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Under the theme Turning the Tide
Together, more than 21,000 delegates from more than 195 countries gathered in
Washington, D.C. for the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), which
opened on July 22 and runs through Friday, July 27 at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center
“Our return to the United States
after a 22-year absence comes at a time of extraordinary hope, a time when we
believe that the end of the AIDS epidemic is possible,” said Elly Katabira,
International Chair of AIDS 2012 and President of the International AIDS
Society (IAS). “AIDS 2012 is an important opportunity to thank the American
people and highlight the millions of lives saved as a result of generous U.S.
contributions to the global fight against AIDS and its leadership in HIV
research.”
“There is no doubt, that our
progress over the past 30 years has been impressive, but maintaining the status
quo is simply not enough,” said Dr. Diane Havlir, U.S. Co-Chair of AIDS 2012
and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. “My message
to policy makers around the entire world watching us here in D.C. is this—
invest in science, invest in the epidemic—you will save lives.
Drs. Katabira and Havlir called on
delegates and allies around the world to sign The Washington, D.C. Declaration,
the official declaration of AIDS 2012. The declaration calls for renewed
urgency and seeks to build broad support for beginning to end the AIDS epidemic
through a nine-point action plan.
The opening session included remarks
from a range of U.S. and global leaders, including U.S. Secretary of Health and
Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, South African Deputy President Kgalema
Motlanthe, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (via video), U.S. Congresswoman
Barbara Lee, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, UNAIDS Executive Director
Michel Sidibé, Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, Ambassador Mark Dybul and
Annah Sango of Zimbabwe.
“In the 22 years since this
conference was held on American soil, we have made long-awaited breakthroughs
in science and treatment,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Today, someone diagnosed
with HIV and treated before the disease is far advanced can have a nearly
normal life expectancy. Now is not the time for easing up, slowing down, or
shifting our focus. If we are going to
reach our ultimate goal of an AIDS-free generation, we must all challenge
ourselves to do more—to reach even more people, to make programs even more
effective and accountable, to push the boundaries of science even further.”
“Sustained progress in the AIDS
response is accelerating our journey to Zero,” said Michel Sidibé. “It is now
time for a new AIDS agenda and new partnerships based on shared responsibility,
mutual accountability, and global solidarity.”
Congresswoman Lee noted that “the
return of the International AIDS Conference to the United States at this
pivotal time is a long overdue opportunity for our domestic epidemic to become part
of a global effort working to achieve a world without AIDS. From California to
Cameroon, we are literally at a tipping point in the fight against AIDS, and at
no time in history has our global leadership been more important to address the
ongoing challenges in our own country and around the world.”
“Young people need to move from
being passengers to drivers. Sexual reproductive health rights are fundamental
to everyone the sooner we appreciate that the closer we get to making a
difference in the lives of women and young people,” said Annah Sango.
On July 23, Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton spoke to the conference about achieving the goal of an
AIDS-free generation. Addressing the issue of the United States' commitment to
that goal, “Clinton said, I am here today to make it absolutely clear that the
U.S. is committed and will remain committed to achieving an AIDS-free
generation. We will not back off, we will not back down. We will fight for the
resources necessary to achieve this historic milestone.””
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
