UN Transcripts — https://transcripts.un.org/en/ga/80/90
General Assembly: High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS - 90th plenary meeting, 80th session — General Assembly — 22 June 2026
Language: en
Automatically generated transcript — may contain errors. Not an official United Nations record.

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GA · PGA [0:03]:

Please take your seats. The 90th Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. I declare open the 2026 High-Level Meeting on on HIV/AIDS. This meeting is held in accordance with Resolution 80/256 of April 24th, 2026, and takes place under Agenda Item 10, entitled Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the Political Declarations on HIV/AIDS. The documentation under this item is listed in the Journal of United Nations. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Madam Deputy Secretary-General, Madam Executive Director of UNAIDS, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates. Let me take you back for a few moments. In 1985, the COVID of Life magazine announced, "Now no one is safe from AIDS." That same year, People magazine branded those affected, I quote, "the new untouchables." Two years earlier, the writer Larry Kramer has published an essay whose title was simply "A Count of the dead. That was the climate of the early 1980s, a climate of fear, silence, and shame. And the stigma cut twice. HIV was associated above all with gay men. So a frightened young person growing up in the 1980s amid the prejudiced attitudes of the time faced not only one fear, but two: the fear of the virus and the fear of being seen. To seek care was to be exposed. And so, too often, people did not seek care at all, and the silence cost them their lives. It cost others, too, as silence strangled attempts to strengthen prevention and allowed the virus to spread. But that is not where the story ended. The fight against HIV became one of the most powerful examples of what this United Nations can deliver if we work together. People stood up against stigma. The world came together. Attitudes changed. Investments surged. Science proved the headlines wrong. We now know that HIV is not a death sentence, that it can be prevented, treated and managed, that a person living with HIV can lead a full and healthy life. The numbers show how far we have come together through an organized global effort, supported in large part by this United Nations and especially its agencies. To strengthen prevention, treatment, and access guided by better data. New HIV infections have dropped by 61% since a peak in the late 1990s. HIV programs have spared an estimated 4.4 million children from infection and prevented 2.1 million AIDS-related deaths among children since 2000. Since the year 2000. AIDS-related deaths in total have dropped by about 70% from their peak. And these are not abstractions. These are mothers who lived to raise their children. They are children who were never affected at all. The global multilateral response to HIV thus became not only one of the United Nations' one of the greatest success stories, but one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of public global health, providing a blueprint for confronting later health emergencies, from Ebola to recently COVID-19. In many ways, the story of HIV is a story of multilateralism itself. A global emergency provoked a concerted cooperative response. But unfortunately, we all know today, reflecting the wider headwinds facing multilateralism, the HIV response stands at a crossroads again. And we can decide now all together if we walk the last mile together in the interest of all of us successfully We can end AIDS as a public threat, as a public health threat. Or we can allow 4 decades of hard-won progress to be put at risk. Funding is shrinking. International aid for health fell by 40% in 2025 compared with 2023. Prevention programs are being scaled back. Community organizations and local clinics are closing their doors. Research published projects a 24% reduction in international HIV/AIDS aid by 2026, enough to reverse 10 to 15 years of our common progress in only a couple of years. On top of that, the political backlash in some places is gathering against some of the very people The response was built to protect. Hard-won gains in human rights, including legal changes for women and LGBTQ+ communities, are being questioned and rolled back, endangering progress, especially in prevention. Do we have to learn the hard story again? The consequences are stark. In 2024 alone, 1.3 million people acquired HIV. Every day, so now, tomorrow, the day after, 570 adolescent girls and young women were newly and are newly infected. In sub-Saharan Africa, the burden remains especially severe, with the region accounting for the vast majority of children living with HIV. New child infections and AIDS-related deaths among children. This is not only a tragedy for those directly affected, but a threat to all of us. We learned it in the 1980s that stigma was one of HIV's greatest allies. We learned how quickly HIV could spread when silence, fear, and prejudice stood in the way of prevention. And we learned just recently again during COVID-19, that viruses do not carry any passports, they do not stop at borders. To endanger our common goal, fight against HIV and AIDS, would affect us all. Mandated by this Assembly, this high-level meeting and its political declaration is now our chance to choose the right path at the crossroads by reaffirming our shared commitment to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030, in line with the Global AIDS Strategy. At a time when the world is already facing enough crises, we cannot afford to endanger successes we built together. We must walk the last mile together, starting here today. We know that in our fragmented world, consensus in this room is not the most easy task. Yet it is depending on all of us, on our decisions. It is a moment not to step back. It is a moment to lean in, to protect the progress we have made, and to finish what humanity began more than 30 years ago.

Ago.

The end of AIDS within our reach is there. Let us not slip it from our hands. We know we are better together.

I thank you.

In accordance with Rule 70 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, I now give the floor to the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, to make a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General.


UN · Deputy Secretary-General · Amina Mohammed [9:58]:

Thank you, Madam President, Excellencies, partners, colleagues, and friends. A special shout out for our partners in civil society who are on the front lines daily, and deep appreciation to my sister Winnie Byanyima and her great team for the work that they do every day. In the last 45 years since the first KXL of AIDS was reported, the world has demonstrated uncommon resolve and solidarity. Wasn't easy. The early days of the response were marked by a wall of barriers, misunderstanding, a lack of knowledge and science, discrimination and stigma, and perhaps most deadly of all, political hesitancy. But year by year, this emergency was transformed into remarkable public health progress. A sto— a hope that was written by people living with HIV, together with committed community and frontline healthcare heroes. By tireless generations of scientists and researchers, by governments who showed political commitment and resolve in the face of a fast-growing pandemic and sustained the efforts through increasing domestic investments. And by generous global partners who invested in the global response and carried our shared mission forward. AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 70% since their peak in 2004 and by 54% in 2010. HIV prevention and treatment services have reduced new infections by 40% in the same period. And today, more than 32 million people living with HIV are receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy. And we now collectively benefit from the public health lessons that were learned in the fight against HIV. We learned that national leadership is essential, that solutions and impact come from communities, that scientific innovation, when funded and supported, will find a way forward, that we can deliver testing and treatment to even the hardest-to-reach populations and carve out new delivery pathways for other critical interventions. We learned to use the social determinants of health in the response. Most of all, we learned that when the world acts together, it can save lives. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, let's be clear: AIDS is not over. As my recent report demonstrates, we remain far from achieving the targets we established in the 2021 Political Declaration. At the end of 2024, 9.2 million people in need still lacked access to HIV treatment, and 1.3 million required— acquired HIV. Most tragically, 630,000 lives were lost in AIDS-related deaths. Funding cuts are directly affecting prevention efforts and the community systems that are so essential to the response. Meanwhile, financial constraints and rising debt burdens in developing countries are diverting funding away from the HIV response. And shrinking civic space and regression in human rights protections are placing hard-won gains at risk. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this is a meeting that is taking place to find solutions and once again summon the political will to accelerate and finish the global HIV fight. Five acceleration pathways will be essential. First, we need to close the widening gaps in access to prevention, treatment, and care services. We have the tools to prevent and treat HIV over the long term. Governments need to intensify support to ensure breakthroughs reach all people, especially in the most marginalized and our underserved communities and countries. This means ensuring HIV responses are integrated across the public health and development systems to build more sustainable and resilient responses. Second, we must continue ensuring the leadership of communities in the HIV response. The new Global AIDS Strategy emphasizes country ownership, people-centered services, and community leadership. Community-led organizations still remain indispensable partners in reaching those that are furthest behind, and they need our full support. Third, human rights. From the start, inequality, stigma, and discrimination fueled the epidemic, but they also fueled our determination to protect and save lives by responding effectively, particularly for the most vulnerable communities and populations. At a time when several populations and vulnerable communities in many parts of the world including LGBTQI+ people facing growing stigma, discrimination, and criminalization, we must stand firm in protecting their rights and their dignity. Laws, policies, and social inclusion that push people to the margins not only violate human rights, they also risk undermining public health efforts and, and place lives at great risk. Human rights and equality must continue to guide our response. And fourth, financing. The world must support developing countries as they build stronger systems for health and social protection. Now is not the time to step back from investing in the response. I urge countries to keep their promise under the Sevilla Commitment to unlock financing, address unsustainable debt with new tools and solutions, and reform today's unfair and outdated global financial system so developing countries can receive the resources they need and the voice and representation they deserve. Finally, we need to revive the multilateral spirit that has driven the HIV response from the very start. The HIV response has shown that solidarity across borders and sectors can overcome fear, inequality, and injustice. And it has proven that global, regional, and local institutions are all essential to deliver together. At a time when division and distrust are rising, this meeting must send a powerful message: no country or community can end AIDS alone. The United Nations has always been a proud partner on this journey. Over the last 30 years, the dedicated staff of UNAIDS have been un— unceasing in their perseverance and commitment to the people and communities affected by HIV around the world. But that progress is now under threat in the face of severe funding cuts and unprecedented disruption. Through the UN80 Initiative, we have established a vision to preserve and to strengthen the UN HIV response by integrating capacity and expertise across the UN development system and beyond. This transition is about protecting the gains we have made, and ensuring that support continues to reach people and communities who need it most. The structures may evolve, but the United Nations will never retreat from the commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat. Work on this transition is moving steadily forward, including through the working group that has been established by the UNAIDS Programme Coordination Board to ensure a safe, responsible, and an orderly transition. This does mean elaborating a division of labor among the 6 co-sponsoring organizations to absorb UNAIDS' capacities while developing governance arrangements that safeguard the space for civil society and ensure the voices of key populations continue to be heard. But this is more than about health. It's about human rights. It is about dignity. It is about inclusivity and bringing everyone along on this journey, and it is about keeping our promise to leave no one behind. I very much look forward to the successful outcome of the working group and the continued engagement of all our stakeholders as this work progresses. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this meeting is a chance to demonstrate that even in difficult times, the international community can rally once again around science, around human dignity, solidarity, and shared responsibility. The responsibility to end AIDS as a public threat by 2030 belongs to each and every one of us. Let's move forward together with a sense of urgency, with solidarity, and with ambition. I thank you.


GA · PGA [18:36]:

I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her remarks. I now give the floor to Ms. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.


