No consensus on UN declaration on AIDS fight for first time in more than two decades

No consensus on UN declaration on AIDS fight for first time in over two decades The lack of consensus highlights growing political divisions over HIV policy as international aid funding cuts impact prevention programmes in some of the world’s most affected countries - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The United Nations has adopted a new political declaration on fighting HIV/AIDS, but for the first time in more than two decades it was not agreed by consensus after the US and seven other countries voted against it. The declaration, endorsed by 149 UN member states at a high-level meeting in New York, is meant to reaffirm global commitments to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The split highlights growing political divisions over HIV policy and comes as international aid funding cuts are already putting pressure on prevention and testing programmes in some of the world’s most affected countries. The US was joined in voting against the text by Russia, Israel, Burkina Faso, Burundi, North Korea, Niger and Saudi Arabia. Fourteen other countries abstained. While the declaration is not legally binding, it sets the political direction for the global HIV response over the next five years and has historically been adopted by consensus. The lack of agreement underscores growing divisions over human rights, intellectual property and the future of international cooperation on HIV. The US said it opposed the declaration because it included "divisive topics" beyond the internationally agreed HIV targets, including references to sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as language on intellectual property and technology transfer. A statement released after the vote on behalf of the EU and its member states delivered by Cyprus said that they “deeply regret that the overall balance and ambition of the text that we have adopted is weaker” compared to the previous declaration in 2021. Modelling in The Lancet HIV last year projected that reduced international funding could lead to up to 10.8 million additional new HIV infections globally by 2030. UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation have also warned that discontinued funding and reductions from other major donors, like the UK, could result in millions of additional AIDS-related deaths. Clinics in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe and Haiti have been forced to reduce testing and halt the distribution of free prevention medication. Although some US aid has been reinstated, the Trump administration has targeted the LGBTQ+ community, instituting on anti-transgender policies and issuing executive orders defining sex as strictly male or female at birth. The Independent recently reported on “kito” attacks in Nigeria, in which LGBTQ+ people are lured, kidnapped and extorted, with victims sometimes having their HIV status exposed during the attacks. The practice deepens stigma and puts those living with HIV at further risk of isolation and loss of access to care. This week, the head of the UN’s HIV agency warned that a US decision to withdraw all of its HIV and AIDS funding from South Africa is likely to cost lives and reverse the progress made so far. US officials told the BBC that the cut was partly in response to South Africa’s alleged failure to protect the white-minority Afrikaner community. Although the country does not rely on US-funding for HIV drugs, it made a significant contribution to programmes that prevent the spread of the virus. This article has been produced as part of The Independent’s Rethinking Global Aid project Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments