General Assembly: High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS - 92nd plenary meeting, 80th session

Good afternoon. Please take your seats. The 92nd Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will continue its high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS. I give the floor to His Excellency Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of South Africa, co-chair of the thematic panel 1 titled Country-led, people-centered, integrated and sustainable national HIV responses Resilient Systems and Financing, to present the summary of the discussion.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I'm presenting to you a summary of Thematic Panel 1, which was on country-led Sustainable National HIV Responses, Resilient Systems and Financing. I deliver this summary on behalf of my co-chair, Dr. Thiep Alla, Vice Chair of the National AIDS Authority of Cambodia. The first thematic panel, Country-Led Sustainable National HIV Responses, Resilient Systems and Financing, addressed a defining challenge for the global HIV response. The discussion took place against a stark financing reality. Four decades of progress, including millions of lives saved, are now at risk of being reversed. UNAIDS estimates that $21.9 billion will be required annually in low- and middle-income countries through 2030. Yet resources remain far below this benchmark as countries face accelerated donor transitions, growing debt burdens, and competing priorities. Panelists agreed that domestic resource mobilization and international support are not alternatives, but partners in the same effort. The danger is that an accelerated transition that transfers full financial responsibility at a speed not manageable by national institutions and community systems, disrupting prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and community-led services,, and placing a higher burden on those already facing the greatest barriers to care. National experiences demonstrated that domestic ownership is possible through strengthened national budgets and the transition of externally supported initiatives into public systems, contributing to their strength and sustainability, not undermining it. However, transition is not only a financial challenge. It also requires strong institutions that guarantee continuity beyond political cycles, preserve people's trust, and protect people, not merely programs. From the donor perspective, Panelists called not for less cooperation, but for better cooperation, which is predictable, flexible, aligned with national and regional priorities, able to support medium-term planning. Donor investment should strengthen national, local, and community capacities rather than create parallel systems. Speakers also called for action on debt, constrained fiscal space, and fragmentation in the global health architecture. Speakers emphasized that with community-led organizations already under severe pressure, people living with HIV and communities most affected by HIV must participate as structural partners in governance, financing, service design, and accountability, not simply as recipients. Their leadership must be reflected in political commitments and in resources allocated to support their work. Panelists emphasized that integration into resilient primary healthcare systems offers an opportunity for more person-centered care. However, integration must not dilute the HIV response. Dedicated financing must be sustained for prevention, community-led response, and interventions that address stigma, discrimination, punitive laws, and other structural barriers, ensuring that investment translates into equitable access. Concrete pathways include country-led national plans, budgets and accountability frameworks, pooled procurement and local manufacturing, and equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and innovation, supported by knowledge and technology transfer. Honourable President, ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is a milestone, not a destination. The political declaration must commit as to financing the response sustainably and predictably, with communities at its center, before and beyond 2030. I thank you very much, Madam President.

I thank the co-chair of the thematic panel 1, I now give the floor to His Excellency Madalizo Sidumu Baloyi, Minister of Health of Malawi, co-chair of the thematic panel 2 entitled Equitable Access to Science, Technology and Innovation Accelerating HIV Prevention, Testing, Treatment and Care, to present the summary of the discussion and her excellency. Please, Madam, you have the floor.

Madam President, Excellencies, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to present the chair summary of the salient points of the HLM 2026 Panel 2 on Equitable Access to Science, Technology and Innovation Accelerating HIV Prevention, Testing, Treatment and Care. Panel 2, co-chaired by Mexico and Malawi, discussed the historic opportunities of innovation in today's HIV response and how it can be translated from promise into action. Firstly, there was broad consensus on the power of innovation. Countries highlighted the transformative role innovation played in the past, from single-tablet regimens to the same-day ART initiation. For the current response, the panel highlighted the role of long-acting ARVs in prevention and treatment self-care options, and differentiated service delivery. Countries emphasized the first positive experiences from early implementation of long-acting prevention that removed adherence and access barriers for communities. Secondly, there was also broad consensus that innovation alone does not save lives and change epidemics. Access does. Equity does. And leadership does. The panel called for action to achieve the 40+20 milestones that are needed to achieve the 90% reductions in AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infection. The 40+20 by 2030 sets out a concrete ambition for access and a compact for action. 40 million people living with HIV access treatment, and the three 20s— that's 20 million people using PrEP, including groundbreaking long-acting options, 20 billion people 20 billion condoms for prevention, and 20% of domestic HIV investment allocated to prevention. It was also emphasized that these commitments only matter if they are translated into country milestones and met by financing and action. Thirdly, various constituencies and countries emphasized the role of the communities in ensuring access. Communities themselves explained that all major gains in HIV were hard fought for by communities. Communities organized and pushed for making access real, for bringing down prices and ensuring accountability. Barriers in relation to stigma and discrimination in service delivery need to be overcome. Major gaps remain in harm reduction for past innovation in OAT and overdose prevention, while highlighting the potential of long-acting OAT. Fourth and finally, there is strong need for country leadership in making innovation accessible in a sustainable way. Countries highlighted the importance of strong public health programs for achieving the milestones, data systems, and decentralized services for ensuring access. Implementation capacity needs to keep pace with innovation. There was a particular emphasis to continue ensuring access to prevention, which is at risk of falling behind. Existing prevention options like condoms or sexuality education should not be abandoned, but rather sustained. Countries emphasized that innovation requires predictable and stable resources. A combination of domestic investment and global solidarity in form of international financing. Finally, it was reiterated that innovation can be transformative if people can access it, trust it, and use it. The session ended with a call for all countries and all sectors to come together as fast as possible, as long as it takes, to build impact and seize this historic opportunity to change the trajectory of the epidemic. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank— I thank the co-chair of the thematic panel too. I now give the floor to Mr. Gertjan van der Acker, Deputy Director, Social Development Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, co-chair of the thematic panel 3 titled Community Leadership: Driving an Inclusive and Sustainable HIV Response, to present the summary of the discussion.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I deliver this summary on behalf of my co-chair, His Excellency Dr. Bertrand Sinal, Minister of Public Health and population of Haiti. The third thematic panel, Community Leadership at the Center: Driving an Inclusive and Sustainable HIV Response, reaffirmed that community leadership has been indispensable to progress over more than four decades. The discussion took place amid funding reductions, shrinking civic space, punitive laws, anti-rights movements, and humanitarian emergencies. These pressures disproportionately affect people living with HIV, key populations including gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons and other closed settings. Young people, women and girls in all their diversity, and other affected communities facing exclusion. Communities build trust, connect people to services, generate evidence, and hold systems accountable. In fragile and humanitarian settings, they often sustain access when formal systems cannot. Meaningful participation must go beyond consultation. Communities need decision-making power over policies, budgets, services, and accountability. The panel called for investment in youth-led responses and meaningful roles in governance and advocacy. Women and girls must help define, design, and monitor integrated services with the resources and protection needed to lead. This requires flexible and predictable funding that reaches community-led organizations, including through domestic financing and social contracting. The panel was clear that enabling legal and civic environments are essential. Criminalization, stigma, and discrimination deter people from accessing prevention, testing, treatment, and care, while restrictions on civic space constrain organizations that deliver services and hold institutions accountable. Speakers called for punitive and discriminatory laws and policies to be reformed, human rights and civic space to be protected, and communities to organize and operate safely. The panel also emphasized that integration cannot simply mean combining services. Communities must shape approaches that respond to the whole person across HIV, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, mental health, non-communicable diseases, and primary health care. Tailored community-led services must be preserved while disaggregated and community-generated data are needed to reveal who is being missed. Madam President, the political declaration must secure community leadership and practice. The 1995, '95, '95 targets cannot be achieved without progress on the 30, 80, 60 community-led response targets and the 10-10-10 societal enabler targets. So recognition must translate into measurable commitments on participation, financing, enabling environments, monitoring, and accountability. Communities already lead. The political declaration must ensure that they have the rights, protection, and resources to lead the HIV response towards 2030 and sustain progress beyond it. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the co-chair of the thematic panel 3. Before inviting the Assembly to consider draft resolution A/80/L97 and draft amendments A/80/L80 A/80/L/81. Since these proposals have only been circulated today, it would be necessary to waive the relevant provision of Rule 78, the Rules of Procedure, which reads as follows: As a general rule, no proposal shall be discussed or put to the vote at any meeting of the General Assembly unless copies of it have been circulated to all delegations no later than the day preceding the meeting. Unless I hear any objection, I shall take it that the Assembly agrees with my proposal to waive Rule 78. It is so decided. The Assembly will now proceed to consider draft resolution A/ 80/L79, entitled Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: United to End AIDS by 2030, and draft amendments A/80/L80 and A/80/81. For your information, the draft amendments have closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Madam President. I wish to address the additional co-sponsorship for L80 and L81 one by one. First, on L80, I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft amendment, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, The following countries have also become co-sponsors of L80: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor LAD, please signify by, by pressing the microphone button now.

So we just have to see whether the microphone button was pressed on purpose.

Thank you for your patience. Let me just ask once again, if any other countries wish to co-sponsor L80, please signify at this stage by pressing the microphone button now. I read out the delegation that is pressing the microphone button for additional co-sponsorship for LAD. I see Egypt. No, no, then please undo the button. No, at this stage the assembly is are collecting additional co-sponsorship for LAD by delegation pressing the button. I see Israel for additional co-sponsorship for LAD. There is no other delegation pressing the button at this stage for additional co-sponsorship for LAD, so allow me to proceed to LAD 1. Since the submission of the draft amendment, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of L.81: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L.81, please, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. I see Israel. That concludes the additional co-sponsorship. Thank you, Madam President.

Bless you.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. Delegations wishing to make a statement in the explanation of vote before the vote on any proposal under this item, including the draft amendments, are invited to do so now in one intervention. After action on all of them, there will be an opportunity for explanations of vote after the vote. On any or all of them. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote, before the vote, as announced in my letters dated January 6th and May 20th, 2026, I propose that the time limits for statements in explanation of vote under this item be 5 minutes. Is there any objection to this proposal? I hear none. It is so decided. 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 screens. Members are also reminded that explanations of votes should be made by delegations from their seats. In light of the objection— sorry, the Assembly will now take a decision on— before we take the decision on the draft resolution, as we have members who would like to take the floor for explanation of votes before the vote. As the first speaker, I will give the floor to Cyprus on behalf of the European Union, followed by Malawi and the United States.