UNAIDS · Executive Director · Winnie Byanyima [18:56]:

Your Excellency, President of the General Assembly, Nkosi asante. Excellency, Deputy Secretary-General, co-facilitators Ambassador Masole of Botswana and Ambassador Bakratse of Georgia, Excellencies, Ministers and friends, I am honoured to address this high-level meeting. I thank very much the President of the General Assembly for her leadership. Our co-facilitators, and all the member states for the extraordinary effort that brought us here now. I also pay special tribute to the communities that have carried the AIDS response on their shoulders for decades. These are people living with HIV, women and girls, gay men and other men who have who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, sex workers. I also salute health workers, scientists, philanthropists, and development partners. Millions are alive today because of your courage and brilliant contributions. 25 years ago, World leaders gathered in this hall for the first ever United Nations General Assembly Special Session on a Health Crisis. At the height of the AIDS pandemic, they made a promise that AIDS would be stopped, that treatment and prevention would be accessible to all people in all countries, that funding would be mobilized to enable every country to fight the disease, and that communities would lead, and that the United Nations would coordinate a global multi-sectoral response unseen before. As AIDS death peaked, my friend Diana in my country Uganda, widowed by the virus, called me in tears. She said, "I am ill, Winnie. I may die. Please take care of my 3 children." I kept my promise to her that day. Today, those children are thriving adults—a lawyer, an accountant, an administrator. Millions kept that promise. Communities, governments, scientists, health workers, and companies kept the promise. That is the global AIDS response. And what progress we have made. Of 40 million people living with HIV today, 32.1 million are now on treatment, living long and healthy lives. But let us not confuse progress with success. Nearly 9 million people are still not on treatment, and last year, there were 1.2 million people who were newly infected. This is our last high-level meeting before the 2030 promise to end AIDS as a public health threat. We are just 4 years away, and the opportunity is extraordinary, breathtaking Science, like long-acting medicines, can now protect people from HIV with just 2 injections a year. It's not a vaccine, but it is the closest we have come. Research could yet give us a cure. Ending AIDS is possible. Yet, yet, We meet at a perilous moment. Multilateralism is at its weakest in a generation, and two threats are poised to reverse all our gains: the collapse in development financing and the rollback of human rights, gender equality, and civic space. According to the OECD, Development finance fell 23% in 2025, the sharpest drop on record. HIV programs in high-burden, low-income countries were hit hard. Our newest data—UNAIDS data released last week—show fragility. HIV testing has fallen 22% in high-burden settings, meaning that people do not know their status and the virus continues to spread. Funding for condoms has been cut by more than 90% in some places. 90%. Prevention is being dismantled. Dismantled at the very moment we should be scaling innovations like new long-acting medicines. Evidence also shows that countries that protect rights achieve stronger HIV outcomes. Yet we are seeing a dangerous rollback of the rights of those at highest risk—women and girls. Gay men, trans people, people who inject drugs, sex workers. For the first time since UNAIDS began tracking, criminalization is rising. Last year, two more countries criminalized same-sex relationships. In the last 10, 15 years, the trend has been one of decriminalizing. Last year, two more— and one country last year increased penalties in 2026— in this year. These laws undermine services and allow HIV to spread. Shrinking of civic space is disabling community-led organizations that have proven the most effective in delivering services to people living with and affected by HIV. One study across 47 countries found community services to those most in need cut by 50 to 85%. And yet, Excellencies, we can still seize the opportunity to to stop this pandemic. We can. I stand here on behalf of UNAIDS, the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS. We were created in a moment of crisis. It is in our DNA to operate in crisis. And here's what gives me hope: 52 countries have committed to increase domestic financing. Since the rapid cuts. Regional initiatives like the Accra Reset, led by President Mahama of Ghana, the African Union Roadmap, the Alliance for the Elimination of HIV in the Americas—these regional initiatives are building health sovereignty. Financing agencies, the Global Fund, called for in this hall by Kofi Annan, the U.S. bilateral program have secured new funding even in times of challenge. And we call for more. Brazil's G20 initiative is advancing regional production of medicines. And everywhere, communities refuse to give up and die. They continue to deliver services and to defend one another under attack. Governments of the world, are we going to keep the promise? Four UN declarations before now have driven progress up to here. The global AIDS response is perhaps the greatest, most successful story of multilateralism in 40 years. Surely we can find a way to build on that success. The political declaration is our chance to build on 25 years of commitment and point the way to 2030, and actually show that multilateralism can deliver. We cannot fail because we know what we must do. Commit to multilateralism and to shared targets, the targets before you. Sustain international financing as countries mobilize their own domestic resources. Protect the rights of people living with HIV to reach life-saving services. Free the space and let communities lead for their people, spur the science so that innovations reach everyone in need as fast as possible. If we do these things, we can end AIDS. Excellencies, when we walk out of this hall, let us look 40 million people living with HIV around the world in the eye and I can say we kept the promise. Thank you.


GA · PGA [29:45]:

I thank the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS not only for her remarks but also of the incredible work the programme is doing. I now give the floor to Miss Karen Dunway, representative of L'Ancho Valor ESFUESO and Global Program Officer at the International Community of Women Living with HIV, ICW Global, and a person openly living with HIV/AIDS. Please, Madam, you have the floor.


ICW Global · Global Program Officer · Karen Dunway [30:18]:

Thank you, Excellencies, colleagues, and friends. I am humbled to be here today and grateful for the opportunity to address this high-level meeting and represent colleagues from civil society across the world. ¡Hola! As I was preparing for this moment, I found myself thinking about time. 20 years ago, my father came into this same building to advocate for access to HIV treatment, and he was sitting in this room in the rows in front of you. And at the time, millions of people living with HIV were still waiting for medicines that could save their lives. And families buried loved ones that they should not have lost. The future was uncertain, and the progress depended on whether government, scientists, and activists could work together to confront a crisis that had already claimed far too many lives. Growing up with HIV, I learned from my parents that the response was not only a history of medical advances, but it was also a history of people. People who refuse to accept exclusion, stigma, preventable death as inevitable. And women living with HIV, communities, key populations, activists, and scientists, leaders all play a part in changing the course of the epidemic. And I am here today as the result of that collective effort. And for much of my life, there was a sense that the world was moving forward. Progress was uneven and incomplete, but it was moving forward, and more people gained access to treatment, and more communities had a seat at the table, and more people could imagine lives that extended beyond survival. Today, that sense of certainty has weakened. The latest data tell two stories at once. New HIV infections have fallen, AIDS-related deaths have reached their lowest levels in more than 3 decades, and millions of lives have been saved. The gains of the HIV response has been extraordinary. But progress is real and it's fragile. And without renewed commitments and actions, we risk a resurgence of the epidemic. Funding disruptions threaten to stall years of progress. Community-led services are disappearing and prevention programs are being scaled back. And across many parts of the world, commitments to gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and inclusion of key populations are being weakened. And these gains were not handed to us. They were won through decades of advocacy by people like my mom and dad, and also recognized by governments themselves through the Paris Declaration and the principle of greater involvement of people living with HIV. The future of this response will depend on the choice we make in this room. That response requires protecting bodily autonomy and advancing gender equality. It requires removing laws policies and practices that continue to exclude, criminalize and stigmatize key populations. It requires ensuring that young people have access to accurate information, quality services and meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives. It requires sustained investment and community-led responses and meaningful participation in decision-making. And it requires protecting UNAIDS and the spaces that brings governments, science and community together and share a, a shared goal. And it requires a fully funded Global Fund. Looking back, what strikes me the most is that every gain had to be fought for. Every barrier that was removed needed someone to challenge it and question it. And every commitment is a choice. This is why this moment is so important. The people in this room have the power to shape the HIV response that can continue to change the world for the better. My father could not have known that 20 years after walking into this building to advocate for access to treatment, his daughter will stand here addressing the high-level meeting in the United Nations. But he did it anyways. And the choices made by his generation Helped shape the world I inherited, and the choices we make now will shape the world inherited by those who come after us. Thank you.


GA · PGA [35:07]:

I thank Ms. Dunway also for your important work and your very personal remarks. I now give the floor to Ms. Sandra Thurman, AIDS activist and director at the Joseph W. Blount Center for Health and Human Rights at Emory University.


AIDS activist; Director · Sandra Thurman [35:34]:

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues and friends, we gather today in a place built on a a simple but profound belief that humanity's greatest challenges can only be met when nations choose cooperation over division, courage over complacency, and hope over despair. Few challenges have tested that belief more than HIV/AIDS. There was a time when the epidemic seemed unstoppable. A time when fear moved faster than facts, when stigma silenced families, and when an AIDS diagnosis was far too often a death sentence. But our history is not written on despair. Our history was written by people who refused to give up and to give in. And so together, member states and people from every sector and every walk of life came together and crafted a response that changed not just the course of a pandemic, but the course of history. I had the privilege of spending countless hours in this building in the late 1990s and early 2000s in my position as Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and Presidential Envoy on HIV and AIDS to President Bill Clinton. Under the visionary leadership of Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the UN convened a series of game-changing meetings that defined AIDS not just as a health crisis, but as a development crisis and a national security crisis when the UN Security Council met for the first time to consider a health issue. You. Heads of state, ministers, the private sector, as well as civil society, faith leaders, all stepped up, and slowly we began to turn the tide. Today we meet at a moment when many people around the world feel anxious and uncertain, and when we watch the news, for good reasons, the headlines speak of AI, of conflict, of division, of economic disruption, profound change sweeping the globe. But history teaches us something important. Turbulent times can force new thinking and offer new opportunities. Out of crisis can come innovation. Out of uncertainty can come new partnerships. Out of change can come new vision for sustainable progress. The global response to HIV/AIDS has already proven these truths. From the AIDS crisis emerged the most extraordinary coalitions the world had ever seen. Unlikely allies working side by side—governments and civil society, scientists and AIDS activists, healthcare workers and faith leaders, philanthropists and international institutions, people living with HIV and the unexpected allies who stood beside them. Together we created a movement that transcended borders, beliefs, politics, cultures, orientations, and generations. Millions of lives have been saved. Millions of infections have been prevented. Scientific breakthroughs have transformed what was once a death sentence into a manageable condition for millions and are now able to stop new infections in their tracks. Hope replaced despair, progress replaced resignation, and once what seemed impossible became possible. This success did not happen by accident. It happened because people chose courage over complacency, because nations chose cooperation over isolation, because the world acknowledged that every human life matters. So today we stand closer than ever to ending AIDS as a public health threat. This is a remarkable success. A success story, and people in this room and those who came before us should feel proud of that work. Yet the very success has created a paradox. As deaths declined and treatments improved, the sense of urgency has begun to wane. We are entering a new era which will be defined not by despair but by determination as we We seek to sustain the commitment, innovation, solidarity needed to bring HIV under control everywhere. The vital work can be done, but it's not yet done. Millions of people still depend on prevention, treatment, care, and support services. Communities remain vulnerable. Inequities persist. The gains we have fought so hard to achieve cannot be taken for granted. And so at this moment in time, our message must be clear. If we do not reaffirm the promises that we made in this hall and elsewhere, our investments and their impact might well be lost. This is not the time to retreat and risk resurgence. This is the time to finish the job we started. If we've learned anything from the AIDS response, it is that progress is possible even in the most challenging moments and challenging circumstances in our history. Indeed, some of humanity's greatest achievements emerge precisely when the future looks most uncertain. That lesson matters today. The turbulence that we see around us need not define us. Instead, let it reenergize us. Just as an earlier generation transformed a crisis into action, we must transform today's uncertainty into tomorrow's progress. Future generations will judge us by whether or not, when the finish line was finally in sight, we dug deep and found the courage to cross it. The world has come too far The stakes are too high and the opportunity is too great. Now is not the time to quit. Now is the time to finish the job. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending. As you deliberate today and tomorrow I urge you all to remember those wise words. Thank you very much.


GA · PGA [42:54]:

I thank Ms. Thurman for her strong words. We have heard the last speaker for the opening segment. Before proceeding further, I should like to consult members with a view to suspending debate on Agenda Item 10 at 3 PM tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23rd, 2022. 6 for the Assembly to hear statements from the chairs of the panel discussions presenting summaries of the discussions and to proceed to the consideration of draft resolution 8/80/L79 on the understanding that the debate would continue after the action on the draft resolution. Unless I hear any objection, we shall proceed accordingly. It is so decided. Members will recall that in line with paragraph 12 of Resolution 80/256, I have invited 3 representatives from non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, civil society organizations, and the private sector to make statements at the plenary meeting as listed in my letter dated June 19th, 2026. I should like to consult members with a view to allowing these representatives to make statements at the end of the 91st Plenary Meeting in the morning of June 23rd, 2026, prior to the suspension of the debate. Unless I hear any objection, we shall proceed accordingly. It is so decided. The Assembly will now hear statements in— in plenary. In accordance with Resolution 80/256, statements are limited to 3 minutes for individual delegations and 5 minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of States. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay. Which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screen and the microphones will start blinking. Having said this, I would like to appeal to all speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to facilitate interpretation into the 6 official languages. As a first speaker, I now give the floor to Her Excellency Madalizo Baloyi, Minister of Health and Sanitation of Malawi, on behalf of the African Group.


