV and key populations most affected by HIV, civil society, the private sector, governments and regional bodies will come together at a series of meetings and events to reaffirm the priorities for the future of the AIDS response and the important role it can play in achieving the SDGs. 6 Analysis of global data shows that the world has a narrow five-year window of opportunity in which to front-load HIV investments and deliver focused and effective action. Strong leadership from communities, cities and countries will be required. Adopting a Fast-Track approach over the next five years will close the gaps faster and reach the people who are being left behind. By using investments more efficiently, annual HIV resource needs will begin to decline after 2020. From this point the world will be firmly on course to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. Today there is a strong evidence base on the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment programmes as well as on the importance of ensuring a human rights-based approach. There is also recognition of the critical role that meaningful engagement of affected communities, the private sector and other partners has in the planning and implementation of an effective response to HIV.