Thank you, Madam President. President, Excellencies, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its member states. We have tabled Amendment 80 to include and gender-based before violence in paragraph 33 of the 2026 Political Declaration. This amendment is a necessary reflection of longstanding internationally agreed language that ensures comprehensive protection for all individuals affected by violence rooted in gender inequality, which includes, but is not limited to sexual violence. The term sexual and gender-based violence is firmly established in United Nations frameworks, including the Pact for the Future, the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS, and the CSW agreed conclusions. Its inclusion in this paragraph maintains critical consistency with global commitments while acknowledging that Gender-based violence extends beyond sexual violence, all of which disproportionately affect women and girls, particularly in humanitarian crisis conflicts and climate-related disasters. This aligns with the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031, which must guide our response. Omitting gender-based would dangerously narrow the scope of protection, excluding forms of violence that heighten HIV vulnerability and undermine progress toward gender equality. We emphasize that this amendment strengthens the Declaration by upholding inclusive rights-based language. We must not weaken our collective resolve to address all dimensions of violence that perpetuate inequality and endanger lives. The European Union kindly calls on all member states to support this amendment. In addition, we have also tabled Amendment L81 to include key populations in paragraphs 75 and of the 2026 Political Declaration. This inclusion is not only justified by essential, as its absence creates a critical gap in the declaration's alignment with global HIV commitments and represents a setback in the global fight to end AIDS by 2030. The 10-10-10 targets central to ending AIDS as a public health threat can simply not be effectively achieved without explicit recognition of key and vulnerable populations and without tailored rights-affirming interventions for and led by these communities. Their inclusion renders these targets consistent with Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031, which must guide our collective response. Key populations face disproportionate stigma, discrimination, and violence barriers that severely hinder access to life-saving HIV services. Global evidence demonstrates that these groups face HIV prevalence rates up to 25 times higher than the general population. Yet they continue to encounter barriers in assessing prevention, testing, diagnostic, and treatment services. The European Union calls on all member states to uphold an evidence-based, inclusive, and rights-based HIV response and restore key populations to ensure no one is left behind in the fight against AIDS, HIV/AIDS, with a particular focus on where there will be the most impact. We respectfully ask for these two amendments to be considered separately. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus on behalf of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi on behalf of the African group.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to take the floor on behalf of the African Group to introduce an oral amendment for action regarding draft resolution A/80/L79. The African Group calls for deli— deletion of the phrase "on mutually agreed terms" in paragraphs 80, 82, and 84 of the annex. Excellencies, the African Group believes that keeping "on mutually agreed terms" in the text in connection to technology transfer undermines the key objective to access medicines vaccines, and medical products, and to boost research and development, which are needed to address the problem of HIV and AIDS, particularly in LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS. This language puts us at the risk of not responding adequately to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and innovative cure. The African group believes that all of us here agreed to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and stop the loss of lives that it has caused for more than 4 decades. Therefore, we have to step up our efforts and refrain from language that will undermine the achievement of the goal of ending HIV/AIDS. We invite all delegations to support this amendment as a show of commitment, solidarity, and responsibility in the fight against HIV and AIDS. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malawi on behalf of the African Group. And we have heard an oral amendment. We will come back to that later. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States. Followed by the United Republic of Tanzania and Cameroon.

Thank you, Madam President. The United States would like to thank you and the co-facilitators for their efforts. We welcome this discussion of the global AIDS response. The United States responded to the extreme health emergency 40 years ago. And helped catalyze global response to the epidemic. Together, we created the foundations of future, uh, infections disease responses and drove groundbreaking life-saving innovations. The United States has been the leading supporter of the global AIDS response embodied for over 2 decades by the PEPFAR program and has spent over $100 billion across more than 50 countries. Our efforts saved an estimated 26 million lives, support over 20 million people on antiretroviral therapy, and prevented over 5 million children from being born with HIV. In addition, the research and development we funded created many of the life-saving interventions we use today. We are proud of the scope and impact of our work. This program stands as a testament to the heartfelt commitment of the American taxpayer. Our programming is now focused on building resilient and sustainable health systems that integrate HIV/AIDS care and treatment into national health systems. We are working with our partners worldwide to develop roadmaps that are country-owned and address identified gaps while increasing domestic resources for health. As we collectively consider the next 5 years of the global AIDS response, We must remain focused on our shared goals, the 95-95-95 targets. This is how we end AIDS as a threat to global public health. Our experience has led us to focus on the key elements: prevention, testing, care, and treatment. We must follow the science and the data. We must incentivize innovation. We must avoid making excuses. Our progress is hard-earned, and the path forward will be a challenge, but we are ready. That said, the United States regrets that a consensus was not reached today due to the shortcomings in the text itself, which should have remained laser-focused on addressing the pressing issue of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, but instead included many issues outside of this pressing remit. From the outset, the United States has consistently asked for shorter, focused statements addressing the issue. A declaration over 15 pages and almost 100 paragraphs does not qualify, and the compressed timeline made the negotiation period challenging. Instead, the declaration diverges from this its critical mission by including divisive topics, reaffirming documents that do not enjoy consensus, or which are not related to the fight against AIDS, and including provisions that are not germane to the General Assembly. The United States puts on record its deep concern pertaining to trade within this declaration. While the UN and WTO share common interests, they have different roles, rules, and memberships, and it is not for the UN to opine on the rules, uh, roles, and memberships of a non-UN body. We have made clear our longstanding position on intellectual property protection and the need for transfer of technology to be on both voluntary and mutually agreed terms. We cannot accept references without appropriate caveats. Additionally, economic sanctions are lawful legitimate and effective tools for responding to malign activity and protecting international peace and security. Our sanctions target those who abuse our financial system or threaten the United States, our allies, partners, and civilians. Our sanctions do not target a legit— legitimate humanitarian trade, assistance, or activity. We also regret the inclusion of divisive social issues that detract from the goal of this declaration. In summary, the future of the global response to HIV and AIDS is important, it is valuable, and it deserves better. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cameroon.

Thank you, Madam President. First and foremost, we wish to state the fact that we support the statement delivered by the representative of Malawi on behalf of the African Group. On the draft statement in general, my delegation nevertheless first and foremost wishes to voice our gratitude To the ambassadors and permanent representatives of Botswana and Denmark, as well as all participants in negotiations, we thank them for their ongoing efforts undertaken with a view to the drafting of the document which has been submitted to us today for adoption. We take note of progress that has been achieved throughout the process of negotiations, and yet Despite the efforts that have been undertaken, the consensus that was sought was not achieved. And for my delegation, this text, which deals with a matter that is of crucial significance owing to its direct impact on the lives and dignity of humans, should have been adopted in our view, by consensus. Such an outcome would have served as a reflection of the collective commitment and the determination of the international community to further step up efforts against HIV/AIDS and to accelerate efforts to bring this pandemic to an end. We remain concerned by certain provisions in the text, specifically paragraphs 25, 49, 49A, 49C, 50, 52, 61, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 82, and 92. These paragraphs have notions which are not yet subject to intergovernmental consensus. These concepts have been insufficiently defined— they have concepts that are insufficiently defined or fail to fully take into account sociocultural realities in the legal frameworks of a number of states, including Cameroon. Therefore, once adopted, Cameroon will adopt, apply these provisions in accordance with our constitution, in accordance with our laws and regulations, and in accordance with our values and standards. Sociocultural realities. I would like to stress that we remain fully committed to efforts to combat HIV and AIDS, and we shall continue to implement all of the necessary measures in order to prevent infection, to improve treatment for affected persons, and to contribute to international efforts which are geared towards eradicating this scourge. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cameroon. We have heard the last speaker in the explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/80/L79 entitled Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: United to End AIDS. AIDS by 2030. In accordance with Rule 90 of the Rules of Procedure, the Assembly shall first take a decision on the draft amendments and the oral amendment just proposed by the delegation of Malawi, one by one. The Assembly will first take a decision on draft amendment A/A 80/L80, addressed by Cyprus on behalf of the European Union. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to adopt draft amendment A/80/L80? As there is no request for a vote, it is so decided. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft amendment A/80/L81, also presented by the distinguished representative of Cyprus on behalf of the European Union. May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to adopt draft amendment A/80/L81?

I—

I don't see any requests. It is so decided. We continue. The Assembly will now take a decision on the oral amendment proposed by the delegation of Malawi. In the explanation of vote before the vote, again my question: May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to adopt the oral amendment proposed by the delegation of Malawi?

Malawi.

I don't see any request as well. Therefore, it is so decided. Since draft amendments A/80/82 /L80, A/80/L81, and the oral amendment proposed by the delegation of Malawi are adopted, we shall proceed to take a decision on draft resolution A/80/L71 as amended. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of draft resolution with the included amendments, those in favor of draft resolution A/80/L79 as amended, please signify. Those against, abstentions.

The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/80/L79 L79, entitled Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: United to End AIDS by 2030, as amended. Will all delegations confirm that the votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 149; against, 8; abstentions, 14. Draft Resolution A/80/L79, as amended, is adopted. Before giving the floor for explanation of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 5 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. As the first speaker, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, followed by Burkina Faso and Saudi Arabia.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. The Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great importance to the global responses to HIV/AIDS and supports the objectives of ending AIDS as a public Global Threat by 2030. My delegation participated in the negotiations of the declaration actively with the aim enhanced to international cooperation, access to medicine, technology transfer, sustainable financing, and addressing the adverse impact of unilateral economic measures on the national HIV responses. However, my delegation voted abstain considering the provision that go beyond the scope mandate in social and legal areas of this declarations, which fall within the sovereign competence of member states. While supporting the global HIV response as a public health priority, Iran emphasizes that public health action must remain fully consistent with national laws, legal regulations, and religious and ethical principles. The existence of a disease can never create legal impunity, and the rule of law remains governing principle in all circumstances. Iran also believes that the competent authority for medicine approval is the national regulatory authority. Likewise, any education for children and adolescents must remain within the competence of the Ministry of Education, the fundamental reform document of the education in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Any education for adults, however, remains fully based on domestic, legal, cultural, ethical, and religious framework. Iran expresses its reservation regarding the language and key population and related identity-based framing, community-led leadership and governance, sexual and reproductive health and rights, comprehensive sexuality education, sex work, sexual orientation and gender identity, multiple intersecting forms of discrimination, legal and policy reform commitments, including age of consent, non-disclosure, exposure, transmission, travel restrictions, and mandatory testing, as well as languages and civic space. The Islamic Republic of Iran further emphasizes that respecting the sovereign domestic policies of member states which are rooted in their legal, cultural, and political systems constitute the base for enhancing measurements toward elimination of HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, the stigmatization or politicization of sovereign states is not a constructive approach. In this regard, my delegation stresses that agenda setting, monitoring, outreach, intervention, access, Oversight mechanisms, decision-making, and reporting remains within the sovereign competence of states and are subject to national laws and procedures. Any engagement with international mechanisms remains voluntary and subject to the discretion of governments. Finally, my delegation underscores that this political declaration is viewed solely as an expression of humanitarian solidarity with individuals who have contracted this disease involuntarily and through no choice of their own. Furthermore, this document remains entirely non-binding and the sole framework for national implementation remains the domestic laws, national regulations, and sovereign policies of each individual member state. My delegation also dissociates itself from amendments as introduced in documents A/AT/L/AT. —80 and 81, and there any upcoming implementation in this declaration and resolution. For these reasons, Iran remain abstained at the adoption of this declaration and request that this position be so recorded. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso.

Merci, Madame President.

