Achieving the vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths requires that everyone needing HIV treatment has access to life-saving medication and access to HIV prevention services. Antiretroviral therapy is one of the most effective tools available and it is an essential part of an efficient, sustainable AIDS response.

Special Summit of the African Union on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Special Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Abuja, 4th May

Speech by Dr Meskerem Grunitzky-Bekele, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for West and Central Africa

I arrived here yesterday from South Africa, where I saw very positive signs of strong new leadership on AIDS. The National AIDS Council has a clear agenda, and it is good to see government and civil society really rallying together to achieve this.

For decades it has been clear that globalization demands concerted and collective responses to manage increasing interdependence. Today we are at a tipping point. The financial crisis presents the most immediate reason to address human security in both a more collective manner and a more developmental manner. And there are longer-term problems that must also be addressed to improve security and development. One of the most pressing is climate change. Last year we witnessed the failure of global institutions to keep up with this specific challenge. But we face many more. We are here today to share ideas on how to better manage the collective commons by improving our concerted responses to security.

Like your diamonds, they are precious. And like diamonds, they are unbelievably strong. They are the solid centre of human life—of families, of communities, of care—the places where AIDS is most effectively challenged. And like Liberia’s diamonds, they bring pride to this country, and they deserve to be free.

The AIDS movement in Africa is a powerful story of people breaking the conspiracy of silence surrounding this epidemic and demanding equity and dignity. We have seen unprecedented progress that must be sustained and enhanced. But we are at a "make or break" point. If we accept the status quo, we will forsake the 9 million people in low- and middle-income countries still waiting for HIV treatment. Our collective failure to meet this challenge will mean more deaths, more orphans and more new infections.

Africa is changing! This change is visible in economics and in the increasing world interest for doing business in Africa. But the winds of change on our continent also blow on culture and society. The fact that we are all here today, calling for “zero human rights violations for LGBT people in Africa” is another illustration of this change. This change is not given. It is the fruit of the struggles and activism of many in this room and across the continent.

National leaders have made progress on AIDS a defining legacy of their commitment to their own people. But Africa is too dependent on external resources, especially for the AIDS response. It is time for African leaders to come together to define a transformed development paradigm that will deliver a new, socially sustainable agenda that is written and owned by Africa.

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.