Malawi · Africa Group · Minister of Health and Sanitation · Madalizo Baloyi [45:49]:

Madam President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, the African group applauds the convening of this important meeting to renew the global commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. We commend the permanent representatives of Botswana and Georgia for facilitating the negotiations for this year's political declaration. However, we are very disappointed with several areas in the text, such as: one, failure to show commitment of the international community to strengthen efforts for transfer of technology, equitable access to medicines and vaccines to developing countries, including Africa, which bear a predominantly high HIV burden; two, the language on financing has regressed compared to the 2021 political declaration, reducing financing responsibility to mainly domestic financing and rejecting principles of equity and burden sharing. 3, exclusion of language on supply of medical products, including to countries facing unilateral coercive measures. In our view, the text renders the objective to end HIV and AIDS as a public threat by 2030 unachievable. The African group is convinced that a pathway to progress remains open, requiring only our joint commitment to remove the structural inequalities that undermine the HIV/AIDS response and to address emerging crisis, the decline in external funding and high debt burden of the countries most affected by HIV. We are concerned about the increases in annual HIV infections in certain regions and countries, and we appeal for firm interventions to reverse this trend. We are convinced that positive outcome can be achieved through strengthened health systems and universal access to prevention and treatment. Madam President, the African group affirms the importance of collective efforts in tackling HIV and AIDS because HIV and AIDS cannot be overcome in isolation. Now, in my capacity— in my national capacity, Malawi has witnessed both the devastation of HIV and the power of collective action to overcome it. We continue with efforts to to sustain the 95-95-95 targets. In particular, ending AIDS among children is a legacy that His Excellency Professor Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi, is determined to leave for Malawi's future generations. That is why Malawi is introducing Lenacapavel to increase prevention options targeting adolescent girls and young women pregnant and lactating women, and other people at higher risk of acquiring HIV. We thank our bilateral and multilateral partners for their support to Malawi's HIV response. While we celebrate progress, we must also confront reality. Funding disruptions are reversing the gains made in the HIV response, putting lives at risk. Malawi, therefore, calls for predictable, long-term financing cooperation. Transition towards increased domestic financing must not penalize low-income countries. The future of the HIV response depends on addressing broader drivers of vulnerability. To achieve this, Malawi remains committed to keeping adolescents in school, reducing poverty and inequalities, strengthening health information systems, and preserving community leadership. Madam President, the next chapter of the HIV response must be defined by courage and renewed solidarity. For Africa and for Malawi, ending AIDS is about protecting our children, strengthening our communities, and securing a future where every person can live with dignity, opportunity, and hope. I thank you.


GA · PGA [50:26]:

Thank the Minister of Health and Sanitation of Malawi on behalf of the African Group. As the next speaker, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Eswatini, His Excellency Muduzi Matshidzile Bula, Minister of Health of Eswatini.


Eswatini · Minister of Health · Muduzi Matshidzile Bula [50:54]:

President of the General Assembly, Deputy Secretary-General, Executive Director, Excellencies, distinguished guests, on behalf of His Majesty King Mswati The Third, who leads from the front when it comes to HIV issues. The government and the people of the Kingdom of Eswatini, it is an honor to participate in this important meeting reviewing progress towards the 2025 targets and commitments of the 2021 political declaration. Eswatini has walked one of the world's hardest roads in the HIV epidemic. With a prevalence of 24.8%, yet is now demonstrating what is possible when science, political will, and community trust move together. As early adopters of evidence-based innovations, including test and start, differentiated service delivery, and DTG treatment regimens, Eswatini was among the first countries to receive— to achieve the UN AIDS 95-90-95 targets ahead of schedule. The results speak for themselves. Life expectancy has risen from 44 years in 2004 to plus 64 years in 2024. AIDS-related deaths have fallen by more than 50%. And HIV incidence in adults dropped from 1.13 in 2020— in 2016 to 0.62 in 2021. Despite this progress, new infections among adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 29 remain disproportionately high. To address this, Eswatini is among the first countries rolling out long-lasting Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable PrEP that removes the daily burden of oral PrEP and directly tackles adherence, stigma, and access barriers. Our treatment program has shifted from simply keeping people alive to ensuring they live full lives. As global health financing becomes less predictable, we must protect what works. Accelerate proven innovations, and sustain the gains made. Eswatini has invested in ARV procurement and integrated HIV services into primary healthcare. We also appreciate our new MOU with the U.S. government, which promotes co-funding and long-term sustainability. Eswatini's story is proof that the end of AIDS is not a distant aspiration, it is achievable in our lifetime. For every country aspiration, it is achievable in our lifetime.


GA · PGA [53:53]:

I thank His Excellency the Minister of Health of Eswatini. As the next speaker, I now give the floor to His Excellency Victor Elias Ataya Lalyam, Minister of Public Health of the Dominican Republic.


Dominican Republic · Minister of Public Health · Victor Elias Ataya Lalyam [54:27]:

Señora Presidenta de la Asamblea General.

Madam President of the General Assembly, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. We are meeting at a critical time for the global response to HIV. In spite of the major progress that's been made over the last few decades, the goals that were set out for 2025 were not fully achieved, and this has to be recognized as a way of filling the gaps that still persist. And this includes breaching the gap in terms of financing— and dealing with the continued stigma that continues to limit a sustained response to this threat, the Dominican Republic is beefing up its response focused on people. In this effort, we have prioritized 3 specific measures. First of all, eliminating maternal-child transmission, strengthening maternal health services to ensure that no child is born with these infections that we know how to prevent today by broadening access to affordable healthcare. Secondly, we need to fully integrate HIV into universal health coverage. We are moving towards a more robust and predictable system, strengthening our diagnosis and vigilance systems. Thirdly, we need to close gaps in terms of access. We have made progress here, but there are still challenges that remain to be overcome. Achieving the 95-95-95 goals means that we need to heighten our work on all of these aspects. Your Excellency, the experience from the last 40 years has shown that a response that is effective to HIV must be based fully on science and international cooperation. The Dominican Republic supports the Declaration and sees it as a call to action so that we can achieve the goals that we set out for 2030 in line with the global strategy. The first steps have allowed us to control the epidemic. The next allowed us to save millions of lives. Now we have to take further important steps, steps towards sustainability, because HIV/AIDS will only be won if we work— it will only be beaten if we are able to work together and build on what we have already achieved. This is a global shared responsibility, and the Dominican Republic is determined to be part of this effort. Thank you.


GA · PGA [57:24]:

I thank the Minister of Public Health of the Dominican Republic. I now give the floor to His Excellency Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa.


South Africa · Minister of Health · Aaron Motsoaledi [57:58]:

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it is significant that we sit here to review our work 4 years towards the end of Sustainable Development Goals. And ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030. South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished Minister of Malawi on behalf of the African Group. South Africa carries the global largest HIV epidemic and operates the world's largest antiretroviral treatment programme, with over 6.1 million people on treatment. An estimated 7.8 million people living with HIV. While the rate of new infections have declined, the pace of decline has slowed down. Over the past 5 years, we've integrated HIV testing and treatment into primary healthcare, scaled up pre-exposure prophylaxis, and integrated HIV services with TB, and now we are integrating into chronic care with maternal and child health, mental health, and non-communicable diseases. Our National Strategic Plan HIV, HTB, and STIs 2023-2028 continues to guide the whole of society response, anchored in community health worker outreach and differentiated service delivery models that brings treatment closer to where people live. This is done with participation of civil society, business, and labor through the South African National AIDS Council, led by the Deputy President of the country. We are accelerating progress on prevention for adolescent girls and young women, who remain disproportionately affected, through integrated prevention education programs, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, and recently, the long-acting injection Lenacapava, launched on 5 June by His Excellency President Ramaphosa, which is a step towards protection of adolescent girls and young women, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and key populations. Already over 7,000 people have received Lenacapava. We are transitioning towards greater domestic financing of our response while continuing to value international solidarity. As a complement, not a substitute for national investment. South Africa also holds a significant share of the world HIV/AIDS vaccine and prevention research infrastructure. We are committed to translating that science into accessible solutions for all. On the political declaration— on the draft declaration in its current form, South Africa welcomes a provision we propose committing to accelerated towards HIV, QN vaccine, and the recognition of Africa self-reliance through the Africa Medicines Agency.


GA · PGA [1:00:59]:

I thank the— I thank the Minister of Health of South Africa. I now give the floor to her Her Excellency Excellency, Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission of Belize, on behalf of the Caribbean community.


Belize · CARICOM · Minister of State; Chairperson, National AIDS Commission · Dolores Balderamos Garcia [1:01:33]:

President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM. CARICOM reaffirms our unwavering commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and previous political declarations on HIV and AIDS. However, our progress remains fragile. The Caribbean community has shown that progress is possible when governments, communities, development partners, civil society, and academia work together. Through the Pan-Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS, the region has built one of the world's most coordinated HIV responses. Since 2010, the Caribbean has reduced AIDS-related deaths by 62%, and new HIV infections by 21%. 13 Caribbean countries have been validated by the WHO for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. The high-level meeting comes at a critical moment. The Caribbean community continues to have one of the highest HIV prevalence rates outside of sub-Saharan Africa. Young people account for approximately a quarter of new infections, while key populations account for nearly half. Only 66% of persons on treatment have achieved viral suppression. Stigma, discrimination, gender equality— gender inequality and social exclusion continue to limit access to services Persons with disabilities also face additional barriers. Moreover, more than two-thirds of HIV financing in the Caribbean comes from external sources. Recent disruptions in global financing landscape have highlighted the vulnerability of prevention programs, community-led initiatives, and essential health services. For our countries, HIV cannot be addressed in isolation. Guided by the Caribbean Regional Framework on HIV and AIDS, CARICOM calls for action in 5 critical areas. First, ensure equitable access to scientific innovations in HIV prevention and treatment. Second, secure sustainable predictable and equitable financing for the HIV response, with special consideration for the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states. Third, address barriers that limit access to affordable medicines and health technologies, including intellectual property. Fourth, strengthen health system resilience by integrating HIV services within primary care— primary healthcare and advancing universal health coverage. And fifth, recognize climate change as a growing threat to health security and the continuity of HIV services. Madam President, the world stands at a crossroads. The tools to end HIV exist. The science is stronger than ever. What is needed now is the political will, financing, and solidarity to turn opportunity into impact. Failure to act risks reversing decades of progress. Success would represent one of the greatest public health achievements of our generation. CARICOM remains steadfast in our commitment to leaving no one behind. We stand ready to work with Member States, the United Nations system, civil society, and development partners to build a future where HIV is no longer a public health threat and where all people can live with dignity, equality, and hope. Let us renew our collective commitment and accelerate action to end HIV/AIDS by 2030. I wish to thank you very much.


GA · PGA [1:06:10]:

I thank the Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the National AIDS Commission of Belize on behalf of the Caribbean community. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Eriya Arifiya, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.