Burkina Faso welcomes this high-level meeting, which is a reflection of our shared and renewed commitment to combating, uh, to eradicate HIV/AIDS by 2030. We applaud the permanent representatives of Botswana and Georgia for their leadership in the conduct of negotiations On the political declaration, the fight against HIV/AIDS constitutes a key national priority for us. Robust initiatives have been implemented through public policy in order to deal with— to tackle identified cases and to prevent transmission. This reflects the initiative of our government. Madam President, Burkina Faso voted against the resolution which was submitted, A80/L79, the political declaration on HIV/AIDS, United to End HIV/AIDS by 2030. The text of the political declaration in a number of paragraphs reflects the ideas and notions which are not consensually accepted by member states, and they are highly controversial And they spread an ideology which runs counter to the values espoused by my country. We recall the fact that any initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS in Burkina Faso needs to be undertaken strictly in compliance with our national sovereignty and legal norms and moral and cultural norms which are specific to our country. Burkina Faso reaffirms our unflinching commitment to combating HIV/AIDS, and we stand ready to engage in all meaningful international cooperation which is respectful of our national policy. We would like this statement to be reflected in the record for today's meeting. Thank you.

Merci beaucoup. I thank the distinguished representative of Burkina Faso. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia, followed by Cyprus and Cuba.

Madam President, at the outset, it is my honor to deliver the statement on behalf of a number of countries. These are the State of Kuwait, the State of Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and my country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our countries are fully committed to support international effort aimed at combating HIV/AIDS and promoting prevention and treatment as well as healthcare. We have to contribute in achieving international health goals in line with the U.N. Charter and the respect of state sovereignty while taking into consideration the diverse institutions. We have actively participated in all levels of negotiation to reach a political declaration that garners the greatest consensus. There were so many proposals aimed at promoting the balance in the text so that it can take into consideration different cultural and legislative contexts. We express our appreciation to the representatives for their effort during the negotiation process. We also welcome the improvements to the text in response to the concerns of certain delegations. However, the final version of the text still contains a number of terminologies and concepts that are not consensual among member states. In addition, there were certain provisions that could be interpreted in different means that surpass what has been agreed upon previously or touch upon the interests of national Member States. Some objections in different stages of negotiation prove that there has been diversions among opinions of Member States on a number of matters under consideration. This proves that the text has not yet reached the consensus that we were desiring for. We stress that our strong support for international efforts to eliminate HIV/AIDS does not mean that we accept all provisions of this declaration. Some of them go beyond the technical and health matters and touch upon legislative, religious, and cultural aspects of countries. In this vein, we disassociate ourselves from a number of provisions in the declaration, including what refers to certain concepts that are not consensual among member states, in addition to political and legislative amendments and the language related to healthcare and treatment and others that are pertinent to the national interests of countries and do not go in line with our religious and cultural pillars. Therefore, we have abstained from this political declaration due to the concerns on paragraphs 63, 33, 58, 59, 60, 75, 76, and 77. To conclude in this vein, we stress the sovereign rights of countries to implement all commitments in this political declaration in line with the priorities and legislations of our states while fully respecting the religious and cultural aspects of every country. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus on behalf of the European Union.

President, Excellencies, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. We would like to thank Georgia and Botswana for co-facilitating this process in a very short timeframe and in a challenging context. The fight against HIV/AIDS is not just about declarations or targets, it is about people. The European Union will not waver in standing with them. We will continue to push for a response that is ambitious, multisectoral, rights-based, human-centered, and rooted in science and evidence. This is the way we have approached these negotiations and our support to the declaration today. President, Excellencies, in that context, we must start by saying that we are deeply— we deeply regret that the overall balance and ambition of the text that we have adopted is weaker compared to the political declaration in 2021. We believe that the human rights-based approach is essential for response to HIV/AIDS that puts people at the center. While we have successfully fought to ensure that there are no caveats to international human rights commitments, the human rights-based This approach has overall been weakened in a way that is unacceptable for us. In order to end HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, a genuinely impactful approach must place the most vulnerable at its core while championing human rights and gender equality and tackling stigma and discrimination. There must be a strong focus on key populations— adolescent girls and young women, and broader communities. We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the role of civil society and community-led organizations in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which are often at the forefront. There are setbacks related to this in the text that will make its impact fragile. However, given the political importance of having a political declaration at this high-level meeting, that can help action on the ground. The EU and its member states have decided to support the political declaration, and we are committed to ensuring the response— the response continues to be strong and ambitious. President, Excellencies, having said this, and regrettably, there are several elements that continue to represent strong red lines for the EU and its member states, and which make our respond, support conditions. First, the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2031, which is evidence-based and adopted by the UNAIDS Program Coordinating Board, must guide our response to HIV/AIDS. We dissociate from any references to targets or objectives that are not aligned with the Global AIDS Strategy. Second, we have to continue to dissociate from uncaveated references technology transfer in the text. We stress that the technology transfer can only be undertaken on a voluntary basis and on mutually agreed terms. This is essential to securing the most adequate and efficient response to future pandemics. Similarly, we also have to dissociate from paragraph 86. The European Union and its member states can only recognize references to to the World Trade Organization Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and public health that are comprehensive and fully aligned to its text. Third, the UN and its member states also have to dissociate from paragraph 41, which is not the exact verbatim reference of the Pact for the Future on unilateral economic measures that was carefully negotiated and agreed in an overall context of balance. President, Excellencies, while the text before us today falls short in many places, our resolve does not. The European Union is fully and unreservedly committed to the overarching objective of the political declaration, which is to tackle HIV/AIDS as a public health threat and support people living with it at risk of or affected by HIV/AIDS, with a particular focus on key populations and with the support of civil society and community-led organizations. To those listening today who are living with HIV or who have lost loved ones to this scourge, we see you, we hear you, and we will keep fighting with you and for you. Until this disease is no longer a threat to anyone, anywhere, leaving no one behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus on behalf of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba, followed by El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, Madam President. Cuba reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the promotion and protection of the right to health, recognized as a fundamental human right. Despite the complex economic circumstances that our country faces, we continue to guarantee universal, free, and equitable access to health services, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and comprehensive care for persons living with HIV. For decades, Cuba has developed a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS through education, prevention, maternal infant care, and free access to antiretroviral drugs. These efforts have allowed us to reach internationally renowned results and show our political will to not leave anyone behind. We particularly value the inclusion in this political Declaration of a paragraph reiterating the appeal to member states to refrain from implementing unilateral coercive measures, which are a violation of the Charter. These particularly affect countries such as Cuba and affect our development and ability to address diseases such as HIV. The progress made by our country in this area are seriously threatened by the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the U.S. government. This policy directly affects the national health system, our ability to acquire equipment, technologies, and other essential inputs, including medicines. The situation is even worse due to the tightening of unilateral coercive measures over the last few years, including through the intensified fuel surge— siege that we've seen this year. Restricted access to fuel has generated enormous difficulties for the operation of laboratories, hospitals, cold chains, health transport systems, and other essential services for our population. Those living with HIV are particularly affected by the consequences of these measures. The steps that need to be taken to carry— to ensure diagnosis, to procure equipment, as well as the financial side of the blockade, step up the costs and hamper timely access to essential resources to guarantee continued treatment and quality care. No country should be prevented from acquiring health technology, fuel, or medicines to maintain its basic healthcare. Health should not be used as an instrument for political pressure. Cuba will continue to work to strengthen its HIV response and to guarantee the well-being of its entire population. We reiterate our commitment to international cooperation, solidarity, and multilateralism. As essential tools to address the global health challenges. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to El Salvador.

Muchas gracias.

Thank you very much, President. El Salvador would like to express its thanks to Ambassador Charles Massoff from Botsuana and David Basqerze from Georgia for the transparent, inclusive, and balanced and professional way in which they led the negotiations on the political declaration that we have just adopted. Their leadership enabled us to reach a text that reflects the international commitment that is needed to strengthen the global response to HIV/AIDS and to move towards the goal of bringing an end to this epidemic as a threat to public health. El Salvador reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the implementation of this political declaration and to complying with the agreed targets to reduce new infections, expand access to treatment and comprehensive healthcare, as well as to strengthen international cooperation in this area. Nonetheless, our delegation would like to go on record to say that we dissociate from paragraph 41 of the political Declaration. This position is based on our interpretation and national position regarding the content of that paragraph. It does not affect our support for the rest of the document nor our commitment to the general objectives of the Declaration. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of El Salvador. I now give the floor to Nicaragua.

Thank you, President. The delegation of Nicaragua would like to express its sincere thanks to the co-facilitators and to the member states who have demonstrated understanding and sensitivity regarding the adverse effects of unilateral coercive measures on national health systems. We particularly welcome the recognition of their impact on access to medicines, technologies, and essential services, as well as the ability of countries to implement effective responses to HIV/AIDS. For Nicaragua, the recognition of this reality within the political declaration represents an important element that contributes to reflecting in a balanced manner the challenges faced by many countries in implementing their commitments in public health and sustainable development. Furthermore, it contributes to raising the profile of and corroborating the adverse impact of unilateral coercive measures on states' abilities to guarantee timely, equitable access to services, technologies, and treatments in the health system, making it easier to address this issue in global debates on Health and Development, we reiterate our commitment to international cooperation, solidarity among peoples, to strengthening national sustainable responses to bring an end to HIV/AIDS as a global public health threat. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nicaragua. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uganda. Mr.

President, I deliver this statement on behalf of the Republic of Uganda to explain our position on the political declaration on HIV and AIDS on the theme United to End AIDS. At the outset, we would like to thank the two co-facilitators, the permanent representatives of Botsuana and Georgia for their tireless efforts in facilitating consultations on this political declaration at a time of urgent need for the concerted work of multilateralism guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Uganda voted for this declaration in spite of significant shortcomings in the text. Under the Presidential Fast Track Initiative to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat by 2030 and our National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan, under the Presidential Fast Track Initiative to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat by 2030 and our National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan, Uganda has made significant progress efforts in reducing new HIV infections and expanding access to prevention, treatment, and care services. In this regard, we stress the sovereign rights of member states as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations to implement their commitments and obligations in line with the national laws and priorities, while respecting the religious and cultural values of the— these societies. We would also like to stress that in this and related communications and resolutions, it is important to highlight the guiding role of the family and to take into consideration the differing national approaches and laws on age-related matters, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive health issues, parental and guardian involvement, and comprehensive education on matters related to reproductive health. We further stress that each country retains the sovereign right to define the populations most affected by the epidemic according to their own national epidemiological and legal context and to determine accordance with its national legislation the legal and policy framework most appropriate to its African countries' HIV response. In conclusion, we believe that the political declaration we have adopted today needs further work and follow-up to achieve an increased level of determination in addressing the challenges that still exist. We request that this statement be reflected in the official record of this meeting. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished Representative of Uganda. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Madame President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Switzerland voted in favor of the text of the political declaration and takes the opportunity to thank the co-facilitator for the commitment. We welcome the improvement to the text, in particular the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health services in paragraph 11 and the reference to gender and racial inequalities in paragraph 41. Switzerland also welcomes the inclusion of key populations in the amended paragraph 75, as this better highlights their specific needs and the fight against stigma and discrimination. Without this addition, this aspect would have— would be weakened, and human rights-related barriers will no longer be fully taken into account. With regard to paragraph 85, we emphasize that there are limits anchored in relevant international law to publicizing information such as production costs. Paragraph 85 raises concern regarding the protection of trade secrets and more fundamentally what the role of state authorities can be in relation to private sector actors. Therefore, Switzerland does not support the first part of paragraph 85. With regard to technology transfer, like others, Switzerland dissociates itself from paragraphs 80, 82, 84, and 87. We would like to recall that technology transfer should always be on mutually agreed terms. With regard to paragraph 87, we also emphasize that our concerns regarding alternative mechanisms to remunerate innovation have not been taken into account., which constitutes a second reason why Switzerland dissociates itself from paragraph 87. This said, Switzerland will continue to engage constructively on this issue, and thank you for your attention. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

