The Road To Toronto – Global Targets Needed to Measured Progress

Washington, DC - June 6, 2006

Last week's high-level HIV/AIDS review at the United Nations produced an outcome document containing strong language on the unique prevention needs of women and girls. However, despite repeated pleas from over 800 civil society organizations working on the front lines, it lacks targets for marking progress toward ending the scourge of HIV/AIDS worldwide. The U.S. delegation, among others, did not support the inclusion of global targets by which tangible results can be measured, and PAI joins civil society in voicing its disappointment over this lack of action.

By all accounts, the United States contributes more than any other bilateral donor to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide, through both the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Yet the U.S. presence at last week's meeting demonstrated an all too common trend: an unwillingness to lead by anything more than funding levels.

PAI is pleased with the inclusion of strong language on the "feminization" of the AIDS epidemic, the emphasis on integrating reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programs and services, and the reinforcement that women must have control over their reproductive health. Without setting measurable goals, however, there is no way to track progress toward reducing women's and girls' vulnerability to HIV.

At the opening plenary, Peter Piot, head of the UN's global AIDS effort, said that in order to effectively combat AIDS today, "We need to run a marathon at the pace of a sprint." But how can the world sustain such a pace without global targets by which we are challenged and measured? The United States will never be a true leader unless it challenges the world to set the bar for success high and reach for more than what is "doable." The end of HIV/AIDS will not be brought about by doing what is in reach, but by doing the unthinkable – and by measuring that progress each step of the way.Last week's high-level HIV/AIDS review at the United Nations produced an outcome document containing strong language on the unique prevention needs of women and girls. However, despite repeated pleas from over 800 civil society organizations working on the front lines, it lacks targets for marking progress toward ending the scourge of HIV/AIDS worldwide. The U.S. delegation, among others, did not support the inclusion of global targets by which tangible results can be measured, and PAI joins civil society in voicing its disappointment over this lack of action.

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.