Japan · Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs · Eriya Arifiya [1:06:47]:

Madam President, Deputy Secretary General, distinguished guests. Since AIDS was first reported in 1981, Remarkable progress has been made over the past 45 years. Innovative advancements in medicine have led to a dramatic decrease in AIDS-related deaths and new infections. However, progress has been uneven, and the fight to end AIDS continues to this day. We must accelerate our efforts. In particular, it is fundamental in HIV response to identify key populations based on epidemiological data in each country. And to subsequently foster community-led efforts. Madam President, for many years, Japan has positioned global health as one of the main pillars of its diplomacy to protect the life and dignity of each individual through the human security approach, and has promoted efforts toward universal health coverage. In AIDS response, it is crucial to respect fundamental human rights, eliminate all forms of stigma and discrimination, and ensure equitable access to essential health services. Within Japan, we are working to deepen public understanding of HIV/AIDS and to encourage individual behavioral change in order to dismantle the invisible barriers of stigma and discrimination that can undermine effective AIDS response. We are also promoting community-led responses by empowering people living with, at risk of, or affected affected by HIV. In its fight against HIV/AIDS, Japan has strengthened its policies and healthcare system through sustained dialogue and collaboration with patient organizations and civil society. This experience underscores the importance of ensuring that the voices of people affected by HIV are meaningfully reflected in decision-making, and it continues to serve as the foundation of our commitment to community-led responses. Japan is dedicated to contributing to the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Through continuous contributions to the Global Fund, Japan promotes the integration of infectious disease responses into universal health coverage and supports the strengthening of sustainable and resilient health systems. Furthermore, Japan has established the UHC Knowledge Hub, launched in Tokyo last year in close collaboration with the WHO and the World Bank. Through this initiative, Japan provides capacity building for finance and health initiatives— health authorities of low and middle-income countries to strengthen health financing towards achieving universal health coverage. Madam President, as the global health landscape rapidly evolves, it is essential that we build bridges of common understanding and foster strong unity and collaboration among all nations. Japan takes this opportunity to reiterate its determination to continue to prioritize and contribute to global health. Thank you.


GA · PGA [1:09:39]:

I thank the Secretary of State for her— I thank the Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan. I now give the floor to His Excellency Javier Padilla Abad Naldez, Secretary of State for Health of Spain.


Spain · Secretary of State for Health · Javier Padilla Abad Naldez [1:10:11]:

Spain aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. We are facing a critical point for the global response to HIV/AIDS in light of the drastic decrease in funding and the various attacks on human rights through hate speech, particularly against key communities. This regression undermines people's rights and it also undermines the response to HIV. The science is clear. There has been a significant increase in discrimination and that only worsens the prevalence of the disease and that is why we must focus on bolstering people's human rights. We must build a more robust international health architecture as well. At a time when the multilateral system is going through major changes, we must ensure that this evolution preserves what has been proven to be successful in the response against HIV. This includes accountability, the meaningful participation of affected communities, a scientific-based approach, and focusing on innovation. Without equity, we will not be successful. We cannot water down our ambition in addressing this threat. We have seen there has been significant leadership to try to combat stigma and discrimination. We must ensure that we construct public policy in such a way as to improve our response, and Spain is committed to be part of this effective response, putting communities at the heart of our action. Throughout history, no critical situation has been able to overcome us, and that is why we don't need less commitment. We need to increase our commitment today. In the light of the reduced funding, states have the responsibility to preserve what has been achieved. We cannot take any steps back. We must put communities at the heart of our response. We must ensure that we do not jeopardize the decades of progress that we have achieved. Spain is committed to be part of this approach, and we call on all states to join this consensus and to commit to build on what we have achieved.


GA · PGA [1:13:01]:

I thank you. I thank the Secretary of State for Health of Spain. I now give the floor to His Excellency Georg Kiplus, Vice Minister of Health of Germany.


Germany · Vice Minister of Health · Georg Kiplus [1:13:29]:

Thank you, Chair. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this UN high-level meeting comes at a critical moment. Over the past 4 decades, the global HIV response has made remarkable progress. In the 1980s, HIV was a death sentence. Stigma, discrimination, and marginalization were widespread. Spread. It took the courage of pioneers from civil society, key populations, and political leaders to change the course of the epidemic. In my home country, Germany, former Minister of Health Rita Süssmuth demonstrated such leadership. She promoted evidence-based health policies. And she understood that ending AIDS would only be possible through partnerships with civil society. Society. This approach remains successful to this day. Thanks to years of collective efforts, medical innovation, and effective public health interventions, many HIV-positive people can live normal lives. This is a major public health achievement. For over two decades, the Global Fund and UNAIDS were key to this success, building HIV capacities at all levels, thus contributing to roughly 26.9 million lives saved. I'm therefore happy to announce that we support UNAIDS' joint program in 2026 with a voluntary contribution of $6.75 million. With that contribution, we acknowledge, despite our joint progress, there is still a lot to do. 1.3 million people worldwide get infected every year. Access to diagnostics and treatment is not provided everywhere. Above that, the current geopolitical environment is threatening to roll back hard-won health and human rights gains. As policymakers, we have to act now and take national ownership. We must work— work closely with civil society, key populations, and community-led organizations to remove barriers to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. We have to tackle stigma and gender inequalities and ensure that no one is left behind. This approach should also guide us in a responsible transition of UNAIDS. We need to safeguard the core mandates of UNAIDS secure human rights and the role of civil society and key communities. It is within our power to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat. Let's get it done. Thank you.


GA · PGA [1:16:15]:

I thank the Vice Minister of Health of Germany. I now give the floor to His Excellency Ali Salaji, State Secretary Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.


Russian Federation · State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Health · Ali Salaji [1:16:38]:

Translator: Distinguished President, distinguished colleagues. Since 2016, the Russian Federation has been implementing a comprehensive state strategy to combat the spread of HIV, including a system of science-based measures relying on cultural and behavioral ethnicities, traditional values, and a consistent anti-drug policy. Today in the Russian Federation, 56 million people undergo yearly HIV testing, which is almost 40% of our population. Over the past 10 years, testing coverage has increased by more than 76%, greatly enhancing the early detection of new cases. At the same time, the percentage of HIV cases detected late in Russia remains one of the lowest throughout the WHO Europe region. All medical aid to persons living with HIV, including medications, are provided free of charge and without discrimination. Almost all vertical HIV infection has been eliminated. We also are focusing on informing and mobilizing population through national outreach campaigns that aim to increase individual awareness of one's own HIV status and ensuring appropriate measures are taken. We're constantly updating clinical recommendations and treatment standards. We're also introducing digital technologies in 2017. Since 2017, the tallying of new cases of HIV infections is done through a single federal registry, which allows us to provide tailored assistance to each patient. The effectiveness of the Russian model to combat HIV is clear. Over the past 10 In the past 10 years, we have been able to achieve a steady reduction in the number of new infection cases, more than half. We are prepared to share our experience with partners abroad. We support and consider important the continuation of international cooperation in this area based upon effective national practice, taking into account behavioral and cultural specificities as well as the country context. At the same time, triumphing over HIV is not possible without ensuring accessibility of modern antiretroviral drugs, increasing accessibility of generics, localizing their production, a balanced legal regulation of IP issues including the use of flexible TRIPS mechanisms. Thank you.


GA · PGA [1:19:00]:

I thank the State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to His Excellency Suleiman Gwidi, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe.


Zimbabwe · Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care · Suleiman Gwidi [1:19:30]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Excellencies and distinguished guests, We are meeting at a defining moment in the fight against HIV and AIDS. We possess the science, the tools, and the experience needed to end HIV and AIDS by 2030. What it takes, however, is the political will and collective action required to achieve this goal. Zimbabwe is proud to be among the countries demonstrating that progress is possible. Through political commitment, community engagement, and domestic resource mobilization, we achieved the 95-95 targets ahead of schedule. Beyond these statistics are lives saved, mother-to-child transmission significantly reduced, children born HIV-free, and communities empowered through prevention, treatment, and care. New scientific breakthroughs, including led by Nacapavir, have the potential to transform prevention efforts, accelerate progress towards ending AIDS. However, innovation will only be impactful if it is accessible. Affordable and available to all. At a time when significant gains have been made in ending AIDS, the global response faces serious pressures. Funding reductions and organizational restructuring threaten prevention programs, treatment, continued community-led interventions, and health systems that have taken decades to build. As we consider the sun— sunsetting of UNAIDS, we must be careful not to throw away the baby with the bathwater. The institutional knowledge, partnerships, community architecture, data systems, and accountability mechanisms built over many years remain vital to the global HIV response. Effective transitional mechanisms must therefore be put in place to preserve what has worked, protect hard-won gains, and ensure continuity of support to countries and communities. Zimbabwe therefore calls for renewed political commitment sustainable financing, and adequate organizational arrangements to sustain the global HIV response. We must strengthen domestic resource mobilization, protect investments in the prevention and treatment, support community-led responses, and ensure equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and new technologies. The cost of sustaining progress is far lower than the cost of revitalization. Let this high-level meeting send a clear message Financing gaps, inequality, or complacency must not stand in the way of ending AIDS. Zimbabwe reaffirms its unwavering commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and stands ready to work with all partners to achieve that goal. I thank you.


GA · PGA [1:22:12]:

I thank the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mali.


Mali [1:22:50]:

Excellencies, the Vice President, distinguished ministers and delegates, it's an honor for me to speak on behalf of Excellency Army General Assimi Goïta, President of the Transition, Head of State of Mali, President of the National High Council for Combating AIDS. Vice President, Mali— I'll start with a statement presented by Malawi on behalf of the African group. In Mali, HIV prevalence has stabilized at less than 1% over the past 3 years, but there are persistent disparities. The security crisis, a complex issue linked to terrorism, exacerbating socioeconomic challenges. Ladies and gentlemen, to achieve the 2030 goal, Mali is basing its transformation on 3 pillars. First of all, community institutionalization. We are no longer settling for symbolic participation of civil society. We are forming the official institution of social contract— the social contract. Secondly, integration and resilience. HIV must be a platform of integrated services within our healthcare centers. During crises, our healthcare systems must be able to absorb shocks. Thirdly, financial sustainability. Mali has made mobilization of domestic resources a priority. We are investing further in healthcare overall and especially in combating HIV AIDS to ensure the sustainability of our response. Distinguished delegates, our response is based upon a strict respect for sociocultural values as well as our national legal framework. We're protecting human rights, we're combating stigmatization, and we're guaranteeing that every Malian can have access to healthcare with dignity. The government of Mali is grateful for all of its technical and financial partners for their support and calls for a renewed commitment. By combining our efforts, we can put an end to this epidemic. The Government of Mali remains determined that HIV must stop being a threat to public health by 2030.


GA · PGA [1:25:17]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Mali. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.


Mexico [1:26:01]:

President, Your Excellencies, colleagues, representatives of the communities that are at the heart of this response. 40 years ago, HIV was a death sentence. Today we can see what is possible when science, political will, civil society, and affected communities work together. No any public health response in modern history has been shaped to such an extent by those who are just who are determined to serve, and that is how it should be. That is why HIV is not just an agenda that continues, it's also a model to be followed. But our region is facing an uncomfortable reality. Latin America is one of the few regions of the world where new HIV infections have increased over the last years. We have had progress, but we shouldn't take that for granted. Today, we can see that financial oppressions and stigma, discrimination are threatening to undo our gains. We believe that calling for resilience is not enough. Resilience means going back to where we were. Our ambition is different. We must emerge from this moment stronger, more innovative, and more united than before. To achieve this, to achieve this, we must broaden our understanding of solidarity. For too long, we have measured commitment just in terms of financing. But ideas are also resources. Shared experience is also a resource. So is human talent. When budgets are reduced, knowledge can still grow if we build the necessary bridges to share that knowledge. The tools already exist. The science is out there. What we now need are bridges that can allow science to serve those who need it most. Otherwise, this will not be the way forward. We must allow governments, communities, and industry to move together and to work together. Mexico reaffirms three commitments to support this response as an investment in health and human rights, to ensure that innovation reaches those who who are facing the largest barriers first and to see communities not as beneficiaries but as architects and as an essential part of the response.