Thank you, sir. Mr. President, the Republic of Belarus consistently supports international efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, and we view providing for the health of people as one of the key priorities within our state social policy. In Belarus, we are implementing a comprehensive approach to prevention, diagnostic, and treatment diagnosis and treatment for HIV infection on the basis of the principle of universal access to medical assistance, social support, and taking national specificities on board. We note the significance and importance of cooperation with specialized UN system agencies, including UNAIDS, UNDP, and UNICEF. We view this high-level meeting as an important opportunity for the consolidation of international efforts and for the crafting of practical solutions to achieve global goals in countering HIV/AIDS. At the same time, it behooves us to note the fact that the negotiations process has not allowed us to fully take into account the concerns of a number of member states. Belarus values the fact that the draft declaration has provisions retained which contain— which reflect the importance of the role of the family in countering HIV, in treatment, care, and support of people living with HIV or affected by this issue. It is important that the text reflects the role of the family as well as cultural, moral, and religious factors in countering the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At the same time, Belarus continues to have serious questions which are related to certain provisions of the draft document with terminology that is and does not reflect a universal acknowledgement and understanding among member states and allows for selective interpretation. We are talking, inter alia, about language linked to sexual and gender-based violence and multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. We would also like to note the provisions of paragraph 63 in the operative part of the document. Belarus is not in a position to embrace the interpretation of this provision, which can be viewed as extending support for a notion of comprehensive sexual education. Matters pertaining to the content of educational programs need to be dealt with by states independently in a manner that reflects their national legislation, cultural moral and, and other values and ethical values, as well as in a manner that respects the main role of parents and legal guardians in rearing children. We underscore the inadmissibility of states imposing unilateral coercive measures which fly in the face of international law and the Charter of the UN, and they have an adverse impact on the provision of access to persons in need, their access to medicines and medical technologies in countering HIV/AIDS, we also believe that by no means does the Declaration grant the right for intervention in matters which, in essence, fall within the purview of legislation of states. And through its implementation, states should not have approaches and practices imposed upon them, approaches and practices that diverge from their historical, cultural, and religious traditions, as well as social models. In light of the above, the Republic of Belarus stands ready to conscientiously participate in implementation of the Declaration. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkiye.

Thank you, Mr. President. Türkiye welcomes the adoption of the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which provides important guidance for accelerating our collective efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Türkiye extends its appreciation to the co-facilitators for their dedicated efforts and their commitment to guiding an inclusive and transparent negotiation process. Turkey has actively and constructively participated throughout the negotiations, recognizing the urgency of sustaining global momentum at this critical juncture and contributing to a declaration that supports accelerated progress in the HIV/AIDS response. We attach great importance to the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The declaration rightly underscores the urgency of the moment. The continued rise in new infections in several regions, the 8.8 million people still without access to treatment, and the persistent inequalities that hinder progress. Turkey implements a wide range of programs aimed at the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Consistent with the UNAIDS 95-95-95 global targets and a human rights-based approach, we have developed a national HIV/AIDS control program for 2025-2030. 2030. This program provides strategic guidance for our national response and aims to address the risk factors that contribute to the spread of HIV, ensure that every individual has equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, care, and support, and strengthen public health. Our program also emphasizes that reducing stigma, ensuring confidentiality, and safeguarding equal access to diagnosis, treatment, care, and support are essential to both public health and the well-being of people living with HIV. Türkiye remains committed to advancing an environment in which individuals can seek services without fear of stigma or prejudice, consistent with the Declaration's call to end inequalities and uphold human rights. Türkiye also values the Declaration's reaffirmation in paragraph 13 of the important role played by families, communities, and cultural, ethical, and religious factors in HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. We consider this recognition essential for ensuring that national responses remain context-appropriate and grounded in approaches that are meaningful and effective for our societies. Mr. President, in this regard, Türkiye wishes to clarify its interpretive understanding for the record. As Türkiye strongly advocates the international efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS, we supported the declaration despite our reservations to certain language in the Turkey would like to register that it treats gender and related concepts and terminology in accordance with its national legislation, which recognizes equality between men and women. This position is consistent with the Declaration's reaffirmation of the sovereign rights of member states as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and of the need to implement the commitments and pledges contained therein in accordance with national laws, national development priorities, and international human rights. Turkey will remain a committed partner in advancing the implementation of the Declaration and in promoting equitable, human-centered, and evidence-based approaches to end AIDS by 2030. Mr. President, we also wish to place on record our interpretative understanding regarding the terms indigenous peoples and local communities as referenced in the Political Declaration. Türkiye declares that that there does not exist any group of people in its territory which could be considered as indigenous peoples and believes that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples refers to the exercise of self-determination in line with the UN Charter obligations regarding non-interference in the sovereignty, integrity, and political unity of states. The relevant paragraphs in the declaration should be interpreted as applicable only to the stand that they are consistent with and implementable under national legislation. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Türkiye. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burundi.

Merci beaucoup. Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation associates itself fully with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group. And we fully align ourselves with the state, with the concerns that were voiced and the profound disappointment that was expressed during that statement. We remain resolutely engaged and committed to combating HIV/AIDS, and we recognize the importance of international cooperation to end this pandemic as a threat to global health by 2030. Nevertheless, we were not in a position to support this political declaration. Our position emanates from the fact that the text which should have purely been focused on public health was significantly politicized with the introduction of concepts and approaches which are not subject to international consensus and which are incompatible with our national legislation, our cultural values, our moral principles, as well as our religious convictions. Any initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS need to fully respect the sovereign right of states and be in line with national priorities, their legal, cultural, and religious realities. My delegation rejects in particular the multiple references to the alleged key populations with sexual and gender identity, comprehensive sexual education, as well as the sexual and reproductive health centers and reproductive rights. These are highly controversial notions. They do not reflect the agreement of all member states. We appreciate the fact that the declaration reflects the importance of the family and their important role in prevention, treatment, and care for HIV. And yet we regret the fact that the same document fails to advance nor protect parental consent and does not recognize the key role and the fundamental authority of parents in bringing up and providing moral support and guidance for children on such sensitive matters such as sexuality. We are also concerned by the provisions calling for revision or reform of national legal frameworks, specifically the references to laws related to consent age and other consent-related matters. These are liable to undermine the sovereign prerogative of states and their legislation accordance with national priorities and to undermine the role of parents in upbringing up their children. This can undermine parents' rights and run counter to legal guarantees for minors. We firmly believe that parents are the primary educators for their children, and their rights to education, their responsibility and authority need to be fully respected and upheld. Furthermore, and this is important in particular, we firmly reject and vehemently paragraph 77, which is a direct attack against the institution of marriage and one of its most basic principles, namely mutual consent between the spouses. By seeking to, to, to, to set aside one spouse on sensitive issues. This undermines trust, shared responsibility, and the values upon which families are based. It is unacceptable for international texts to promote approaches which deliberately erode the foundation of family and the family unit, which is universally recognized as the national and foundational unit of society. For all of the above, We— reasons we disassociate ourselves from the political declaration. Our inability to support this declaration should not be interpreted as a lack of commitment to combating HIV/AIDS. Quite the contrary. Burundi continues to remain fully committed to advancing preventive treatment, care services, and support for all persons affected by HIV/AIDS while preserving the values which underpin our society, specifically the central role of the family as a natural foundational unit. Of society. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Burundi. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Paraguay.

Gracias.

Thank you, President. The fight against HIV/AIDS is a priority for the Republic of Paraguay. Over the last few years, the country has strengthened its national response through expanding prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services, making specific progress in ensuring comprehensive care for those living with HIV, and in reducing maternal-infant transmission. Paraguay reaffirms the importance of maintaining international commitment to speed up the response to HIV and to move towards the elimination of AIDS as a threat to public health. However, Following a careful review of the text of the political declaration this year, United to Bring an End to HIV/AIDS, we've decided to abstain on the adoption. This abstention is in line with our understanding of the terminology, which is not in line with constitutional frameworks and— of each country. In particular, Paraguay understands that the reference to sexual and reproductive health and to concepts related to gender should be interpreted in line with relevant legislation and national frameworks. Likewise, the references to the SDGs and the Agenda 2030, including— should include their voluntary and non-legally binding nature. A longer version of this statement will be uploaded to e-delegates, and we suggest that it be included as a working document. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Paraguay. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Thank you very much, President. Mexico thanks the co-facilitators, the permanent representatives of Botswana and Georgia, as well as UNAIDS, and all delegations for their work and commitment throughout this negotiation process. My delegation decided to support the adoption of this political declaration, voting in favor, in recognition of the importance of renewing the political commitment of the international community to bring an end to AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. Mexico believes that the response to HIV should continue to be guided by the best available scientific evidence, human rights, gender equality, equity and a people-centered approach. Throughout the negotiations, we promoted a text fully reflecting these principles and responding to the challenges that continue to fuel the epidemic in various regions and population groups. In this regard, we regret that the final text did not fully preserve some elements that we deem fundamental, particularly stronger references to human rights, the elimination of stigma and discrimination, the role of community-led organizations, and the need to guarantee inclusive responses for people and groups that face greater barriers to access prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care services. In addition, my delegation would have appreciated having more robust references on health and sexual and reproductive rights, as well as comprehensive sexuality education. The value of such education in HIV prevention, particularly among adolescents and young people is amply backed up by, by scientific evidence and by prior agreed commitments at the international level. Nonetheless, despite these considerations, we believe that the declaration does contain important commitments to strengthen the global HIV response, including access to health services, strengthening health systems, ensuring sustainable financing, research, innovation, access to technologies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Mexico reiterates that innovation can only fully keep its promise when its benefits reach everyone. Scientific and technological progress should go hand in hand with resolute efforts to guarantee equitable, affordable, and timely access, particularly for those in situations of vulnerability. The experience gained over more than 4 decades of the HIV response also shows that communities are essential actors to ensure sustainable results. Without their meaningful participation, their leadership and experience, it will not be possible to meet the goals that we're setting today. Therefore, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to the effective implementation of this political declaration and to the strengthening of an HIV response based on evidence, human rights, international solidarity, and the active participation of communities and those most affected by this disease. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malawi to speak on behalf of the African Group.

