During my first months as Secretary-General, I have called on the international system to get back to basics: to put greater focus on building more resilient societies by putting respect for human rights at the centre of national and international policy, by reducing disenfranchisement and marginalization and by empowering women and girls. I have also called on the United Nations development system to increase the pace of reform — to become more nimble, efficient and effective. The AIDS response is a bellwether for both agendas: sustainable development and United Nations reform.
