dance4life gathers with World Leaders in New York at UN Headquarters.

25.07.2011

Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, and 10 years since that first landmark UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, 147 member states will come together to review progress and chart the future course of the global AIDS response at the 2011 UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS from 8-10 June 2011 in New York.

The UNGASS Declaration of Commitment (DoC) on HIV/AIDS, adopted by all UN Member States in 2001, provides a comprehensive global framework to halt and to reverse the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2010, and includes specific and measurable milestones for 2003, 2005 and 2010. Every year, governments have reported on the progress they have made towards implementing the DoC. 

The 2011 Review comes at a turning point in the AIDS response, as a critical opportunity to identify progress, account for underperformance, renew the political commitment to sustain the response, and to chart the way forward with new goals. 
New UNAIDS data clearly show that steady progress is being made towards zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths through universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The gains are real, but fragile and have not reached everyone in need. There are still 10 million people waiting for HIV treatment. And for every one person starting treatment, two people become infected. Stigma and discrimination continue to be obstacles. 

dance4life is honoured to have been invited to take part in this critical meeting. Managing director, Eveline Aendekerk and YPLHIV Officer Pablo Torres Aguilera will join the high level delegates to discuss and advocate on behalf of youth and people living with HIV. 

Pablo has also been invited to speak at an important session hosted by the UN agencies entitled "Young People in the AIDS Response'. This event seeks to demonstrate how young people are acting as agents of change in the AIDS response. This event will be attended by High level government delegates to UNGASS, Heads of youth-serving and youth-led Organizations, Heads of Bilateral and Multilateral Donor Agencies, young people and private sector representatives, including; HRH Crown Princess of Norway Mette-Marit, Michel Sidibé, Executive Director, UNAIDS and Mr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director, UNFPA.

In the part of the session entitled Young Leaders as agents of changes - Presenting examples of responses that work, Pablo will speak about dance4lifes work in overcoming stigma and discrimination. 

The high level meeting is a crucial moment in the future of the response towards HIV and AIDS and an opportunity for dance4life to make sure the voices of those hundreds of thousands of young people who have joined the movement are heard by world leaders.