Chairperson, Excellencies, and all distinguished delegates. On behalf of the African Group, allow me, Chairperson, to convey the African Group's appreciation for the support for the amendment table today. We are convinced that with the adopted amendment, the text is improved and reflects the realities needed on the ground. Furthermore, the international community has once again demonstrated its commitment to the HIV and AIDS response, thereby assisting developing countries, including Africa, in the fight against HIV and AIDS through prevention, treatment, care, and innovative cures. We therefore encourage the international community to continue with concrete actions in ending HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, which is key to leaving no one behind. I thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malawi. I now give the floor I now hand over to the distinguished representative of Australia to speak on behalf of CANZ.

Thank you, President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and my own country, Australia. At the outset, we want to thank Botswana and Georgia for co-facilitating this process. CANZ welcomes the adoption of this political declaration. We strongly support its emphasis on prevention, equitable access to treatment and care, and recognition that effective responses must be grounded in evidence-based, human rights-based approaches, including gender equality, and informed by the meaningful engagement of affected communities. We welcome the declaration's reaffirmation of the importance of sexual and reproductive health services in the HIV response. We underscore the centrality of community-led responses and the need to maintain a strong and sustained focus on key populations who continue to be disproportionately affected and face significant barriers to services. We welcome the additions made today to paragraph 75. While Cairns can engage constructively throughout this process, I want to underline that the final declaration does not fully reflect our priorities in a number of areas. In particular, we emphasize the importance of comprehensive rights-based approaches, including clear recognition of key populations and addressing structural barriers such as stigma, discrimination, and punitive or restrictive laws. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are also integral, ensuring access to quality services and age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education. We also note with serious concern the last-minute changes to language in paragraphs 80, 82, and 84 on access to medicines and technology transfer. The removal of "on mutually agreed terms" is a departure from formulations agreed in many other recent UN declarations. Our voting in favor of the political declaration today should not be interpreted as agreement with every element of the text. Rather, it reflects our shared recognition of the urgency of this moment and the importance of working collectively to maintain ambition and accelerate progress towards our shared goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Kingdom.

Thank you, President. The United Kingdom would like to thank the permanent representatives of Botswana and Georgia for their work in facilitating this process, especially on an expedited basis. The United Kingdom is committed, committed to ending AIDS and welcomes this opportunity to reiterate the essential need for a global HIV response that is inclusive, human rights and evidence-based, and driven by communities, ensuring the full and meaningful engagement of key populations. We voted in favor of the political declaration and welcome its clear targets on ending AIDS by 2030. We also— we are also pleased to see the focus on domestic financing, health systems integration, and innovation to build a more sustainable, future-based approach to the global HIV response. However, there are aspects of the text where we feel strongly that the political declaration should have gone further on. This is why we supported the amendments to reinstate the language on gender-based gender-based violence in paragraph 35. Gender-based violence reflects a broader scope than sexual violence, capturing how sexual, physical, and mental harms increase— increases vulnerability to HIV, especially in times of crisis. Likewise, we also supported the amendments to reinsert key populations in paragraphs 73A and B. As its omission is inconsistent with the Global AIDS Strategy and the 2021 Political Declaration and fails to recognize the heightened stigma, discrimination, violence, and HIV vulnerability faced by these groups, including women and girls. It also risks compromising effective implementation of the commitments in this Political Declaration. With respect to paragraphs 80, 82, and 84, we wish to stress that the inclusion of 'on voluntary and mutually agreed terms' is essential when referring to technology and knowledge transfer. It is imperative that such transfers be on voluntary and mutually agreed terms in order to maximize the chances of successful and long-lasting technology transfer taking place and reducing the possibility of unequal and unfavorable terms so that they are mutually beneficial to all parties, including those from low- and middle-income countries. We regret that an amendment was tabled to delete the language on mutually agreed terms in paragraphs 80, 82, and 84, and we would like to disassociate from these paragraphs. We would also like to express serious concern on several other issues. We would like to disassociate from language referencing healthy lifestyles, risk-taking behavior, and culturally and contextually relevant interventions noted in paragraph 34. This shifts emphasis away from the structural and rights-based drivers of HIV risk towards individual behavior change. And dilutes established commitments to targeted evidence-based interventions for key populations. We would also like to express strong concern with paragraph 77, which has weakened agreed commitments on spousal consent and other structural barriers. The United Kingdom, however, remains committed to our collective efforts to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat and looks forward to working with with member states, civil society, and all partners to deliver on this commitment. We request that this statement be reflected in the record of this meeting. I thank you.

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

Mr. President, I commend the Permanent Representative of Botswana in Georgia for facilitating the negotiation for this political declaration to this fruitful outcome. However, Tanzania regrets that despite a shared understanding that the 2021 political declaration on HIV and AIDS would serve as the baseline for the renewed commitment and that collectively— collective efforts would seek to preserve and build upon previous agreed commitments, key development-oriented elements which are critical to ending HIV as a public threat, have been significantly weakened in the final text. For Tanzania, ending HIV/AIDS requires a balanced approach that gives equal weight to prevention, treatment, care, health system strengthening, financing, research and innovation, community engagement, socioeconomic development, and the human rights dimension of the response. We believe sustainable progress cannot be achieved through a narrow focus on any single pillar. Mr. President, Tanzania dissociates itself from interpretation of paragraph 75 that may undermine the principle of responsibility, transparency, and accountability in HIV prevention efforts. While emphasizing the reforms of law related to HIV nondisclosure, exposure, and transmission, the paragraph does not adequately recognize personal responsibility, informed decision-making, the protection of vulnerable persons, and the sovereign rights of states to determine appropriate public health measures in accordance with national circumstances. We also disassociate ourselves from paragraph 77, which in our view falls outside the scope of this political declaration and in our view does not contribute directly to the agreed objective of ending AIDS as a public health threat. Furthermore, references to legal and policy reforms, key populations, comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, rights and related terminology must be understood in accordance with national laws, national priorities, cultural values, and religious beliefs. Nothing in this Declaration should be interpreted as creating new rights or new international obligations. Mr. President, the success of this Declaration will ultimately be measured not by the breadth of concepts it contains, but by its tangible contribution to reducing new HIV infections, preventing AIDS-related death, health and strengthening national capacities to respond effectively to the epidemic. The United Republic of Tanzania remains firmly committed to the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat. While maintaining reservations on specific provisions, my delegation voted in favor of the declaration because the global goal of ending AIDS is much greater than our minor differences. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, Indonesia expresses its appreciation to Georgia and Botswana for their tireless efforts in facilitating the negotiations that led to the adoption of the political declaration today. Indonesia affirms that every human being has the right without discrimination to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This commitment is reflected in our national laws and policies, as well as in our continued efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems to ensure that HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services are accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of our people. Indonesia also underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, vaccines, and other health technologies to protect public health. It is on this basis that Indonesia supports the renewed global commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and has voted in favor of the adoption of the political declaration. However, we regret that several sensitive and ambiguous terminologies which have been the subject of extensive discussions in previous negotiations have once again been retained in 2026 Political Declaration. Persistent inclusion of such language risks diverting the focus from our shared objective of accelerating action to end AIDS and may not contribute to the spirit of consensus that should guide multilateral negotiations. It is therefore Indonesia wishes to express its reservation for the terminologies that do not enjoy international consensus, including multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence, where such terminology may be interpreted as extending beyond violence against women and girls, and language that may be interpreted as implying comprehensive sexuality education. Looking ahead, Indonesia remains committed committed to advancing comprehensive, people-centered, and nationally owned responses to HIV and AIDS at both the national and local levels in accordance with our national circumstances, development priorities, and international commitments. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malaysia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Malaysia voted in favour of the Political Declaration as it represents a collective commitment by the international community to accelerate efforts towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. We commend the co-facilitators and all delegations for their efforts throughout the negotiation. While no outcome of this nature can fully reflect the positions of all member states, The Declaration provides a useful framework to strengthen prevention, treatment, care and support services, promote resilient health systems, and advance international cooperation in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Malaysia particularly welcomes the Declaration's recognition of the importance of sustainable financing and international cooperation, as many developing countries continue to face resource constraints and evolving public health challenges, predictable financing, strengthened health systems, capacity building, technology transfer, and affordable access to medicines and health technologies remain essential to sustaining progress towards the 2030 targets. At the same time, Malaysia wishes to place on record its understanding that certain terms and concepts referenced in the text including multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, will be interpreted strictly in accordance with our national laws, values, and customs, and does not include any concepts that are inconsistent with the existing international human rights architecture. Malaysia further reiterates that the implementation of the Political Declaration will be undertaken in accordance with our national laws, national development priorities, and national strategy. Malaysia's support for the political declaration reflects our conviction that efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat must be guided by evidence, science, and public health considerations, including measures aimed at improving access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care services for, for those most vulnerable to HIV infection. It should not be construed as an endorsement of any to a particular lifestyle, behavior, or social construct. Mr. President, Malaysia remains committed to working constructively with Member States, UNAIDS, civil society, and all relevant stakeholders to accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2020. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malaysia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Thank you, Excellencies. On behalf of Canada, I would like to thank our esteemed colleagues from Botswana and Georgia for their co-facilitation and steady leadership throughout this process. I also thank my colleague from Australia who has delivered our joint statement on behalf of CANZ, and I take the floor briefly to underscore a point of concern. Canada regretfully dissociates from paragraphs 80, 82, 84, and 87, as they would commit member states to transfer technology on terms other than as mutually agreed between the transferor and the transferee. Canada had sought language to that effect, but regrets that it has not been included. Canada cannot legally or practically transfer or compel the transfer of privately held technology. Whether technology is transferred is an investment decision driven, inter alia, by the presence of enabling environment in the recipient location and by the technology holder's confidence in the local manufacturing manufacturing partner. Sidestepping these decisions would be disingenuous and a disservice to global mutual understanding of genuine and constructive ways in which innovation can be incentivized and access to medicines increased. Canada has previously contributed $45 million Canadian to the Medicines Patent Pool and the WHO mRNA Technology Transfer Program to support building sustainable, locally owned vaccine production capacity in lower middle income countries, and we look forward to further engagement on these issues.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of United Arab Emirates.

Shukran.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The UAE would like to deliver this statement to explain its position regarding the political declaration on HIV/AIDS. AIDS, which was just adopted and which we voted in favor of. The UAE expresses its appreciation for the efforts of the co-facilitators of the negotiations on the political declaration, Botswana and Georgia, and we affirm the importance of this high-level meeting as a vital platform to enhance collective international efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. And in line with SDGs. We emphasize the importance of this meeting to review progress achieved in eliminating AIDS and to enhance multilateral cooperation and evidence-based approaches and human-centered approaches for prevention, care, and treatment of AIDS. As for the political declaration, we emphasize that we have the following paragraphs of the political declaration Paragraph 26, 33, 58, 59, and 77, as we will view them as they are. We will view them in relation to our laws and in relation to our cultural, social, and religious values. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Arab Emirates. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria.

Thank you, Mr. President. Algeria wishes to thank the co-facilitator and all delegations for their efforts throughout the negotiation process leading to the adoption of the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. We voted in favor of the political declaration recognizing the importance of strengthening international cooperation to prevent HIV infections, expand access to treatment and care, and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat in line with Target 3.3 of SDGs. At the same time, we wish to place on record our dissociation from all non-intergovernmentally agreed languages, which are references to key populations, references related to sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as sexual and gender-based violence, references to sexual and reproductive health rights and related terminology, and lastly, the reference to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Our support for this political declaration should therefore be understood in light of the position and in full respect of our national context and priorities. Thank you.

