Personal Thoughts and Reflections on UNGASS, Day 1
Overall it was an interesting day.
There are many competing agendas but most of the negotiations do not take place in the hearings. There are closed negotiations in which much of the wording is hammered out.

Despite the spin that the members of the U.S. delegation attempted to put on their focus, one thing stands out for me. The U.S. delegation is fighting to keep goals and timelines out of the document.

I think this is a major mistake. Without goals, the document loses much effect.

I am disheartened as well that none of the Congressional members of the U.S. delegation is attending the meeting.

It was also noted in the Opening Plenary and at the Civil Society hearing that several foreign participants were either denied visas to attend the UNGASS meeting or were held for hours by immigration upon arriving in the U.S.

As for goal, here is what should be included:

80% of HIV+ pregnant women should have access to pre-natal care and treatment to prevent infection of her baby by 2010
80% of people who need to be on anti-retrovirals will have access to them by 2010.
$23 billion will be committed to focus on HIV/AIDS by the world community by 2008.

The African nations entered into an agreement earlier in which they will commit 15% of their federal budgets to health care in order to increase capacity.

The few news stories that I have seen about UNGASS and HIV/AIDS today seem to over- emphasize modest gains. I am afraid that stories like that feed the misconception the HIV and AIDS are in any way under control.

The reality is that infections rates are entirely too high, not enough people who need to be on anti- retroviral medications have access to them, too many people are dying from AIDS related complications, too many children are becoming orphans, two many women whose only sexual partner is their husband are becoming infected because of double-standards.

Several times today, speakers raised the reality that poverty and lack of education increase the vulnerability to HIV infection. Responding to HIV/AIDS will take a holistic response that is based on development.

Those are my reflections for today.

Please feel free to send me your comments, ideas, feedback to alexodegreat@yahoo.com


Things to come . . .
Tomorrow, I will attend a hearing on stigma. The U.S. delegation will have a daily briefing as well. The last event will be a plenary in the General Assembly to report of the findings of the two days of hearings.
After that I head to the airport for a late flight so that I can be back in Chicago for the Clergy and Religious AIDS Roundtable on Friday.