FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2016

On June 10, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN, gave an intervention during the UN High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS. 

In his statement, Archbishop Auza said that the Holy See is pleased with the progress being made toward ending the disease but cautioned that the struggle is “far from over.” He noted persistent obstacles to early diagnosis and treatment, lack of adequate medicines for children with HIV, access for those outside of HIV hot spots, and inadequate supplies. Stigmatization, discrimination, and physical and emotional abuse must be confronted, he stressed, but this is different from polices that “discourage risk-taking behaviors and encourage responsibility and healthy relationships.” Quoting Pope Francis he said that the international community must find the “will, the technical expertise, the resources and the methods” to provide diagnosis and treatment for all, especially children and he informed participants of two recent meetings in the Vatican with business leaders to try to facilitate HIV medicines and diagnostic tools for child victims.

His statement can be found here.