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

Monsieur le Président.

Mr. President, my delegation would like to thank the co-facilitators for the ongoing efforts that they have continued to— continuously undertaken throughout the negotiations. Nevertheless, we regret the fact that a number of our concerns were not sufficiently taken into account. For this reason, we voted against this political declaration. For our delegation, it is vital to place a greater emphasis on the fundamental components of an effective response, specifically strengthening strengthening healthcare systems, guarantees for adequate and predictable financing, as well as equitable and affordable access to medicine, vaccines, and medical innovations. Technology transfer and support for innovation also should be prioritized in order to provide for the delivery of a fairer, more balanced, and genuinely inclusive response To a great regret, the text, the final text has a number of concepts and language about questions of a societal nature which are not subject to consensus among member states. These concerns pertain to OP 62, which for the first time introduces the notion of sexual autonomy without a corresponding reference to sexual responsibility. 78, which includes the expression "multiple and intersecting forms of intersection." This language is also not subject to a governmental agreement. There are references to access to sexual and reproductive health as well as to reproductive rights, and they need to be interpreted in accordance with intergovernmental existing frameworks and agreements. Some language is liable to disrupt the necessary balance between the protection of the rights of the child and the rights, duties, and responsibilities of parents. Although we regret the fact that these divergencies have resulted in an adoption without consensus, we nevertheless remain convinced that it is essential to take into account all views that have been expressed by member states This is vital when it comes to preserving the spirit of dialogue, mutual understanding, and consensus which has traditionally guided our work on these matters. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Nigeria conveys its sincere appreciation to the co-facilitators, Botswana and Georgia, and all delegations for their dedication and constructive engagement throughout the negotiation process. We appreciate the extensive consultations undertaken throughout the process and acknowledge the collective spirit of compromise that facilitated the adoption of this outcome document. Document. We align with the statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the African Group, and we welcome the adoption of the amendments on paragraphs 80, 82, and 84. Mr. President, Nigeria voted in favor of the political declaration reaffirming its commitment to the global efforts to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat and to advance universal access to quality healthcare for all. Notwithstanding our support for the declaration, Nigeria regrets that certain provisions do not reflect the level of ambition contained in the previous political declarations, particularly with respect to issues of critical importance to developing countries relating to development and international cooperation, burden and responsibility sharing, access to medicines, and international financing. At a time when international development assistance is under increasing pressure and global health challenges are becoming more complex, it is imperative that the international community strengthens rather than dilutes commitments in these areas. We underscore the need for predictable and sustainable financing, improved access to affordable medicines and health technologies, strengthened capacity building and the promotion of knowledge sharing and technology cooperation. In addition, while we value paragraph 8 that provided member states with the sovereign rights to implement all commitments and pledges in line with national laws, Nigeria would like to disassociate with the following languages in the text, which do not align with laws, belief, culture, and our values as a people: on sexual and reproductive health and rights and related terminologies, Nigeria reiterates that references to sexual and reproductive health and rights, comprehensive sexuality education, among others, do not establish new rights and should not be understood to include a right to abortion. Regarding other non-consensual and undefined terminologies, Nigeria maintains its reservation regarding terminologies such as multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, sexual orientation and gender identity, and key populations. Nigeria wishes to place on record that it does not align itself with these and other related formulations contained in the text. In particular, Nigeria do not align itself with provisions of the Political Declaration that may, may be construed as requiring member states to amend or otherwise modify their domestic legal and policy frameworks. We maintain that any consideration of legislative or policy reforms remains the exclusive prerogative of member states and must be undertaken in accordance with their respective constitutional processes, national priorities, laws, cultural values, and societal circumstances. On this note, Mr. Chair— Mr. President, we express our reservations regarding paragraphs 75, 76, and 77. Lastly, we reiterate our understanding that the language contained in this document neither creates new rights nor establishes new obligations for member states, and we request that this statement be placed on record for today's meeting. I thank you, Mr. President.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Israel thanks the co-chairs of the declaration. We engaged constructively in this process and recognizes the important issues in the declaration, including on key populations, community-led responses, sexual and reproductive health and rights, comprehensive sexual education, stigma and discrimination, and evidence-based prevention and treatment. Israel cannot accept the inclusion of language on economic, financial, or trade measures in this context. This formulation is politically charged, legally contested, and not appropriate in a public health declaration focused on HIV/AIDS. We also disassociate ourselves from the recalling of the Declaration on the Rights of Development and the Durban Declaration and its Program of Action. The Durban Conference, its preparatory work, and its Plan of Action were regrettably stained by antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and anti-Israel bias. While there are some relevant articles in these documents, we cannot accept them once the terminology has changed in the last revised text. The inclusion of these issues risks diverting attention from the practical and urgent work required to prevent new infections, expand treatments, support communities, and reach the people most affected. For those reasons, Israel voted voted against the resolution. This should not be understood as a rejection of the global HIV/AIDS response, nor of the many important public health commitments contained in the declaration. I thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. At the onset, Allow me also to commend the co-facilitators, Botswana and Georgia, for their exceptional work in bringing this declaration to bear. While Namibia has voted in favor of the political declaration, my delegation wishes to emphasize that the terms sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights or their derivatives can only be implemented in accordance with the national laws, context, and priorities. They should not be understood as ensuring a right to access non-internationally recognized health services or programs that are not accepted in the national context. Namibia further considers the use of the term gender in this resolution is to be understood according to its ordinary usage as referring solely to the two sexes, male and female. Moreover, the concept of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination remains undefined at the international level, and it is not reflected in Namibia's national legal and policy framework. Namibia therefore wishes to disassociate itself from this concept. Finally, outcomes of regional reviews or other conferences in follow-up to Beijing and the ICPD held by the UN agencies and the UN Secretariat cannot modify what the General Assembly has agreed in the ICPD Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform for Action. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Libya.

Shukran sayyid raeis. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chair, we reaffirm our commitment and our support to the national and international efforts aimed at eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Objectives 3.3. Our historical engagement in the adoption of the political declarations of 2016 2016 and 2021, and our repeated membership in the Coordination Council for UNAIDS reflect our conviction of the importance of international unity to face this epidemic and to maintain the gains which were hardly— to maintain the gains, especially those achieved in Africa, which has suffered the most. The position of my delegation is to— was to abstain from document— from voting on Document L.79. This does not diminish our humanitarian and health-related commitments, but is a rejection of our policy of imposing, uh, of imposing converging formulas, and also to support, to defend, the multilateral work. We regret that this document was used to insert certain terms and controversial formulations instead of building on evidence-based and science-based concepts. Therefore, we would like to record our reservations on the paragraphs 26, 33, and 58, which try to impose definitions and categorizations of targeted communities. We affirm that every state has the right to identify target groups based on their national context. Second, paragraph 75, related to the, uh, age of adulthood and crim— and criminal liability. And those related to canceling agreement to marry. This is an encroachment upon the sovereign competency of member states. Third, as for paragraphs 40 and 60 related to comprehensive sex education for adolescents and footnote 32 on injection programs and opioid alternative We emphasize that any such programs cannot be understood and cannot be implemented unless they are in line with national legislative frameworks adopted by the competent authority, as well as the religious and ethical system of the community, in line with international governmental standards such as those in ICPD and the Beijing Platform for Action. In conclusion, we emphasize that finding a, an effective and comprehensive global response to this epidemic requires transparent negotiation paths where the positions of delegations are respected equally and where priority is given to, to achieving consensus. Therefore, we emphasize that the implementation of these Commitments of this political declaration will be in line with paragraph 8 and exclusively in line with existing national laws and the ethical, religious, and cultural references of our country. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Libya. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative Representative of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have said, Japan would like to express its sincere appreciation to Botswana and Georgia for their dedicated effort in facilitating this difficult negotiation within a very limited timeframe. Japan voted in favor of the political declaration on HIV/AIDS. At the same time, Japan would like to highlight several points that, in our view, deserve greater emphasis. First, HIV response must be grounded in the epidemiological evidence and tailored to the specific realities of each epidemic. It is essential to identify without prejudice or taboo people living with HIV and those at higher risk of infection, namely key populations. Particularly in resource-limited settings, directing the effort to those most affected is a fundamental public health principle and indispensable for achieving greater impact. Second, Japan recognizes and values the significant contributions of community-led organizations, including those of people living with HIV and other affected communities. Their experience, expertise, and close engagement with affected populations have played a vital role in advancing the HIV response. Governments should continue to support and empower these organizations as important partners. Third, ensuring the sustainability of the HIV response will require its progressive integration into universal health coverage. While safeguarding uninterrupted access to the prevention, treatment, care, and support services. At the same time, greater domestic resource mobilization, taking into account the circumstances of the individual countries, will be increasingly important. Japan stands ready to support such efforts. In pursuing sustainable access to the medicine, However, it's equally important to maintain the enabling environment for pharmaceutical innovation, research, and development. Existing intellectual property framework has played an important role in promoting both innovation and access. For this reason, we cannot accept the text of the technology transfer without any caveat. Therefore, Japan dissociates itself from paragraph 80 1982, 1984, and 1987. Finally, to strengthen the coordination, resilience, and sustainability in global HIV response, Japan believes UNAID processes should move forward. Japan remains firmly committed to the global HIV response and to working with all partners towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Republic of Korea extends its gratitude to the co-facilitators, Georgia and Botswana, for their leadership throughout the negotiations on the political declaration of the 2026 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. This important document represents the solidarity of the international community in delivering our commitments to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030 and achieving the SDGs, namely Target 3.3. Against this, against this backdrop, while we voted in favor of the political declaration, we regret that language pertaining to human rights in the overall text has been weakened. The Republic of South Korea reiterates that a human rights-based, gender-responsive, and inclusive approach is integral in our endeavor. It is imperative that we ensure no one, including key populations, faces stigma and discrimination and restriction to life-saving health services, including, including sexual and reproductive health services. Communities play an indispensable role in HIV response, as many of the most effective HIV responses and outreach efforts are community-led. Lastly, we regret that the internationally agreed term of technology transfer on mutually agreed terms was deleted from paragraph 80, 82, and 84. We hope that it is able to return in future iterations. As we stand at a critical juncture, the Republic of Korea reaffirms its commitment to leave no one behind in a global aim to end AIDS. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. Mr.

President, distinguished colleagues, the Russian Federation attributes priority to the fight against HIV/AIDS both at the national and at the international levels, we constructively participated during consultations on reaching agreement on the text of the political declaration. A great deal of work was done in a compressed period of time, and we thank our colleagues from delegations for that. However, despite that, we note with regret that the document continues to have a multitude of provisions retained which are red lines— red lines both for our delegation and for a number of other delegations. Presently, we have noted that there are approximately 20 unacceptable provisions linked to intervention in domestic affairs of member states in combating the spread of HIV infections, imposing upon countries scientifically dubious notions, as well as the promotion of non-consensus-based language on gender. These red lines were set out by us from the very start of work on a document. The magnitude of this issue is grave. More than 100 member states interrupted the non-objection procedure, setting out their comments on the text. This makes the political declaration in a number of key aspects not a working document in principle, insofar as this document does not unite us. It divides us. It does not prompt us to move forward, but it compels us to stop and to delve into discussions which are detrimental to the overall fight against HIV/AIDS. In light of the above, we had to vote against this political declaration. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished Representative of Mali.

