Thoughts
I believe that the global AIDS crisis is the central global justice issue of our time. Worldwide, the people who are most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS are those who are marginalized and oppressed. Indeed, AIDS is inextricably linked with other social justice issues such as poverty and gender inequity. The fact that only 7% of Africans who urgently need antiretroviral treatment are receiving such treatment is perhaps the most glaring injustice associated with HIV/AIDS. As Nelson Mandela has said, “If we discard those who are dying from AIDS, then we can no longer call ourselves people.â€
I also believe that the AIDS crisis can be solved. It is simply a matter of political will. And that’s where the Global AIDS Alliance (GAA) is playing a critically important role. Since our founding in March 2001, GAA has devoted itself to mobilizing the political will—and the financial resources—needed to mount a comprehensive response to the global AIDS pandemic. In particular, we believe the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria offers a critical opportunity for accelerating progress against HIV/AIDS. An incremental, piecemeal approach simply cannot hope to turn the tide against a disease that has already killed over 25 million people and infects nearly 14,000 more every day. I also believe that the United States has a special obligation to take the lead in the fight against global AIDS. First, as an economic powerhouse responsible for one-third of the world’s economic wealth, it is essential that the U.S. contribute its fair share to help poor countries that have been hardest hit by HIV/AIDS manage and reverse this human tragedy. But even more fundamentally, I think it’s essential that America remain true to the generous humanitarian instinct that has made this country a beacon of hope for people across the globe. |
