8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific Opening Ceremony 19 August 2007

Distinguished guests, colleagues and friends, good morning. I thank the local organizing committee of the 8th ICAAP for this opportunity to stand before you once again and to look at how we are progressing after the Kobe ICAAP.Meeting two years after the Kobe Conference presents a good opportunity to take stock of the situation and to look ahead at the enormous challenges we are facing in the region in combating the AIDS epidemic.

I first want to thank Jim Kim, Peter Bell, Agnes Binagwaho for inviting me here today, and to pay tribute to the tremendous work they – and all of you – are doing.

This is my first visit to Uganda, and it is a real honour to sit on the panel with Dr Kihumuro Apuuli of the Uganda AIDS Commission, and with Johnah Josiah of Kenya and Mobafa Baker of Trinidad.

As a youngster, like for many children in India, my dream was to become a cricket player for my country. Being anything else seemed to be almost unnatural. However, this dream was detoured when I moved away from my homeland. After that, I had limited access to playing cricket - but the influence that cricket had on my life and the values it instilled in me live on in me to this day and probably will forever.

I am honoured to be here today, and I thank you for your warm welcome. I want to begin by expressing my deep gratitude to OAFLA members for your leadership and contributions to the AIDS response in Africa. I congratulate you, because the work of African First Ladies has been increasingly visible and has made a real difference in the lives of our mothers, sisters and children.

The Agenda for Accelerated Country Action for Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV 2010–2014 (Operational Plan) supports the implementation of the UNAIDS Action Framework: Addressing Women, Girls, Gender Equality and HIV.1 The Action Framework was developed in response to the pressing need to address the persistent gender inequalities and human rights violations that put women and girls at a greater risk of HIV, and increase their vulnerability. These factors also threaten the gains that have been made in preventing HIV transmission and in increasing access to antiretroviral therapy. The UNAIDS Action Framework focuses on action in three areas, outlined below, in which UNAIDS2 and UNIFEM can make specific and unique contributions.

UNAIDS’ vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths is not about “absolute zero.” It is a journey that leads us to social justice and to greater distribution of opportunity for people who are not lucky.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear participants: This Pan-African Youth Summit is extremely timely. It is being held at a critical period in the evolution of our societies, when the world starts to collectively reflect on the Post-2012 development agenda.