Statements and Webcast
Luxembourg
H. E. Ms. Marie-Josée Jacobs, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs
9 June 2011
- Statement: French (Check against delivery)
Statement Summary
MARIE-JOSÉE JACOBS, Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg, said that despite significant advances in ensuring that all those requiring care received it, that the global rate of HIV infection continued to drop and that the fundamental rights of every person exposed to the virus were respected, stigma and discrimination continued to threaten that progress. The Meeting provided the opportunity to move forward and come up with equitable treatment programmes in all the world’s regions. Emphasizing the importance of equal and universal access to basic health care, and of fulfilling Government commitments, she welcomed the fact that the Meeting would adopt a political declaration affirming actions to guide the global response to HIV/AIDS for years to come.
She went on to say that efforts to realize zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero new deaths must be based on a new political commitment to more effective long-term actions, stressing that the United Nations had a decisive role to play in coordinating programmes through UNAIDS. Health was among Luxembourg’s major priorities, and 13 per cent of its development aid for 2010 had been devoted to that sector. Luxembourg devoted considerable resources to programmes to combat HIV/AIDS, including research, antiretroviral treatment for children and mobilizing public opinion, she said, adding that it had committed to provide €5 million for the development of an anti-AIDS strategy. Experts were following the epidemic’s development and advising the Government on the necessary steps.
Source: GA/11090