Mali.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mali would like to begin by congratulating the co-facilitators from Botswana and Georgia for their hard work, and we thank all delegations for their constructive approach throughout these negotiations. Mali fully associates itself with the statement made by Malawi on behalf of the African Group. Mr. President, the delegation of the Republic of Malawi— of Mali— Mali reaffirms its unwavering commitment to public health policy to eliminate HIV as a Public Health Threat by 2030. Under the head of state and the head of the army, Assimi Goïta, we have focused on mother-to-child transition clinics and comprehensive care within the heart of our health system. However, to ensure the full implementation of this declaration in our country and preserve the trust of our communities, We must express reservations as to the interpretation in the following way. We reaffirm that the implementation of the commitments in these declarations falls under the sovereignty of each member state. Any commitment made today cannot be interpreted as an obligation to introduce legislative reforms. Particularly in line with our legislation, our new criminal code, as well as our social, cultural, and religious values. Turning to the key populations terminology in paragraph 25 and others, we believe that the definition and categorization of priority or vulnerable populations depends on the national epidemiological situation. Mali is not bound by these specific categories whose behavior is criminalized in our national legislation. We base this on strictly health, clinical, and humanitarian criteria with full respect for human dignity, the lack of stigmatization, and with strict respect for medical confidentiality in line with relevant national legislation. In terms of the legal reform cited in the declaration, Mali would like to express formal reservation with regard to decriminalizing conduct that we have sovereignly decided to regulate or where we have criminal penalties to maintain public order. Uh, we ensure excellence in our health services, uh, uphold medical confidentiality for all and without distinction. With regard to sexual education and reproductive rights, uh, as cited throughout the text, we interpret these concepts as a part of sexuality in line with our legislation and our traditional family values as well as our religious sensibilities. Youth education is focused on health, STI prevention, and focusing on responsible behavior, highlighting parental authority and family responsibility. Now, I'd like to reiterate the words stated by Malawi on behalf of the African Group. We express our strong concern with regard to the international trend to disproportionately transfer the burden of the response financing to countries— developing countries. The elimination of AIDS is a shared global commitment. We therefore call for predictable financing, unhindered technology transfer, and other measures. President, we must uphold the sovereignty of our national states, and with this we will focus on eliminating this epidemic by 2030. We will move towards this with dignity and with full sovereignty. Thank you. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mali. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Thank you, Mr. President. Bangladesh appreciates the co-facilitators, the permanent representatives of Botswana and Georgia, for their efforts in producing the text of the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS. Bangladesh engaged constructively in the process and underscores the importance of eradicating the AIDS epidemic by 2030. We understand that the current text is not ideal. Given the divergent views of member states, we believe that this is the best possible compromise. Therefore, we voted in favor of the declaration. Bangladesh welcomes the declaration's reaffirmation of the commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. We also appreciate the declaration's reference on country ownership, strengthen primary healthcare systems, and the important role of families and communities for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. However, Bangladesh would like to place on record its disassociation from paragraphs 25 and 61, which contain references to MSM, as well as its reservation with regard to certain terminologies including multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, as these terminologies are not consistent with its national laws, national circumstances, and societal values. Furthermore, we will not enact any law or regulation that is inconsistent with our national context and societal values. Therefore, we place on record our reservation regarding paragraph 77 of the Declaration. Bangladesh will implement and interpret the Declaration in accordance with its national legal architecture social values, and national context. We remain committed to engaging constructively with all member states in ending AIDS epidemic by 2030. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jordan, who is the last speaker in this segment. Mr.

President would like to thank the co-facilitators, Permanent Representatives of Botswana and Georgia, for their effort. We voted in favor of this declaration as it promotes international cooperation, providing the necessary treatment and prevention effort for those in need. In this vein, Jordan does not accept the addition of certain, um, concepts like key populations, like, um, what is the case in paragraph 75. Thank you.

Distinguished delegates, we have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the vote. Now, on behalf of the Mr. President of the General Assembly. Just a second. We have one more delegation who will give explanation of vote after the vote. I ask the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. Egypt remains fully committed to the global fight against HIV and AIDS and recognizes the importance of strengthening international cooperation, strengthening health systems, expanding access to prevention, treatment, care, and support services, advancing the goal of ending AIDS as a public threat by 2030. My delegation has participated actively and constructively throughout the negotiations with the objective of reaching a consensus outcome that enjoys the support of all member states. We demonstrated flexibility and engaged in good faith in an effort to bridge differences and preserve the consensus that has historically characterized our work here in the multilateral, multilateral system. However, despite some positive elements in the final text, including references to international cooperation, technology transfer, capacity building, and support for developing countries, several concerns repeatedly raised by Egypt and many other delegations were not adequately addressed.— In our view, the political declaration should have remained concise, laser-focused on accelerating the global response to HIV and AIDS, strengthening health systems, expanding access to prevention and treatment, and mobilizing resources and supporting countries in achieving internationally agreed targets. Instead, the text included a number of concepts and formulations that remain divisive and don't enjoy universal agreement among member states. States. And Egypt remains concerned by those references to terminology and concepts that lack intergovernmental consensus and whose interpretation differs among member states. Such references do not sufficiently reflect national legislation, cultural and religious values, and the diversity of social contexts. In particular, Egypt maintains its reservation regarding references to key populations and related terminology, which should be understood and implemented in accordance with national laws, priorities, and circumstances. Also, Egypt would like to confirm that any legal reforms or legislation reforms should remain the prerogative of each member state. Regretfully, Egypt didn't— could not vote in favor of this resolution political declaration and had to abstain because of the previously mentioned reasons. However, Egypt remains committed to continuing its national efforts to combat HIV and AIDS and strengthen national health systems and cooperate constructively with the international community to achieve our shared objectives. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. Distinguished delegates, we have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote. After the vote, now on behalf of the President of the General Assembly, I would like to express sincere appreciation to His Excellency Charles Masole, Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations, and His Excellency David Bakhradze, Permanent Representative of Georgia to the United Nations, who ably and patiently conducted the discussions and complex negotiations in the informal consultations on the draft resolution. I am sure the members of the Assembly join me in extending them our sincere appreciation. Distinguished delegates, the Assembly will now resume the debate on the item. The delegations are reminded that the statements are limited to 3 minutes for individual delegations and 5 minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of states. 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 screens. Having said this, I would like to appeal to all speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to facilitate interpretation into the six official languages. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of El Salvador.

Thank you very much, President. Allow me to express thanks for the holding of this high-level meeting, and particularly we'd like to thank the Permanent Representatives of Botswana and Georgia for the transparent, inclusive, and balanced way in which they spearheaded the negotiations of the political declaration that we've just adopted. We take this opportunity just to highlight some of the progress made by my country since the adoption of the last political declaration. Under the normative framework of the National Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan for HIV and STIs, the country has been able to move from an emergency response model spearheaded by international partners towards a sustainable approach within our national integrated health system. To this, and through the implementation of tailored strategies based on universal health coverage, we have maintained a downwards trend in terms of the speed of HIV transmission. Specifically, when we compare the data between 2022 and 2025, we can see a 22.8% fall in new infections, and the rate of new cases for every 100,000 inhabitants has fallen by 3 points over the same period, demonstrating the efficiency and the effectiveness of screening and prevention programs. Likewise, the AIDS mortality rate stands at 2 for every 100,000 inhabitants, which bears out the positive impact of universal and free access to antiretroviral therapy. El Salvador aligns its efforts with the Global AIDS Strategy and to achieve the 95-95-95 goals through the fundamental pillars to strengthen prevention, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive care. In addition, combined prevention has allowed— and decentralization of rapid testing has allowed us to reduce the gap between infection and and awareness of serological status. In addition, we have focused on buying the state-of-the-art medications as well as new estimate methods based on morbidity. These steps have contributed to progressively reducing the historic dependence on overseas financing and strengthening the sustainability of our national HIV response. Finally, we'd like to reaffirm our staunch and technical political commitment towards ensuring the sustainability of the HIV response, making constant progress on the road to bring an end to AIDS as a threat to public health by 2030. Thank you very much, President.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of El Salvador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative Representative of Saudi Arabia. Mr.

President, ladies and gentlemen, my country affirms that protecting human health and promoting their well-being constitute a fundamental pillar in our national policies. Accordingly, we were committed to strengthening individual and community health through the provision of preventive and treatment programs to combat HIV/AIDS, with a focus on combating stigma and discrimination, safeguarding the rights of people, and protecting young people, women, and children from the risk of infection. In this context, the Kingdom established the National AIDS Program, which provides prevention, early detection, treatment, and healthcare services, in addition to awareness-raising and community education programs. My country also supports international efforts to combat infectious diseases and strengthen global health security. Its contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria have exceeded $200 million. This reaffirms its continued commitment to supporting global health and strengthening health systems. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, my country has continued to develop its legislative and institutional framework in this domain. The Law on the Prevention of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and the Rights and Duties of Persons Living with HIV was promulgated, affirming the protection of the rights of persons living with HIV and their contacts. It guarantees their access to the necessary care and rehabilitation, enabling them to continue their education and employment without discrimination, and obligating health authorities to provide healthcare, counseling, and psychosocial support while respecting privacy, dignity, and the dignity of those affected. Excellencies, we believe that addressing HIV requires a balanced and comprehensive approach that combines prevention, treatment, healthcare, the protection of rights, and the promotion of community awareness. It also underscores the importance of supporting and empowering national health systems to design and implement responses that are consistent with their national priorities, legislative frameworks, and cultural and religious values. It further affirms that its steadfast support for international efforts to combat HIV does not necessarily imply endorsement of all the provisions contained in the declaration under consideration, as certain elements thereof extend beyond the health and technical framework and touch upon matters subject to national sovereignty, domestic legislation, and the cultural and religious values of states. This explains our position on the declaration. My country renews its Saudi Arabia's commitment to continuing its national efforts to combat HIV, strengthen prevention, healthcare, and the protection of rights of persons living with HIV. We also reaffirm our support for international cooperation in a manner that contributes to achieving the shared objective of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative The representative of Belgium.

