NAM committed to the implementation of the Political Declarations on HIV/AIDs

Non-Aligned Movement recognises that the spread of HIV/AIDS constitutes a global emergency and poses one of the most formidable challenges to the development, progress and stability of their respective societies and the world at large, and requires an exceptional and comprehensive global response.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development affirms the global commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic within 15 years. At the recently concluded 2019 NAM Baku Summit, NAM called on Member States of the United Nations to significantly scale up their efforts towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support, and towards putting an end to AIDS epidemic by 2030; called upon all States. The Movement especially called upon developed countries to fully implement these commitments and urged international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the business sector to support national efforts and priorities.

NAM Member States have reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Political Declarations on HIV/AIDs of 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016. The 2016 Political Declaration reaffirms that the promotion and protection of, and respect for, the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, including the right to development, which are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, should be mainstreamed into all HIV and AIDS policies and programmes. The Political Declaration reaffirms the need to take measures to ensure that every person is entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development and that equal attention and urgent consideration should be given to the promotion, protection and fulfilment of all human rights.

The 2016 Political Declaration calls on the world to achieve the following goals in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: 1) Reduce new HIV infections to fewer than 500 000 globally by 2020; 2) Reduce AIDS-related deaths to fewer than 500 000 globally by 2020; and 3) Eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination by 2020. The Political Declaration recognizes the importance of location and population, as the epidemic is distinctive in each country and region and encourages regional action and accountability by setting regional targets on prevention and treatment for children, young people and adults. It sets a target to : 1) Reach all women, adolescent girls and key populations with comprehensive HIV prevention services, including harm reduction by 2020; 2) Reach 3 million people at higher risk of HIV infection with pre-exposure prophylaxis by 2020; 3) Reach 25 million young men in high HIV incidence areas with voluntarily medical male circumcision and make 20 billion condoms available in low- and middle-income countries by 2020.

The Political Declaration also recognises the right to health and calls for :1) Reviewing and reforming laws that reinforce stigma and discrimination and restrict access to services, travel restrictions, mandatory testing and punitive laws related to HIV non-disclosure, exposure and transmission by 2020; 2) Eliminating barriers, including stigma and discrimination, in health-care settings by 2020; and 3) Strengthening national social and child protection systems to ensure that, by 2020, 75% of people living with, at risk of, and affected by HIV benefit from HIV-sensitive social protection.
Thus, the Political Declaration aims to broaden the HIV response, by imbedding it in the broader Agenda for Sustainable Development. It acknowledges the critical links between tackling HIV and a wide variety of other health and development issues and in the advancement of women and girls.

By reaffirming the Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Declaration not only calls for the end to AIDS but firmly links the HIV response to targets on ending the tuberculosis epidemic, combating viral hepatitis and achieving universal health coverage.

It recognizes the critical relationships that exist between poverty and development and HIV epidemics – noting that these broader development targets can only be achieved if HIV epidemics are addressed.

The Declaration calls for an expanded multisectoral response, a more comprehensive public health approach, even more ambitious HIV and development targets, a greater focus on equity and human rights, intensified action to address the needs of women and girls, and new approaches to ensure sustainable financing for HIV services.