GA · PGA [1:29:03]:

Distinguished representative of Mexico, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland.


Poland [1:29:20]:

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, the world is currently facing a global shift in the architecture of public health. We are not on track to achieving the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, as evidenced by treatment gaps and funding crisis. In Eastern Europe alone, the annual number of new HIV infections continue to rise. Every 5 minutes a new HIV infection is reported and every hour 5 lives are lost due to AIDS-related diseases. Only 50% of people living with HIV receive the ARV treatment. Poland, due to its tangible achievements in fighting HIV/AIDS, has an important role to play in controlling the spread of HIV in Europe. Constant and long-term state policy, adequate financial investments, and universal healthcare access, including free testing and ARV treatment, have contributed to maintaining a low HIV incidence in our country. The Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Center coordinate the implementation of the national HIV/AIDS response and allocate the annual budget, nearly 100 $84 million in 2026 to ensure universal access to HIV services. Today, over 22,000 patients receive free ARV treatment in our country. War in Ukraine resulting from Russian aggression has caused severe humanitarian crisis. Poland accepted 1 million war refugees, including people living with HIV, who benefit from free HIV and co-infection testing and treatment. The Polish government allocated additional $73 million for ARV treatment for displaced Ukrainians. Additional funds were allocated to civil society organizations working in this field. Poland has been actively participating in international HIV and STI integration programs and initiatives run by UNAIDS, WHO, ECDC. Our goal is to deepen the integration of HIV and other STI services, which is reflected in the upcoming multiannual strategy. Mr. President, the global response to HIV needs to be sustained until the job is done. Strong leadership together with global solidarity remains is the cornerstone of the future fight against HIV. Our country reaffirms its commitment, active participation, and support for the new strategy and declares its readiness to play a significant role in eliminating AIDS by 2030 and beyond. Poland aligns itself with the statement made by European Union. I thank you for your attention.


GA · PGA [1:32:18]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Poland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zambia.


Zambia [1:32:43]:

Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Zambia is honored to be part of this high-level meeting. Zambia is committed to working with other countries in degrading HIV to levels where it ceases to be a public health threat by 2030. Related to the same, I am proud to report that At 98, 98, 97, Zambia has already attained the epidemiological goals of HIV control set by UNAIDS. However, set against these gains, Zambia still faces a myriad of issues, including but not limited to the following: a rising incidence of HIV among the youth,— the emergence of drug resistance, the emergence of non-communicable diseases, and contraction in external financing. Zambia makes a firm appeal for continued support to the HIV response. Zambia asks global leaders to unite the way they united 2 decades ago to pool funding to respond to HIV. Zambia wants to remind us all that if this commitment is not renewed, we risk the following: loss of therapeutic options due to the emergence of resistance; drug-resistant HIV finding itself in the heartlands of most cities in the world; premature death; reduced life expectancy, and loss of productivity. Further, Zambia strongly appeals for international cooperation to achieve the following in HIV control: 1, improving normative guidance for HIV control; 2, integrating HIV into other services— HIV care into other services; and 3, introduction of a minimum but impactful packages of care. Before I end, I also want to speak to the fact that Zambia has produced many types of healthcare workers. These include doctors and nurses. Zambia is ready to collaborate with you to improve your health workforce. We invite you to come and sample our expertise.

I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · PGA [1:35:22]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Zambia. I now invite the distinguished representative of Brazil.


Brazil [1:35:38]:

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. It's an honor for Brazil to participate in this high-level meeting on HIV and AIDS. As we adopted the political declaration, Brazil reaffirms its longstanding commitment to ending the epidemics of HIV/AIDS by 2030 on a basis of solidarity, equity, science, and human rights. The HIV response remains one of the clearest examples of what the international community can achieve when social participation and political commitment come together. At a time of growing uncertainty and financial constraints, we must preserve and strengthen the achievements built over decades and avoid reversing the gains that have saved millions of lives. As Brazil reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism, we highlight the strategic role of UNAIDS in coordinating the global HIV response and emphasize that the discussions on the future of UNAIDS must be guided by evidence, broad consultation and careful assessment of risks and impacts. We underscore the importance of equitable and sustainable access to HIV-related innovations, including long-acting technologies. As our Health Minister, Alexander Padilla, reiterates, innovation without access is not innovation, it's injustice. Expanding access, promoting technology transfer, strengthening the local and regional national production and making full use of the flexibilities contained in the International Intellectual Property Framework remain essential to achieving health equity and reducing dependency on external supply chains. As we move forward, it's essential to guarantee sustained political commitment and adequate investment in HIV and AIDS. The progress achieved over these 25 years will be in jeopardy if communities are excluded from decision-making processes, if unsustainable prices hamper access to more effective technologies, and if the international community does not address the structural drivers of vulnerability. Stigma, discrimination, racism, gender inequalities, and other forms of exclusion continue to undermine an effective global HIV response. Today in Brazil, more than 880,000 60,000 people are on antiretroviral therapy and more than 150,000 use pre-exposure prophylaxis. We are proud to have been validated by WHO for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This reflects President Lula's priority on strengthening Brazil's unified health system. Finally, Brazil highlights the urgent need to strengthen integrated responses to HIV and tuberculosis, the leading cause of death among people living with HIV. This is critical to reducing avoidable deaths and accelerating progress toward ending both epidemics. I am taking this opportunity to invite you to the International AIDS Conference 2026, to be held in Rio de Janeiro from 26th to 30th.


GA · PGA [1:38:45]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. I now give the floor to the with Representative of Georgia.


Georgia [1:39:07]:

Thank you. Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the people of Georgia, I extend my greetings and thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS. As we work toward ending AIDS by 2030, this meeting provides an excellent opportunity to review progress, address remaining challenges, and strengthen our collective commitment to action. Guided by the political declarations on HIV/AIDS, Georgia remains fully committed to achieving global targets, through universal health coverage, strengthened health systems, and equitable access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care. Although Georgia has not yet reversed its HIV epidemic, we have achieved substantial progress over the past decade. Georgia has ensured universal access to antiretroviral therapy since 2004, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission since 2005. Today, almost 90% of people diagnosed with HIV receive treatment, and 94% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression, supported by rapid treatment initiation and person-centered care. Georgia has consistently embraced innovation in HIV prevention. In 2017, we launched the first pre-exposure prophylaxis program in our region, which has since expanded and now available free of charge to all key populations. We are also preparing to introduce long-acting HIV prevention options. We have successfully expanded prevention services to key populations, including harm reduction programs for people who inject drugs. Since 2015, Georgia's pioneering hepatitis C elimination program has also supported HIV prevention and case finding through integrated screening services. Today, all HIV testing and treatment services in Georgia are fully financed through domestic resources, reflecting sustained political commitment. Despite achievements, challenges remain. Many people are still unaware of their HIV status, and late diagnosis continues to hinder effective treatment and prevention. As we look toward 2030, Georgia remains fully committed to working with all partners to end AIDS as a public health threat and ensure that no one is left behind, and to build healthier and more resilient societies for future generations. Thank you.


GA · PGA [1:41:50]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Georgia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand. Mr.


Thailand [1:42:16]:

President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Thailand wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the President of the General Assembly and all co-facilitators for their leadership and dedication in preparing these high-level meetings. Over the years, Thailand has made significant progress in its national HIV response through strong political commitment, longstanding HIV prevention efforts, including comprehensive condom programs, universal coverage to antiretroviral treatment under the Universal Health Coverage System, and close partnership with communities and civil society. Thailand is proud to have achieved the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV as public health problem and to sustain HIV services largely through domestic funding. While these achievements are encouraging, Thailand recognizes that significant challenges remain, particularly in reaching key populations, addressing stigma, discrimination, and ensuring equitable access to HIV services. In this regard, Thailand would like to highlight 3 key priorities that should guide the future direction of global HIV response. First, we must strengthen resilience public health system through universal health coverage, sustaining financing, innovation, and integration of HIV services into primary healthcare to ensure equitable and sustainable access to quality HIV services for all, including comprehensive combination prevention services. Services. Second, we would like— we would— we must address inequalities, stigma, discrimination, and legal and social barriers that hinder equitable access to HIV services, particularly for key populations. We must empower vulnerable populations and address the social determinants of health. Third, we must promote meaningful community leadership and community-led services as indispensable elements of effective and sustainable HIV responses. Political making, service design and implementation at all levels must be grounded in the meaningful participation of affected communities. Thailand looks forward to the adoption of the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV, which will serve as an important framework for achieving our shared goals. Thailand firmly believes that with strong political commitment, sustained investment, and inclusive global cooperation,


GA · PGA [1:45:22]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cambodia. Mr.


Cambodia [1:45:31]:

President, Distinguished delegates, Cambodia stands before this Assembly with profound pride as the first country in Asia and the Pacific and the one of the 7 countries worldwide to achieve the global 95-95 targets. This success reflects sustained political commitment, strong national leadership, and enduring partnership with communities.

Guided by our national policy ending AIDS and sustainability of HIV program 2023-2028, we remain vigilant.

With new infections still impacting key populations and youth, our mission is far from over. To this end, Cambodia is developing a national sustainability plan focused on expanding domestic financing, fully integration of HIV/AIDS into the universal health coverage, ensuring the continued leadership of community.

Amid the declining of external financing, we are executing a functional integration of HIV/AIDS infrastructure directly into our universal health coverage, social protection framework, and primary healthcare system.

Already 76% of those who receive ART are covered by Health Equity Fund. Achieving our 2030 goal requires a deeply people-centered approach. We are moving now on using the non-state actor contracting to maintain our robust community network.

Furthermore, Cambodia is committed to utilizing the WHO TRIP flexibility to lower the cost of those medicines and PrEP options for the communities that need them most.

In closing, Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to end AIDS by 2030 and calls for international cooperation to ensure that no one is left behind. I thank you.


GA · PGA [1:48:18]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Cambodia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union on behalf of the EU and its member states.


EU · EU [1:48:35]:

President, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union's 27 member states, who have long been committed to tackling HIV/AIDS. That commitment has been reflected in this forum since 2001, the Declaration, and remains as strong today. While significant progress has been made transforming countless lives, the window to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, particularly SDG 3.3, is closing rapidly. And at the same time, the global HIV targets for 2025 have not yet been met. In line with the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs, as well as the Global AIDS AIDS Strategy 2026-2031, the EU and its Member States believe several priorities are essential to accelerate progress. First is a political one. We must reaffirm our shared commitment to multilateralism and to ending HIV and AIDS by 2030. We must keep HIV/AIDS high on global health, development, human rights and humanitarian agendas. This requires accelerated, multi-sectoral and rights-based action, especially for key populations adolescent girls and young women in affected communities. Second, we must also strengthen synergies with efforts addressing tuberculosis, hepatitis, HPV, and other co-infections, particularly sexually transmitted infections, by integrating prevention and care and stronger links with mental health care. Third, sustained and innovative action requires genuine collaboration among governments. —civil society organizations, key populations and broader communities, young people, the scientific community, academic and research institutions, the private sector and international organizations. Fourth, we must accelerate prevention, testing and treatment while advancing innovation and sustainable financing. Equitable, human rights-based access to PrEP, long-acting options, must be expanded. We should further strengthen the integration of HIV services with sexual and reproductive health and rights, in line with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the outcomes of their review conferences, as well as with maternal health and tuberculosis programmes. Fifth, the transition towards health sovereignty, with country ownership and at its core, is essential to achieving sustainable financing and lasting health outcomes. In line with the Seville Commitment, sustainable HIV responses require stronger domestic financing complemented by predictable international cooperation, partnerships and solidarity. And HIV/AIDS requires respect for and implementation of the existing international regulatory framework. Colleagues, The European Union remains a steadfast supporter of the global HIV response through financing and support for sustainable and resilient health systems, including through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNAIDS, and the WHO. As a recent example, we have pledged more than €3 billion to the Global Fund's AIDS replenishment. And finally, We must tackle inequalities, eliminate stigma and discrimination, and strengthen community-led responses. Community actors must be meaningfully involved in national strategies and service delivery. Sustainable funding for community-led services and support for low threshold, people-centered models of care are essential. We must also remove discriminatory laws policies, practices that create barriers to services, combat stigma through education and public awareness, and ensure that no one is left behind. Colleagues, ending HIV/AIDS is not only a public health objective, it is a promise to people that they will be able to live healthy lives free from fear, free from stigma, and free from discrimination. Excellencies, the window to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is narrowing. The 2026 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS must serve as a pathway to accelerated and coordinated action grounded in science, solidarity, accountability, and human rights. We thank Georgia and Botswana for having taken the lead in such a challenging context. The commitments we make today will be measured not by our words, but by the difference they make in people's lives. Behind every target lies a human story, and behind every commitment, a responsibility to act.


