Leadership

“One of the key issues facing the global community is developing and sustaining such dedicated leadership, vital if the nature of the epidemic is to be clearly understood throughout society and a national response mobilized.”
~ Kofi Annan

Since the beginning of the AIDS pandemic, strong political commitment has remained the main catalyst for progress, locally and globally. 

The Declaration of Commitment both recognizes and affirms the responsibility of governments to address HIV/AIDS in their own countries by placing the role of leadership front and center.   Members States summarily committed to using those tools already proven effective to develop and implement national strategies to fight HIV/AIDS.  They include:  utilizing the contributions of traditional medicines; successful prevention, care and treatment strategies; partnerships with communities, civil societies, people living with HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups; the promotion of human rights; and sharing experiences through international and regional cooperation. 

Without the commitment of government ministries and partners in social, economic and health fields, these activities remain isolated and seldom yield sustained.  In combination, however, they form the basis of a comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS.

To be effective, the Declaration emphasizes that strong leadership within nations must be partnered with their communities, other governments, the United Nations and international organizations, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, the business sector including pharmaceutical companies, trade unions, the media, philanthropy, the faith community and traditional leaders (1).   Importantly, the UN General Assembly also officially empowered people living with HIV/AIDS, young people and civil society to partner with leadership and become fully involved in the design, planning, implementation and evaluation of HIV programmes (2).

With these understandings fully outlined, Governments committed themselves to the following:

At the national level 

• By 2003,implement multi-sectoral strategies and finance plans that confront silence, denial, stigma and discrimination.  These strategies will confront human rights, gender, age, risk, vulnerability, prevention, care, treatment, support, and reduction of impact; and strengthen health, education and legal systems.  Civil society, business, people living with HIV/AIDS, vulnerable groups, women and young people will be encouraged and supported as much as possible by national budgets(3).
• By 2003, integrate prevention, care, treatment, support and mitigation priorities into development planning (4).

At the regional and subregional levels

• Support regional partners to be involved, intensify cooperation and coordination, and support country-level efforts(5), including those of local and national organizations(6). 
• Encourage the development of regional plans to address HIV/AIDS(7) , as well as supporting regional and subregional initiatives on HIV/AIDS(8). 
• Encourage ECOSOC to request regional commissions to support national efforts(9). 

At the global level

• Support greater action and coordination by all relevant United Nations organizations, including participation in a United Nations system strategic plan(10).
• Support greater cooperation between relevant United Nations organizations and international organizations fighting HIV/AIDS(11).
• Foster stronger collaboration between the public and private sector and, by 2003, strengthen mechanisms involving the private sector, civil society, people living with HIV/AIDS, and vulnerable groups in the fight against HIV/AIDS(12).

Footnote

(1) Paragraph 32, Declaration of Commitment

(2) Paragraph 33.

(3) Paragraph 37.

(4) Paragraph 38.

(5) Paragraph 39.

(6) Paragraph 42.

(7) Paragraph 41.

(8) Paragraph 40.

(9) Paragraph 43.

(10) Paragraph 44.

(11) Paragraph 45.

(12) Paragraph 46.