The protection of human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS (Item 3)
U.S. Explanation of Position,
Delivered by Margaret Wang, Political Attaché
Human Rights Council
Geneva, Switzerland
March 25, 2011
Thank you, Mr. President.
The Obama administration has made the fight against AIDS central to the Global Health Initiative, our commitment to strengthening global health systems and implementing sustainable solutions to improve the health of entire communities. One major focus of the Global Health Initiative is strengthening our partnerships around the world so they reflect and reinforce the global effort needed to defeat AIDS. This year, the United States also made its first multi-year pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria to further support this cooperative approach. Our metric for success is simple: lives saved.
The United States believes that respecting human rights is critical for an effective HIV response and we know that promotion of human rights is an essential and settled component of the work program of UNAIDS. We must ensure that populations at higher risk for infection – men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and sex workers do not face stigma, discrimination or violence. We must emphasize the importance of scientific evidence for identification of those key populations.
Thank you.