Statement by Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori
Head of the Delegation of Japan
at the United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS
25 June 2001
Mr.President, Mr. Secretary-General, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The rapid spread of HIV/AIDS poses a threat to human security and greatly hinders the efforts of developing countries to reduce poverty, advance social and economic development, and gain stability. The United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS is indeed an historic opportunity, for the international community to ponder how to deal effectively with this unprecedented threat to humanity by mobilizing the wisdom and resources that we collectively possess.
(Japan's initiative at the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit Meeting)
Mr. President,
The G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit Meeting in July of last year, which I chaired, took up the issue of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, as one of its leading themes. Participants in the Summit agreed to accelerate, on an urgent basis, international efforts to fight against infectious diseases, setting specific numerical targets for reducing the number of victims they claim.
On that occasion, the Japanese Government announced the Okinawa Infectious Disease Initiative, under which Japan committed itself to extending support to developing countries for measures against HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, with the target of allocating a total of US $3 billion over the following five years. Furthermore, in December 2000, Japan hosted the Okinawa International Conference on Infectious Diseases, with the participation of representatives from the G8 countries, developing countries, international organizations, and civil society. This international conference adopted an action plan that gave concrete form to the notion of "partnership" proclaimed in the communique of the G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.
Also, in January of this year, I, as Prime Minister of Japan at the time, visited countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where my belief further deepened that there can be no stability or prosperity in the world in the twenty-first century without a solution of the problems Africa faces. I witnessed at first-hand the difficult struggle against HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases waged by the people of Africa, and I was made keenly aware once again of the importance of the problem and our responsibility for tackling it.
I am very pleased that the leadership role Japan has played has led to the opportunity to building momentum for the international community to come together to combat infectious diseases all around the world, thereby culminating through the Millenium Summit in this United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS.
(Priority areas in HIV/AIDS countermeasures)
Mr. President,
As the largest donor of assistance to developing countries in the world, Japan has continued to place importance on cooperation in the area of infectious diseases, and has been providing positive support to developing countries in their effort to take countermeasures against HIV/AIDS. Based on this experience, Japan believes that the following points are of particular importance in any future international strategy against HIV/AIDS.
First of all, the surest and the most effective measure against HIV/AIDS is prevention. The importance of prevention cannot be overemphasized. Specifically, a wide range of preventive measures are urgently needed, including educational and awareness-raising activities; the wider use of condoms, ensuring safe blood supplies; improvement of public hygiene; prevention of mother-child transmission of diseases; and improvement of counseling and testing capabilities. The strengthening of support for developing countries in these areas is indeed urgently needed.
Second, the improvement of access to pharmaceuticals such as anti-retroviral drugs and care for infected persons, patients, and AIDS orphans are important tasks. We welcome the major progress that has been made recently in this field.
At the same time, the establishment of health systems is essential for the safe and effective use of medicine. Together with the improvement of access to medicine, strengthening support for human resource development in the medical field and the improvement of medical infrastructure in developing countries is important.
Third, research and development on an AIDS vaccine is a task both developed and developing countries must shoulder. It is necessary to further strengthen international cooperation in this field.
Fourth, own efforts by developing countries are essential for measures against HIV/AIDS to be effective. In order to enhance the ownership of developing countries, it is important for them to share, through South-South cooperation, their experiences relating to effective - HIV/AIDS countermeasures.
Fifth, it is important for donor countries, developing countries, international organizations, and civil society to build a partnership toward the common goal of mobilizing financial resources.
for the fight against the epidemic.
(Measures to meet the global demand for financing)
Mr. President,
It goes without saying that the global struggle against HIV/AIDS requires huge financial resources. In addition to the efforts of developing countries to mobilize financial resources, strong international support is indispensable. For this purpose, the Japanese Government is determined to implement the Okinawa Infectious Disease Initiative and already has decided on and implemented specific support measures amounting to a total of approximately US $700 million.
Also, in order to develop further existing international cooperation in the field of health, discussions are now in progress toward the establishment of a global HIV/AIDS and health fund to address the prevention of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and treatment and care for those who contract those diseases. The Japanese Government will spare no effort, through consultations with other countries such as the G-8 Genoa Summit meeting, to achieve the prompt establishment of the fund in an appropriate form and the commencement of its operation early next year. I would like to take this opportunity to announce, on behalf of the Japanese Government, a pledge of a -substantial contribution to this global fund.
Despite its own extremely severe financial situation, the Japanese Government is determined to participate actively in global efforts against infectious diseases in recognition of the fact that HIV/AIDS and other such diseases are a crisis for humankind, threatening human security and endangering the development of countries throughout the world.
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