By Holy See Mission
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Celestino MiglioreApostolic Nuncio,
Permanent Observer of the Holy See 64th session
of the UN General Assembly
Before the plenary on Item 44:
Implementation of the Declaration of Commitmenton HIV/AIDS and the
Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS:Report of the Secretary-General
(A/64/735)and draft decision (A/64/L.54/Rev.1)
New York, 9 June 2010
Mr. President,
In the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, Heads of State and
Government acknowledged with urgent concern that the spread of HIV constituted
“a global emergency and one of the most formidable challenges to human life and
dignity” as well as a serious obstacle to the realization of the internationally
agreed development goals (A/RES/S-26/2). Five years later in the Political
Declaration on HIV/AIDS they noted with alarm that one quarter of a century into
this scourge we are still facing an "unprecedented human catastrophe”
(A/RES/60/262). On both occasions they made a commitment to take the necessary
action to combat this serious threat to the human community.
Given the significant engagement of Catholic Church-sponsored organizations
in providing care in all parts of the world for those with HIV/AIDS, my
delegation takes this occasion to note that the global community continues to be
confronted by many obstacles in its efforts to respond adequately to this
problem, for example, that 7,400 people become infected with HIV every day; that
nearly four million people are currently receiving treatment, while 9.7 million
people are still in need of such life-saving and life-prolonging interventions;
and that for every two people who commence treatment, 5 more become infected
(UNAIDS: Country and regional responses to AIDS).
Mr. President,
If AIDS is to be combated by realistically facing its deeper causes and the
sick are to be given the loving care they need, we need to provide people with
more than knowledge, ability, technical competence and tools. For this reason
my delegation strongly recommends that more attention and resources be
dedicated to support a value-based approach grounded in the human dimension of
sexuality, that is to say, a spiritual and human renewal that leads to a new way
of behaving toward others. The spread of AIDS can be stopped effectively, as has
been affirmed also by public health experts, when this respect for the dignity
of human nature and for its inherent moral law is included as an essential
element in HIV prevention efforts.
My delegation is deeply concerned about the gap in available funds for
antiretroviral treatment among poor and marginalized populations. Catholic
Church-related providers in Uganda, South Africa, Haiti, and Papua New
Guinea, among others, report that international donors have instructed them not
to enroll new patients into these programs and express concern about further
cutbacks even for those already receiving such treatment. The global community
carries a serious responsibility to offer equitable and continuous access to
such medications. Failure to do so will not only cause untold loss and suffering
to those individuals and families directly affected by the disease but also will
have grave public health, social, and economic consequences for the entire human
family.
Particularly vulnerable are children living with HIV or HIV/TB co-infection.
Access to early diagnosis and treatment is far less accessible to HIV-positive
children than adults; without such access at least one-third of such children
die before their first birthday and at least one-half die before their second
birthday. Such loss of the future generations and leaders can no longer be met
with silence or indifference.
Mr. President,
Through their global commitments in 2001 and 2006, Heads of State and
Government articulated a vision of equitable access as well as comprehensive and
effective action in response to the global HIV spread. The present-day
challenges call into question our ability to fulfill such promises. Yet, in the
face of the ongoing threat of HIV and AIDS, we must acknowledge the demands of
the human family for worldwide solidarity, for honest evaluation of past
approaches that may have been based more on ideology than on science and values,
and for determined action that respects human dignity and promotes the integral
development of each and every person and of all society.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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