High-level representatives of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden came together on 28 March to discuss how to accelerate efforts in implementing the UNAIDS Fast-Track approach to ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. During the Nordic consultation, hosted and chaired by State Secretary Ulrika Modéer, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sweden, the participants discussed obstacles and opportunities for progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, shared his vision and perspective on the opportunities towards ending AIDS and spoke about the recent reform of UNAIDS. The link between sexual and reproductive health and HIV was discussed, as was the need for greater efficiencies, reform in the global health architecture in order that health becomes more effective and a reduction of fragmentation.
“UNAIDS has always been an entry point for tackling HIV as an epidemic, but, more importantly, issues of human rights and gender inequality in a pragmatic and meaningful way for people.”
Carsten Stauer Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations Office in Geneva
“For Norway, the mission of UNAIDS remains important. We need to ensure that UNAIDS continues to deliver critical results in a situation of budgetary constraints and increased insecurity of funding.”
Hans Jacob Frydenlund Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
“In the Sustainable Development Goals era, we need structures that are innovative and bring greater coordination across issues, and UNAIDS is the model for this. Empowerment of women and girls is a priority for Finland. We believe UNAIDS has an important role to play in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights in its work.”
Satu Santala Director-General, Department for Development Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland
“We need to make sure that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Reforms recommended by the Global Review Panel will reinvigorate the Joint Programme model and position the Joint Programme at the centre of system-wide United Nations reform.”
Lennarth Hjelmaker Ambassador for Global Health, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden
“UNAIDS works closely with its partnerships to accelerate change to end AIDS and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. A sustainable agenda needs a sustained UNAIDS.”
Michel Sidibé Executive Director, UNAIDS
