HIS EXCELLENCY RATU EPELI NAILATIKAU
CF, LVO, OBE (Mil), OStJ, CSM, MSD
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI
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ADDRESS AT THE PARLIAMENTARIANS FORUM ON BEST POLICY PRACTICES ON ACHIEVEMENT OF UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, ICAAP 11
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Bangkok Tuesday 19thNovember, 2013
THAILAND 11.00AM
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• Excellencies
• Honorable Members of Parliaments in Asia and the Pacific,
• Distinguished Guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon.

The AIDS response and reproductive health care in Asia and the Pacific has seen significant successes over the last decade.

HIV infection rates have fallen significantly in the past decade in some countries; more people than ever before are receiving life-saving treatment, domestic financing for AIDS has risen and governments across the region are actively addressing stigma and discrimination related to HIV and key populations at highest risk.
It has been possible mainly because of the unprecedented political commitment from the region at all levels.

This ranges from bold national support for global commitments such as Millennium Development Goal 6 to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, the 2001 declaration on HIV/AIDS and the 10 targets of the 2011 UN political declaration on HIV/ AIDS, to regional and community-level initiatives such as resolutions 66/10 and 67/9 of the UN Economic Commission on Asia and the Pacific, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Declaration on getting to zero, and others.

Many of those political leaders and parliamentarians are present here today. I thank you for your remarkable contribution in the HIV/AIDSresponse in the region.

It would not have been possible without dedicated leadership and initiatives of the most organized and effective community organizations in Asia and the Pacific, where people living with HIV, sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and transgender people are consistently stepping forward, speaking out for inclusion and equity and driving the agenda as well as successful programmes.

Thank you - our great and dynamic civil society organizations in the region for your continued engagement in the HIV/AIDS response.

However, we are but less than two years to 2015- the deadline for both the Millennium Development Goals and the 10 targets of the High Level Meeting.

Important challenges remain and gains in the region are fragile. The pace of progress needs to pick up to sustain achievements and drive further progress.

Asia and the Pacific must now harness its capacity for innovation, find the best actions and interventions and implement them in the right places to prevent, detect and treat HIV, to protect key populations most at risk and to care for people living with HIV.

If the Asia-Pacific region wants to achieve zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015, parliamentarians need to be fully involved stakeholders in all efforts.

In this region, there are an estimated 4.9 million people living with HIV, but no-one should be dying from AIDS anymore.

We have the science (medicines), technology, skills and resources to enable all people in our region to live healthy lives, with or without HIV/AIDS.

What we lack is equity of access to resources to keep people living healthy lives.

Parliamentarians need to be engaged in eliminating the discrimination that keeps marginalized people from accessing available HIV services.

Parliamentarians need to be exercising their leadership role to ensure that financial resources and capacity are provided by governments and international agencies so that those most vulnerable can obtain the equal quality treatment, care and social protection.

Parliamentarians need to play key policy making roles to making affordable medications available for all people using TRIPS flexibilities.

I urge parliamentarians not to trade away the public health benefit of their people for other trade gains.

Parliamentarians need to be at the forefront of strengthening the political commitment for the comprehensive sexuality education for young people that leads to HIV/AIDS prevention and progress in reproductive health care.

Finally, we must take advantage of its growing economic power to strengthen both domestic responsibility and global solidarity.

Our political leaders or parliamentarians must continue to actively engage in the policy reforms needed to stamp out stigma and discrimination and uphold human rights.

I thank you for your attention.