GA · PGA [1:53:26]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished distinguished representative of Australia on behalf of CANZ.


Australia · CANZ [1:53:51]:

Thank you, President. I have the honour, as you mentioned, to speak on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and my own country, Australia. We meet at a critical moment for the global HIV response. While significant progress has been made over decades, this is under pressure from growing inequalities, funding constraints, and challenges to human rights and gender equality. Renewed commitment and collective action will be essential if we are to meet our shared goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. An effective response must remain firmly grounded in a human rights-based, evidence-driven public health approach. This includes addressing stigma and discrimination, tackling structural drivers of HIV risk, and ensuring legal and policy environments that support access to services for all. A sustained focus on key populations is essential as they continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and face significant barriers to prevention, treatment, and care. Reaching those most at risk is fundamental to achieving global targets. We also emphasized the importance of gender equality and addressing the specific needs of women and girls, as well as the meaningful engagement of young people as partners in the HIV response. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are also integral, including access to quality services and age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education. Community leadership remains essential. Community-led organizations play a critical role in delivering services, building trust, and reaching underserved populations. Protecting civic space and ensuring the meaningful participation of people living with HIV and affected communities is essential to sustaining progress. Prevention must remain a cornerstone of the response. This requires scaling up combination prevention, ensuring equitable access to new technologies, including Lenacapavir, and maintaining proven approaches grounded in science and human rights. At the same time, we must strengthen integrated, person-centered health systems, improve access to treatment and care, and continue investing in research and innovation, including towards vaccines and cures. Sustaining progress will require adequate and predictable financing with a balanced approach that supports strengthened domestic resource mobilization alongside continued international partnership. Finally, we underscored the importance of ensuring that the global response reflects regional realities, including in the Asia-Pacific, where epidemics remain diverse. Continued attention to these contexts will help ensure that no one is left behind. In closing, CANS reaffirms our commitment to working with all partners to advance an effective, inclusive, and sustainable HIV response. Thank you.


GA · PGA [1:57:17]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia on behalf of CANS. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines on behalf of the Alliance of Countries on the Fight Against Tuberculosis.


Philippines · Alliance of Countries on the Fight Against Tuberculosis [1:57:38]:

Mr. President, the UN Alliance of Countries on the Fight Against Tuberculosis underscores the need to accelerate action on the deadly intersection of tuberculosis and HIV at this UN high-level meeting. Despite being preventable, and curable, tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV. People living with HIV are significantly more vulnerable to TB diseases and continue to face barriers to timely diagnosis, treatment, care, and support. While significant progress has been made in expanding antiretroviral therapy, TB treatment, and access to improved diagnostics, HIV-associated TB continues to cause hundreds of thousands of preventable illnesses and deaths every year. The Alliance therefore emphasizes that the fight against TB is inseparable from the fight against HIV. Reaffirming the commitments in the 2023 Political Declaration on Tuberculosis, we call for their accelerated implementation and for integrated and people-centered TB HIV services to become the global standard of care. Priority actions include scaling up TB screening and TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV and people at higher risk of TB and TB/HIV, ensuring universal access to rapid diagnostics and quality-assured treatment, addressing stigma, discrimination, and inequalities, and increasing investments to in research, innovation, and resilient health systems. These measures are critical to overcoming TB as a major obstacle to achieving global HIV targets. The UN Alliance remains steadfast in its commitment to ending TB and HIV/AIDS as public health threats by 2030. Through stronger political leadership, sustained investment, and integrated people-centered responses, We will work to deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda and improve the lives and health of millions affected by these epidemics. Mr. President, speaking in my national capacity, the Philippines looks forward to the adoption of the latest draft of the political declaration and commend the efforts of the co-facilitators. We reaffirm our commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat through a multi-sectoral, science and evidence-based and rights-based response that leaves no one behind. The Philippines continues to strengthen implementation of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, which guarantees confidentiality, prohibits discrimination, and ensures access to comprehensive HIV prevention, testing, treatment, care, and support services. This includes increasing domestic investments through our national health insurance system and strengthening the capacities of local government units to deliver responsive and sustainable HIV services. References to, quote, key populations and, quote, community-led responses are important. Key populations continue to bear a disproportionate burden of HIV and require targeted, evidence-based, and people-centered interventions. The Philippines views civil society civil society organizations and community-led organizations as partners in service delivery, advocacy, and outreach. We also recognize the importance of equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, and other health technologies. Mr. President, we are committed to working with member states, UNAIDS and development partners, and civil society towards our common goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:01:26]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines on behalf of the Alliance of Countries on the Fight Against Tuberculosis. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sweden.


Sweden [2:01:51]:

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by the EU and its member states. Many of us in this room remember the start of the HIV epidemic in the '80s, the public fear, the lack of knowledge and treatment, the stigma, the suffering, friends and families who lost beloved ones. Since then, we have come far. Decision makers today have access to knowledge to improve lives, reduce suffering and death. Since 2000, mortality from AIDS, as well as maternal and child mortality, has declined dramatically— results of political will, science and multilateral cooperation that must be safeguarded. These hard-won historic gains must be defeated— defended. Sweden was the first country to, year 2024, reach the 95-95-95 target, an achievement that did not come without effort, an effort that must continue for all countries despite our different starting points. The work against stigma and discrimination continues, as does the work to reach the 10-10-10 target. Knowledge about HIV must be spread widely to the public, but also targeted, and not least to the younger generation who did not experience the start of the epidemic. Human rights and gender equality remain central in a changing global health landscape. The full and equal enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all is non-negotiable, and Sweden remains committed to a human rights-based, inclusive, and evidence-driven global HIV response. Inequalities are key drivers of the HIV epidemic, and we support strengthened country-led efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harmful practices. Nationally owned data systems are essential to monitor progress. It is a shared commitment and obligation to advance human rights and gender equality, including for key populations such as LGBTQI persons, people in prostitution, people who inject drugs, and persons in prisons. The UN 80 and ongoing reforms of the global health architecture will impact the HIV/AIDS work and structures. The core functions of UNAIDS must be preserved independent of a single institutional structure. We support the Global AIDS Strategy 2026 to 2031. Finally, Sweden emphasizes the importance of civil society leadership, including the greater involvement of people living with HIV, and the need for safe and enabling environment for their engagement. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:04:44]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Sweden I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Luxembourg.


Luxembourg [2:05:05]:

President, ladies and gentlemen, Luxembourg aligns itself with the statement of the EU. This high-level meeting of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS is an opportunity to reaffirm our collective responsibility and our common ambition to put an end to AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. I thank the PRs of Botswana and Georgia for facilitating negotiations on the political declaration which we will be adopting. Launching tomorrow. Luxembourg has made global health one of the priorities of its policy for development cooperation, keenly aware of what is at stake as well as the interdependency between Sustainable Development Goals, which we would like to attain by 2030. And yet, after decades of scientific progress and collective mobilization, we are still facing a number of challenges of increased intensity. Geopolitical tensions and polarization have jeopardized the multilateral system and have led to a reduction in financing for global health. This has caused an increase in the number of new HIV infections as well as deaths caused by AIDS. These are infections and deaths that were preventable. A robust multilateral system is needed to address common problems that concern all of humanity. It is one of the few bastions against the law of the jungle. The law of the jungle fosters transactional relations and conditionalities that do not lead to sustainable solutions to public health issues. So-called biomedical interventions can only be effective if we combat HIV/AIDS disinformation by recalling the public health message that is undetectable means untransmittable. We also need to continue fighting stigmatization and structural discrimination that affect key populations, civil society, and communities. Luxembourg supports UNAIDS and will support it in its transition. Its main assets, including the incorporation of civil society and communities in its governance, as well as its work on human rights, must be preserved. President, ladies and gentlemen, you can count on the commitment of Luxembourg in the fight against HIV/AIDS alongside persons living with HIV, key populations, communities, and civil society to ensure that no one is left behind and to guarantee full respect for human rights. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:08:01]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Luxembourg. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ireland.


Ireland [2:08:19]:

Ireland aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its member states. Ireland is strongly committed to achieving SDG Target 3.3, which includes the aim to end the epidemic of AIDS. The world has made great progress since the onset of this epidemic. Through multilateralism, collaboration and concerted action, we have steadily reduced the number of infections and deaths through raising awareness, the removal of stigma and discrimination, and importantly, the development of innovative treatments and preventative medicines. In spite of the work to raise awareness, end stigma, and get medicines into the hands of those who most need them, marginalisation, discrimination, and in some cases criminalisation is driving persistently high levels of HIV in certain groups. Men who have sex with men are still disproportionately at risk and excluded from services. And in sub-Saharan Africa, where poverty is a major driver of poor healthcare, women and girls are the most affected. We are seeing a rise in punitive laws targeting key populations, while restrictions on civil society actors are undermining access to services. Communities have been key in reaching those most in need, and play a pivotal role in the fight to end the epidemic. Together we have made so much progress, and now is not the time to turn away from what has worked or to limit our ambition. Ireland reiterates our support for human rights, for equality, sexual and reproductive rights including HIV, and to reaching the furthest behind first. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:09:53]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.


India [2:10:08]:

President, India aligns itself with the spirit of global solidarity reflected in the draft political declaration and welcomes the efforts undertaken to forge consensus on a forward-looking and action-oriented outcome. As we approach the 2030 deadline, the global HIV response stands at a critical juncture. While remarkable progress has been achieved over the past two decades, persistent inequalities, financing constraints, and emerging global challenges continue to threaten these gains. We therefore support the Declaration's renewed commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and sustaining progress beyond. At the national level, India remains firmly committed India is firmly committed to this goal through the implementation of the National AIDS and STD Control Program, which is guided by evidence-based planning, community engagement, and integrated service delivery. Through sustained domestic investments, India has achieved significant progress in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related mortality while expanding access to prevention, testing, treatment, care, and support services. India particularly welcomes the emphasis on country ownership, sustainable financing and integration of HIV services within broader health systems, and universal health coverage frameworks. For long-term sustainability, national responses must be led by countries. They must be aligned with local epidemiology and supported by predictable financing and strengthened health systems. President, India attaches high importance to eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis. We have initiated a triple elimination strategy for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B among pregnant women based on universal antenatal screening, timely linkage to treatment, and follow-up of exposed infants. We therefore welcome the Declaration's commitment to ending pediatric AIDS and accelerating the elimination of vertical transmission. We also support the emphasis on strengthening integrated responses to HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and other co-infections, recognizing that such approaches improve health outcomes and enhance program efficiency. India further underscores the importance of equitable access to affordable medicines, diagnostics, and emerging technologies. The use of the flexibilities available under the WTO TRIPS Agreement remains critical for ensuring access to life-saving health products, particularly for developing countries. Finally, India recognizes the valuable contribution of communities and civil society partners in strengthening HIV responses and supports meaningful stakeholder engagement consistent with national contexts and priorities. President, India remains committed to working with member states, UNAIDS, and all partners to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, while ensuring that the response response remains people-centered, sustainable, equitable, and nationally owned. Thank you, President.


