Mercy Global Concern - 2006

Mercy Global Concern: Briefing paper 1, November 2006

Draft Resolution

Sixtieth Session
Agenda item 45

Follow up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth Special Session:
Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its commitment to resolution S-26/2 of 27 June 2001, entitled "Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS", and recalling its undertaking to devote sufficient time and at least one full day of the annual session of the General Assembly to review a report of the Secretary-General and make recommendations on actions needed to achieve further progress;

Recalling that 2006 marks the fifth anniversary of the Special Session of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS.

Reaffirming the importance of the follow-up process prescribed by the Declaration, which included the setting of specific time-bound targets which fall due in 2005 and 2010, and noting in this regard the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly to review progress achieved in realizing the commitments set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, held 2 June 2005.

Reaffirming the outcome of the World Summit held from 14 to 16 September 2005 which inter alia, committed to full implementation of the Declaration of Commitment,

Recognizing that progress has been made in containing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in a small but growing number of countries, but remaining deeply concerned that the overall epidemic continues to expand,

Recognizing also the significant role played in the response to AIDS by civil society, including organizations and networks of people living with HIV and AIDS, indigenous and international NGOs, community and faith based organizations as well as the private sector,

1. Decides to undertake a Comprehensive Review of the progress achieved in realizing the targets set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, from 31 May 2006 to 2 June 2006 comprising plenary meetings, and/or round tables, and/or informal interactive civil society hearings and/or side events as well as a High-Level Meeting on 2 June 2006, aimed at continuing the engagement of the world leaders in a comprehensive global AIDS response;

2. Decides further that organizational arrangements for the Review and High-Level Meeting will be finalised by the President of the General Assembly, with support from the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and in consultation with Member States;

3. Invites Member State and Observers to be represented at the High-Level Meeting at the highest political level;

4. Encourages Member States and Observers to included representatives of civil society, particularly people living with HIV/AIDS or representatives of their associations, as well as young people's organizations and representatives of business and labour, in their national delegations to the meetings;

5. Invites also heads of entities of the United Nations system, including Programmes Funds, The Specialized Agencies and Regional Commissions as well as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Special Envoys of the Secretary General on HIV/AIDS to participate in the Review and High-Level Meeting, as appropriate;

6. Invites also to participate in the Review and High-Level Meeting, non-governmental organizations which enjoy consultative status with the Economic and Social Council as well as non-governmental members of the Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) of the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and request the Executive Director of UNAIDS to prepare, not later than 15 February 2006, for consideration by Member States on a non-objection basis, for final decision by the Assembly, a list of other relevant civil society actors, in particular associations of people living with HIV/AIDS, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, including pharmaceutical companies and representatives of labour, along with relevant background information;

7. Decides that the arrangements outlined in paragraph 6 above shall in no way create a precedent for other similar events;

8. Encourages the timely submission of national reports from all Members States on their implementation of the Declaration of Commitment, the deadline for which is 31 December 2005;

9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a comprehensive and analytical report on progress achieved in realizing the commitment set out in the Declaration of Commitment, in particular those set out for 2005;

10. Requests further that the UNAIDS Secretariat and its Co-sponsors facilitate an inclusive, country-driven process open to all Member States, to prepare an action plan on HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access to treatment for those who need it by 2010, as agreed upon at the 2005 World Summit;

11. Invites Member States to consider the adoption of a short Outcome Document which could reaffirm and commit to the full implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, as well as endorse the action plan referred to in the preceding paragraph.