President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Belgium aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union on behalf of the EU and its member states. The political declaration on HIV/AIDS and the Global AIDS Strategy 2026-2030 2031 reaffirm our collective commitment to an effective global HIV response and remain our compass. Though we have made great strides over the past decades, this compass remains highly relevant as too many people are still at risk of or affected by HIV/AIDS. We are facing a different reality than 5 years ago. Financing is stretched and opposition to gender and human rights human rights-based approaches to HIV services is growing. In this challenging context, it is more important than ever to ensure that the global HIV response remains sustainable, evidence-based, effective, and multi-sectoral. Ensuring this objective should remain our number one priority throughout the ongoing reform processes. We therefore, therefore call for razor-sharp focus on what works, evidence-based methods that curb future infections. We specifically underline the following areas. First, the HIV response will only be effective and sustainable if gender transformative and human rights-based approaches to HIV services are fully and consistently implemented and upheld, particularly for key populations, affected communities, and adolescent girls and young women. This includes enhancing universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights and comprehensive sexuality education. Second, we must scale up our focus on proven and tailored combination prevention packages for the most vulnerable populations. Third, key populations and their communities must remain at the heart of HIV response, reaching all people at risk of living with or affected by HIV, requires their full, meaningful, and sustained involvement. Fourth, a multi-sectoral and health in all policies approach, which truly engages all relevant actors, will enable us to deliver at scale. Removing these cornerstones of the HIV response would be highly counterproductive, and in this sense we call, we call for continued ambition. Lastly, Belgium reaffirms its commitment to the SDG 3.3, which aims to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, including through our support for the Global Fund and UNAIDS. Collective efforts generate collective gains, and this has so far been clearly demonstrated by the Global HIV response. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belgium. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Mozambique.

Mr. President, Mozambique Alliance herself with a statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the African group. Significant strides have been made in widening access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care services, yet many countries are still lagging in crucial areas. Inequality, stigma, discrimination, funding constraints, and systemic obstacles continue continue to hinder the global response, compounded by persistent financing gaps and the strain of multiple concurrent global crises, which together threaten to slow progress and erode hard-won gains. Mr. President, for Mozambique, the HIV response remains a national priority. Since the adoption of the 2021 declaration, we have made important progress. Approximately 92% of the estimated adult population living with HIV is receiving antiretroviral therapy. Over 244,000 people started treatment in 2025 alone. We have expanded access to prevention, testing, and treatment services through community-based approaches and strengthened partnerships with international and local stakeholders. These efforts have seen improved treatment outcomes with studies indicating that over 89% of people receiving treatment have achieved viral suppres— suppression. These results where possible by putting people at the center of the response. Yet we recognize that ending AIDS as a public health threat requires sustained investment in resilient health systems, human resources, and equitable access to healthcare services. We call for strengthened partnerships among governments, the United United Nations system, international financial institutions, civil society, academia, the private sector, and affected communities— and affected communities. Only through shared responsibility and collective action can we achieve our common goals, Mr. President, to end the world possesses the knowledge, tools, and experience needed to end the AIDS epidemic. What is required now is renewed political will, sustained investment, and unwavering commitment to leaving no one behind. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Mozambique. I now give the floor to the distinguished Representative of Kenya.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, Kenya aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the Africa Group. We thank the co-facilitators, Burkina Botsuana and Georgia for their efforts towards the 2026 Political Declaration, and reaffirm our support for the outcome document and its objectives. 4 years to 2030, we see this document as a key milestone and an even more important springboard towards the goal of ending AIDS. Since its adoption in 2021, the Political Declaration, Kenya has made substantial substantive progress and has achieved 93, 91, 87 across the HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression cascade. Kenya has also expanded access to combination prevention services, including for long-acting PrEP, and strengthened response to mother-to-child transmission. At the system level, Kenya has advanced the integration of HIV services into our mainstream mainstream healthcare as part of our universal health coverage agenda. The establishment of our Digital Health Authority agency represents a major milestone in strengthening governance, interoperability, and country ownership of health information systems. Just two weeks ago, Kenya is proud to have launched the Kenya AIDS Integration Strategic Framework 2025 to 2030, which seeks to move our response towards the model that aligns HIV programming with the wider national health priorities. Beyond our borders, Kenya is extremely proud that we manufacture antiretroviral medicines procured through the Global Fund and are now saving lives in our neighboring countries. These developments often prove— they offer proof that African solutions, African manufacturing, and African leadership leadership can anchor the next phase of HIV response. However, domestic resolve and regional support cannot fully substitute global solidarity. We are profoundly concerned that recent steep reductions in international HIV financing may set responses effort backwards significantly. Kenya continues to encourage international partners to restore and sustain predictable financing and work with developing states towards urgent action on debt relief so that nations are not forced to choose between service creditors and saving lives. Equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and health technologies is a cornerstone of HIV global response, and long-term sustainability efforts are of great investment. Finally, Mr. President, Kenya remains Kenya is deeply appreciative of the role of UNAIDS and continues to call for a strong and adequately resourced functioning HIV and AIDS within the UN system. Kenya thanks you and remains committed towards—

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan.

Mr. President, I thank you for convening this important meeting on an issue of global concern. This is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment and to stay on course for global elimination of the disease by 2030. The global HIV response is at a critical juncture. While measurable progress has been made, we are far from achieving targets set out in the 2021 political declaration. Reduction in external financing, high debt burden of HIV-affected countries, and a growing number of humanitarian crises can threaten overall gains made so far. Mr. President, Pakistan has low HIV prevalence, around 0.1%. The disease is concentrated among a few population subgroups, such as self-injecting drug users. Pakistan has established National AIDS Control Program in 1986. When initial cases of HIV were detected. Our national AIDS control strategy is focused on targeted interventions, strategic testing, and expanded treatment to curb the concentration of HIV epidemic. Community engagement and voluntary testing are core pillars of Pakistan's AIDS case control strategy to identify undiagnosed cases of HIV. The government also frequently runs awareness drives through ethnic and social media to combat stigma and discrimination against HIV patients. Mr. President, to realize the goal of eliminating HIV by 2030, We recommend following measures: first, provision of adequate financing for global HIV response and debt relief to the HIV-affected countries in line with principles of shared responsibility; second, technology transfer and knowledge sharing to enable local production of medical commodities; Third, address the stigma and social exclusion attached with the disease, which is a major barrier against ending AIDS. Mr. President, let me also take this opportunity to thank the many healthcare professionals and researchers working to prevent new infections and improve the health of those living with HIV/AIDS. Worldwide. Pakistan will continue to work with the international community to ensure progress made thus far is preserved.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

President, HIV/AIDS is a major infectious disease that poses a serious threat to human health and public health security. Thanks to the active role of the UN and concerted efforts of the international community, global AIDS response has taken firm strides towards the set goals and registered significant progress. For years, the Chinese government has attached great importance to HIV/AIDS prevention and control and related international cooperation. Professor Peng Liyuan, the First Lady of China, serves as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for TB and HIV/AIDS, actively promoting and spearheading response efforts. China consistently prioritizes people's health and takes a prevention-first approach that integrates prevention treatment into comprehensive interventions and emphasizes multisectoral coordination. China puts in about 7 billion RMB annually to provide free HIV/AIDS testing and medication, ensuring effective prevention control as well as the equitable access to treatment. China continues to improve the quality of antiretroviral therapy by timely optimizing treatment regimens to reflect pharmaceutical R&D advances and incorporate the latest research findings from home and abroad. China consistently encourages and supports the participation of different social actors in HIV/AIDS response and promotes public education campaigns to raise nationwide awareness about the disease. After years of sustained efforts, China has essentially halted HIV transmission via blood transfusion and blood products, and effectively controlled mother-to-child transmission and those related to injection drug use. Both the treatment coverage and viral suppression rate are above 95%. The overall prevalence of HIV/AIDS has been consistently controlled at a low level. The global response to HIV/AIDS is currently at a critical juncture. It calls for solidarity, strong resolve, and concerted action. China supports the 2026 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. Guided by the global governance principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, we will continue to advance international cooperation, share prevention treatment technologies and experiences with international community, and contribute to safeguarding global health security and achieving the UN goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Thank you, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. Distinguished delegates, we have heard the last speaker in the debate for this afternoon— sorry, We have another delegation requesting for floor. May I now request the distinguished delegate of Singapore to come to the podium.

Mr. President, Singapore warmly welcomes the convening of this high-level meeting and the adoption of the Political Declaration. We thank the co-facilitators, Botswana and Georgia, for their hard work and stewardship over the past months. 45 years into the global response to HIV/AIDS, the world stands at a moment that is at once hopeful and demanding. Decades of scientific progress have brought us much further than what many once thought possible. What remains is the will to translate what we know into what we do. And to ensure that the hard-won progress we have achieved continues and is not unwound. Singapore recognises the painstaking work that the co-facilitators, supported by the membership, have undertaken to bring this text to adoption. We approach today's proceedings in that same constructive spirit. The most effective way we can deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic is through international cooperation and the sharing of experiences, and Singapore has consistently played our part. Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme , we have for many years shared our experience with partners across the developing world, including in public health, infectious disease management, and health systems strengthening. Mr President, Singapore has also actively supported the broader global health architecture on which the HIV/AIDS response fundamentally rests. Through our participation in the World Health Organization and regional platforms, and through our contribution to the Pandemic Fund, to which we have pledged a total of US$20 million since 2022, as well as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This is in recognition of the fact that our collective work of building resilient health systems will ultimately serve our objective of putting an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. AIDS epidemic. We commend the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS for its leadership. We hope that all Member States can continue to work together towards our common objective of ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Finally, Singapore would like to place on record its understanding that the political declaration is to be implemented in accordance with paragraph 7, which reaffirms the sovereign right of Member States as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, and the need for all countries to implement the commitments and pledges in the present Declaration, consistent with national laws, national development priorities, and international human rights. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, the distinguished representative of Singapore. We have one more speaker in this session. I now request the distinguished speaker of Bahrain to come to the podium.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the Kingdom of Bahrain wishes to reaffirm our commitment to those living with HIV/AIDS, among others, as they seek to have access to high-quality healthcare without discrimination through an integrated system which links prevention, diagnosis, treatment, healthcare, and while at the same time providing for equality of all and their right to healthcare services. By reaffirming this commitment, the Kingdom will continue to reinforce our national response through resilient and sustainable systems and effective and efficient systems. The National Committee to Combat the Immunodeficiency Syndrome and HIV was set up by— and presided over by the Health Ministry with representatives of governmental agencies and civil society, participating in order to improve community-level participation in crafting national policies and programs. The Kingdom is also continuing to promote integration of prevention and treatment systems through systems to improve healthcare results through efforts to improve care by 2030. The Kingdom is also prioritizing— healthcare advancements through policies and programs based on data tracking, screening services, as well as modern technologies in decision-making in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. We emphasize the importance of stepping up efforts among partners within an environment that is is favorable to unfettered access for all. A special law was adopted to protect persons living with the disease, to protect their right to free treatment and respect for equality and human rights. Excellencies, the Kingdom of Bahrain thanks the United Nations, the United Nations Program to Combat HIV/AIDS of the United and all international efforts for their ongoing efforts in support of the global response. We also wish to voice our gratitude to the two co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Georgia and Botswana. The Kingdom continues— will continue to cooperate with the international community to promote health and well-being of all while taking into account policies, regulation, national legislation, so as to guarantee respect for private life and the national priorities of every country. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bahrain. Distinguished colleagues, we have heard the last speaker in the debate for this afternoon. We shall hear the remaining speakers when the meeting is resumed at a later date to be announced. The meeting is suspended.