GA · PGA [2:13:10]:

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.


Qatar [2:13:24]:

Please. Mr. President, we see this I take this opportunity to commend the co-facilitators of the political declaration, the Permanent Representative of Georgia and Botswana. We're confident that this declaration will provide a solid foundation for accelerating the implementation of commitments and completing the remaining steps. The State of Qatar takes pride in being among the leading countries with an advanced healthcare system underpinned on the principle of health equity. The progress achieved in Qatar's health sector has received international recognition. We were the first country in which all municipalities were designated as healthy cities by the WHO. Qatar National Vision 2030 places human development as a fundamental pillar. We seek to build a healthy society through an integrated healthcare system that delivers preventive and curative health services along the highest international standards. Facilities are accessible to all residents. The third national development strategy of Qatar 2024-2030 3 constitutes an important step towards realizing this vision. It ensures a high quality of life for all through excellence in healthcare, enhancement of medical standards, and the achievement of desired patient outcomes. We are considered a low HIV/AIDS burden country. Universal and effective health services constitute the cornerstone of the national response. This includes HIV prevention, early detection, treatment, and continuous The healthcare system adopts a comprehensive approach focused on providing the latest high-quality treatments, ensuring that we will address this through medical care, strengthening prevention, and safeguarding human rights to ensure an equitable access to healthcare under the slogan Health for All. The National Health Strategy 2024-2030 2030 is built around 3 priority areas. These are population health, service delivery, and health system efficiency. The strategy is ambitious, aimed at fostering a health-focused society supported by healthcare system centered on sustainability and innovation. In conclusion, with only a short period remaining to achieve the ambitious goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, the task before us is urgent and requires additional and immediate commitments and Questions. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:15:45]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Qatar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nigeria.


Nigeria [2:16:08]:

Mr. President, Nigeria aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group and wishes to make the following remarks in its national capacity. While significant progress has been made over the years, HIV/AIDS remains a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries. The persistence of inequalities and emerging global economic pressures continue to threaten our collective efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Nigeria, however, remains firmly committed to achieving this goal. Through the implementation of our National HIV Strategic Framework, we have strengthened prevention, testing, treatment, care, and support services while promoting community engagement and people-centered approaches. We continue to expand access to antiretroviral therapy, strengthen health systems, and integrate HIV services into broader primary healthcare delivery to ensure sustainability and resilience. Mr. President, prevention remains the cornerstone of the HIV response. We must intensify efforts to expand comprehensive prevention programs, particularly amongst women, girls, young people, and other vulnerable populations. Investments in education, awareness creation, behavioral and lifestyle change, Communication and local-led interventions are not only critical to reducing new infections, but also ensuring that no one is left behind. At the same time, universal access to treatment must remain a global priority. We must continue our collective efforts to ensure that all the individuals have equitable access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services, irrespective of their economic circumstances. This is why we call for strengthened international cooperation to promote technological transfer, capacity building, and local pharmaceutical manufacturing in developing countries. Building sustainable regional and national production capacities will enhance health security, reduce dependence on external supply chains and ensure uninterrupted access. For many developing countries, the debt burden continues to constrain fiscal space for critical investments in health systems and HIV programs. We therefore advocate for enhanced debt relief, debt restructuring initiatives, and concessional financing arrangements that would enable countries to mobilize resources towards health, education, and sustainable development.


GA · PGA [2:18:53]:

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Nigeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.


Guatemala [2:19:16]:

President, Guatemala is grateful for the convening of this high-level meeting and reaffirms its commitment to the common goal of ending HIV/AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. The progress that has been made shows that we have the knowledge, tools, and experience that we need to achieve this But there are still inequalities, barriers of access to health services, and limitations on funding that continue to hamper progress towards this goal. In Guatemala, we have strengthened our national response, which is human-centered, based on scientific evidence, and guided by human rights. Recent data show significant progress, but also the need to accelerate accelerate efforts to close gaps in terms of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and continued care. Through the multi-sectoral coordination, we continue to broaden access to prevention, timely diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive care. We also promote models— differentiated models that aim to respond respond to the different needs of women and girls, teenagers and young people, indigenous people, and migrants who are facing major barriers to access health services in many cases. We also think it is critical to ensure that responses be inclusive and culturally relevant, strengthening community participation and promoting accessible services. Free from stigma, and respectful of cultural and linguistic diversity in our societies. We also need to redouble efforts to eliminate stigma, discrimination, and other structural barriers that continue to limit effective access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. And we also need to beef up sustainable funding mechanisms to allow us to build on what we have already achieved. President, achieving the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 requires translating our commitments into concrete actions that reach those who continue to face exclusion and inequality. Guatemala reaffirms its commitment to a response grounded in human dignity, equity, scientific evidence, and community participation, convinced that only through sustained and collective efforts will we be able to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:21:57]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Botswana.


Botswana [2:22:18]:

Mr. President, I was on the lines with the statement on behalf of the Africa Group and welcomes this high-level meeting at a critical moment for the global HIV response. The recent UNAIDS Global AIDS Brief warns that declining international financing threatens to reversed the decades of progress. This comes at a time when the world continues to record 1.2 million new HIV infections and 570,000 AIDS-related deaths annually. Botswana's experience demonstrates that sustainable political commitment, science-based interventions, and strong partnership delivers results. We have achieved and surpassed the UNAIDS 95:95 targets, with 98.9% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 98.2% on treatment, and 97.3% virally suppressed in 2025. We have also achieved epidemic control, with new HIV infections declining from more than 13,000 in 2010 to approximately 3,150 in 2025. Through sustained investment in prevention of mother-to-child transmission, Botswana reduced vertical transmission to to 0.94% and new child infections to only 63 cases in 2025, contributing to our global tire recognition for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Despite this progress, challenges remain. Botswana has approximately 352 2,000 people living with HIV, with women and young women disproportionately affected. We are also witnessing a growing population of older persons living with HIV, requiring a stronger integration of HIV and non-communicable disease services. Botswana therefore calls for renewed global solidarity sustain— sustainable financing and equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and emerging HIV technologies. We reaffirm the critical role of communities, resilient health systems, and multilateral partnerships in sustaining progress. The world has tools to end I now—


GA · PGA [2:25:26]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Botswana. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.


Israel [2:25:41]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The global HIV response has delivered extraordinary results over more than 4 decades. While new infections have declined, the spread of HIV is not over. In 2024, 1.3 million people acquired HIV, 630,000 people died of AIDS-related causes, and 9.2 million people living with HIV were still not receiving life-saving treatment. These figures remind us that the 2030 goal will require sustained implementation grounded in evidence and focus on the people most affected. Where people face stigma, discrimination, criminalization, or exclusion from services, prevention and treatment fall short. Where they reach with dignity, confidentiality, and access to care, progress is possible and measurable. That is why Israel attaches particular importance to ensuring that HIV responses reach people living with, at risk of, and affected by HIV, including key populations. LGBTI persons, men who have sex with men, transgender persons, sex workers, and people who use drugs must not be invisible in our response. If the people most affected are left out, the targets will not be met. Israel can speak from national experience. According to Israel Ministries Ministry of Health, new HIV diagnosis declined by 22% in 2024 compared with 2023. Public health experts link this progress to expanded access to PrEP, online services, and tailored outreach to key populations. Israel also emphasized the importance of prevention, testing, treatment, mental health services, and psychosocial support, including sexual and reproductive health services and comprehensive sexual education, as public health tools. These are practical means to reduce new infections, support informed choices, and ensure that young people and vulnerable populations can protect their health, as well as to support those living with HIV, as stigma and isolation still challenge access to treatment. Community-led organizations and civil society must also remain central to the response. They have been at the forefront of this fight from the beginning, delivering trusted prevention and support services, reducing stigma, and strengthening accountability. The hard one, hard one experience is indispensable. Innovation will also be central. In Israel, researchers, clinicians, and health innovators are contributing to advances in HIV science and care, including through immunology research, targeted therapeutic approaches, digital health tools, and data-driven models that health, tailored treatment to individual patients. These efforts underscore the importance of scientific progress supported by strong research ecosystem and trusted partnerships in improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. Reaching the 2030 goal will require sustained commitment to what the evidence shows works, reaching the people most affected, investing in prevention, and ensuring that no one is excluded.


GA · PGA [2:28:43]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.


Netherlands (Kingdom of the) [2:28:58]:

Excellencies, colleagues, friends, this high-level meeting comes at a critical time in the global HIV/AIDS Over the past 25 years, the international community has been able to achieve remarkable results in combating HIV and AIDS. We have been able to drive innovation, improve access to prevention and treatment, and fight stigma and discrimination. In doing so, we saved millions of lives and prevented immense human suffering. In the Netherlands, our longstanding harm reduction policies have effectively eliminated HIV contraction through injectable drug use. And in our capital, Amsterdam, we have recently been able to bring down the number of new HIV infections by 95% through widely accessible PrEP and HIV screening programs. At the same time, the number of new HIV infections has stagnated at a national level in recent years, and we still struggle to reach some of the most marginalized communities in our society. These experiences showcase that we can accomplish through a person-centered and rights-based approach, and why the inclusion of communities, including key populations, is essential for an effective response. Communities know what is needed to reach people with the right information and services to protect themselves and those around them. What they need from us is the political courage to let them lead and provide the necessary resources to ensure their sexual and reproductive health and rights. And this is where values and pragmatism meet. Without human rights, there is no effective HIV/AIDS response. We have more knowledge and tools available than ever before to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat. We know what works. And at the same time, we face many challenges, from shrinkled global health budgets to a growing opposition against human rights and multilateral cooperation, risking the hard-fought gains of the past decades. This high-level meeting presents us with the opportunity to show that the global community can once again come together for this important issue, to protect the results from the past and to secure our ambitions for the future to leave no one behind.


GA · PGA [2:31:31]:

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania. Mr.


United Republic of Tanzania [2:31:54]:

President, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished Minister of Health of the Republic of Malawi. On behalf of the African Group, I have the honor to make the following remarks in my national capacity. Tanzania remains firmly committed to the— the goals of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Over the past 20 years, Tanzania has made substantial progress in reducing the burden of HIV. New HIV infections have been declined by approximately 52%, while AIDS-related deaths have decreased by more than 60% during the same period. National HIV prevalence among adults remains approximately 4.4%, and the country has achieved significant gains towards 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets, with the treatment cascade currently estimated at 83, 98, and 94 according to national programming data. Today, approximately 1.7 million Tanzanians living with HIV know their status, have access to treatment, and are achieving high levels of viral suppression. In addition, remarkable progress has been made in preventing mother-to-child transmission, with transmission rates reduced below 4%. However, important gaps persist among adolescents, whose viral suppression remains at approximately 94%. While we are encouraged by the progress, we recognize that important challenges remain. We must do more to reach young people, provide more access to medicines, eliminate mother-to-child transmission, and address the growing burden of tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and other comorbidities. Mobilities. Mr. President, the sustainability of the global HIV response is now one of our greatest concerns. Recent reductions in international financing have exposed vulnerabilities that threaten progress, particularly in developing countries. As such, Tanzania is implementing a phased-in transition towards greater domestic resource mobilization from tax and other levies. Furthermore, universal health insurance has been mandated that includes HIV services provision and future expansion to include comprehensive HIV treatment cover. As we look forward to end HIV/AIDS by 2030, international solidarity remains indispensable. The promise of scientific innovation can only be fulfilled when, when its benefits are accessible to all who need them, regardless of geography or income. We therefore call for renewed global commitment, predictable financing, and equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and emerging technologies. The United Republic of Tanzania remains steadfast in its commitment to work with all partners to build a healthier, more resilient, and more equitable future, and to achieve our shared goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. I thank you.


