Tuesday, 7 June
Financing vulnerabilities
18:00–19:30
Venue: UN Conference Room 3
Rising inequalities and the lack of access to livelihood and development opportunities as well as social and health services for the most marginalized and poor people are urgent issues. These are particularly acute in the global context of rapid and uneven economic growth, inequitable development and rising standards of living for a few in developing countries. Addressing such inequalities is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations Member States in September 2015.
The AIDS response has achieved much success in ensuring access to treatment and reductions in new HIV infections globally, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized people. Yet much work remains to be done; millions of people are being left behind. The challenges posed by the AIDS epidemic today highlight the need to place people who are being left behind at the centre of development efforts. There is an immediate need for increased and front-loaded financing to tackle the HIV epidemic. Today, millions of people are not able to access services, resulting in unnecessary death and disability; 19 million people do not know their HIV status. A treatment crisis is looming. Increased and efficient investments are a critical part of the solution.
In this context, the side event on financing vulnerabilities will explore mechanisms to ensure that fragile communities are at the centre of the global public health agenda, and their health secured, at a time when new epidemics and health threats threaten to further increase the vulnerability of low- and middle-income countries and their people. The side event will explore social and economic risks of the people who are most vulnerable and will call for new commitments and innovations to meet their needs.
Focal point: Anne-Claire Guichard, guicharda@unaids.org