GA · PGA [2:34:38]:

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Republic of Tanzania. I now I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia.


Ethiopia [2:34:55]:

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the Africa Group. We thank the PGA for convening this meeting. We also commend the permanent representative of Botswana and Georgia for co-facilitating the negotiation process of the political declaration on HIV. My delegation appreciates the Secretary-General for his report entitled United to End AIDS based on the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and previous political declarations. At global level, significant progress has been achieved to realize the SDG target 3.3 to end HIV/AIDS by 2030, particularly in reducing the numbers of new infections and AIDS-related deaths. This achievement reflects our consistent follow-through and sustained delivery, honoring multilateral commitments while taking full ownership of the response at the national level. Ethiopia is on track to reach the global 95-95-95 targets, with 90% of people living with HIV being aware of their HIV status, 94% of those diagnosed with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 96% of people on therapy achieving viral suppression. Strong national leadership is growing to sustain domestic funding for HIV response while external funding shifts. Despite this remarkable progress, the world failed short of the 2025 targets as the recent turbulence in the global funding landscape threatens to erode those hard-won gains. As per the report of the Secretary-General, service gaps and deficiencies in HIV programs and health and community systems contributed to an estimated 120,000 children acquiring HIV/AIDS in 2024, the majority of whom were in sub-Saharan Africa. Mr. President, the key progress achieved achieved so far has to be safeguarded. HIV prevention is especially at risk, particularly in regions where funding to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria is largely financed by external sources. Amid an evolving funding landscape, we must ensure that everyone living with and at risk of or affected by HIV continues to have access to the treatment they need. In conclusion, The realization of our commitment to end HIV and AIDS heavily hinges on the provision of affordable and timely access to finance, medical diagnostics, and technological innovation in HIV testing, prevention, and treatment so that advances in science translate into real-world benefits. HIV and AIDS is not over, but ending it as a public health threat by 2030 is achievable provided that we renew our commitment to international cooperation. I thank you, Mr.

President.


GA · PGA [2:37:52]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile.


Chile [2:38:17]:

President, every figure that we mention in this room has a name, a history, a family. Chile is taking the floor today thinking about these people, those who live with HIV and who deserve to be seen with dignity, not fear, those who are waiting for a diagnosis regardless of where they were born. We're thinking about the communities, who have been taking on this response alone for decades. President Chilli is not coming to this meeting empty-handed. Our National Health Strategy 2011-2030 includes among its goals the goal of reducing HIV incidence. That is why we come to this meeting with 5 key beliefs. First of all, an effective response to HIV must be people-centered, it must be based on scientific evidence, and it must be founded on the unwavering respect for human rights. Without these pillars, our plans are just empty words. Secondly, we must have universal access to diagnosis and treatment. This shouldn't depend on where one lives or on one's socioeconomic background. These are gaps that are injustices that we can and must correct. Thirdly, combined prevention works. Regular testing, education, and new biomedical tools are powerful allies if we have strong health systems and informed communities as well. Four, civil society and community organizations, grassroots organizations, are not secondary players in this they are the heart of the response. Without them, treatment cannot get to where it needs to go. 5. Against a backdrop of decreasing financing, countries must shoulder greater responsibility in supporting their own national responses, and that is what Chile is doing. We also call for multilateral and regional cooperation not to be dialed down, particularly in Latin America. Where there are significant gaps that remain. President, ending HIV as a threat to public health by 2030 is not an abstract goal. It is a promise that we have made to people. We owe these people the same response: access, dignity, community, and science. And Chile is committed to this promise. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:40:49]:

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Angola.


Angola [2:41:08]:

Mr. President, Angola thanks for convening this important meeting. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the African Group and wish to add the following remarks in our national capacity. Angola remains firmly committed to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. We have strengthened our national response through increased domestic investment, integration of HIV programs into broader health and social protection systems, and efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination. These measures have produced tangible results. Through our Programme for Prevention of Vertical Transmission, we reached 81% of pregnant women living with HIV, contributing to a reduction in mother-to-child transmission from 26% in 2019 to 13% in 2025. Nevertheless, HIV/AIDS remains a significant public health challenge in Angola. Last year, approximately 21,000 new infections and 13,000 AIDS-related deaths were recorded, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and key populations. Mr. President, Angola supports the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS as a renewed commitment to complete this unfinished agenda. In this regard, we emphasize four priorities: first, strengthening global solidarity and sustainable financing; second, ensuring equitable access to innovation, including long-acting prevention technologies; third, promoting and protecting human rights through sustained support for community-led response; and fourth, reinforcing an effective multilateral system. System with UN AIDS at its core. Angola remains a strong supporter of the Lusaka Declaration and the African Union Common African Position on HIV. While countries must lead their national response, no country can end AIDS alone. Global solidarity, shared responsibility, and sustained financing remain indispensable to achieving our common objective. In conclusion, Angola remains— Angola reaffirms its unwavering commitment to work with all partners to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, ensuring that no one is left behind and that health, human rights, and dignity of all affected by HIV are respected, protected, promoted, and fulfilled. I thank you.


GA · PGA [2:43:52]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Angola. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.


Algeria [2:44:11]:

President, the adoption of the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS marked a renewed global commitment to accelerating action and addressing the barriers that continue to fuel the spread of this epidemic. 5 years later, and despite significant progress in this domain, it is evident that the global targets set for 2025 have not been fully met. This reality calls for renewed political commitment and more collective efforts at the national, regional, and international levels. Mr. President, Algeria wishes to emphasize the following points. First, we remain concerned that persistent inequalities in access to health services continue to undermine collective efforts aimed at the full implementation of the commitments made in the 2021 political declaration. My country stresses that the global response to HIV/AIDS must remain firmly grounded in the principles of equity, social justice, and multilateral cooperation. Second, Algeria has made significant effort within the framework of the National Strategic Plan for the Fight Against Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS for the 2024-2028 period. Algeria reaffirms its commitment to ending AIDS as a global health threat by 2030. We continue to implement comprehensive national measures aimed at achieving this objective. Third, we emphasize the urgent need for sustainable, predictable, and equitable financing to support HIV response, particularly in developing countries. Strengthening international solidarity remains essential to sustaining progress and meeting current challenges. Fourth, Algeria stresses the need for regional cooperation through the exchange of expertise and best practices, along with building national and regional capacities and promoting partnerships. To conclude, as we move towards 2030. Algeria calls upon all partners to fully renew their commitment in line with the 2026 political declaration. We must work together to ensure that those objectives will be realized. Thank you.


GA · PGA [2:47:11]:

The distinguished representative of Algeria. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda, to be followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the last speaker for this session.


Rwanda [2:47:41]:

President, Excellencies, Rwanda aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Kagwaka group. We welcome the convening of this high-level meeting of the General Assembly on HIV and AIDS. This is an important opportunity to renew our collective commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Rwanda expresses its appreciation to Georgia and Botswana as co-facilitators of 2026 political declaration and welcomes its adoption in the future. Rwanda remains firmly committed to contributing to this shared objective through a national HIV response anchored in strong political leadership, community engagement, universal health coverage, and evidence-based intervention. This commitment has translated into measurable progress at the national level. Rwanda has surpassed the global triple 95 targets with 96% of people living with HIV knowing their status, 98% receiving antiretroviral therapy, and 98% achieving viral suppression. These results reflect sustained national ownership, multisectoral collaboration, and commitment to equitable access to health services. We have maintained mother-to-child transmission rates below 2%. Supported by the integration of HIV services into maternal and child health programs and routine testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. In addition, Rwanda is also leveraging digital health technologies and case-based surveillance to improve real-time monitoring, continuity of care, and data-driven decision-making. Despite this progress, challenges remain. Key and vulnerable populations continue to face discrimination and structural barriers that limit access to services. Adolescents and young women remain disproportionately affected by inequalities and gender-related vulnerabilities. We must therefore address gender-based violence, harmful social norms, stigma, and discrimination, which continue to fuel HIV vulnerability and impede access to care. Sustainable financing remains another pressing concern. While Rwanda continues to increase its domestic investment in health, declining external resources risk undermining hard-won gains and highlight the urgent need for predictable, sustainable, and equitable financing. We also recognize the indispensable role of community-led organizations. Communities are critical partners in service delivery, advocacy, monitoring, and accountability. As we approach 2030, Rwanda calls for renewed global solidarity, sustained investment and strengthened partnerships to ensure that commitments contained in the 2026 Political Declaration are translated into concrete action. I thank you.


GA · PGA [2:50:35]:

I thank the distinguished representative of Rwanda. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as the last speaker of this session.


Democratic Republic of the Congo [2:50:58]:

President, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the African Group and shares the concerns of the group with regard to the draft declaration that could erode overall progress against AIDS by reducing aid to developing countries, undermining the principle of shared responsibility as well as the predictable financing for technology transfer and equitable access to medications, vaccines, and preventive tools. In this context, the DRC welcomes this high-level meeting on the examination of progress achieved in the implementation of commitments Aiming to end AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. We also welcomed the report of the SG, which recalls that progress achieved is real but remains insufficient. Progress made, including expansion of access to antiretroviral treatment as well as strengthening prevention, means that responses can produce results if community action and will are combined, as well as resources. However, the DRC, my country, renews— notes that the new infections, difficult access to services, problems with supplies, stigmatization, inequality, and humanitarian problems are jeopardizing the strides achieved, especially in zones affected by insecurity. The violence in the east of my country is exacerbating the situation. Population displacement, weakening of healthcare structures, as well as sexual violence are exposing women, girls, and displaced persons, as well as vulnerable communities to higher risk. And like this reality, the DRC reaffirms its determination to strengthen prevention, detection, treating, treatment and support to persons living with HIV while commending the essential role of communities, medical professionals, civil society, and our partners. President, ending HIV/AIDS by 2030 remains possible if we act immediately to protect the strides made and to fill in existing gaps. For the DRC, every person with access to detection, treatment, and prevention represents a victory for public health and human dignity. The DRC remains willing to strive together with all member states in the UN system, international partners in civil society, and communities to ensure that this promise becomes a reality for all without exception or discrimination. We hope this meeting will mark a renewed commitment to strengthen solidarity more courageous action and an equitable response. For the DRC, ending AIDS is a requirement.


GA · PGA [2:54:00]:

Microphone is cut off for the speaker. I thank the distinguished representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have had the last speaker for this meeting. We shall hear the remaining speakers tomorrow at the 91st Plenary Meeting beginning at 11:45 AM in this this hall. I would also like to remind members that the high-level meeting will hold the first thematic panel discussion at 3 o'clock PM, followed by the second thematic panel discussion at 4:30 PM at the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The meeting is therefore adjourned.