The global community has made great progress in\u00a0responding to the AIDS epidemic. More people than\u00a0ever are receiving treatment, care and support. The\u00a0prevention revolution is delivering dramatic results\u00a0while science is offering new hope.<\/p>\n
A decade of antiretroviral treatment has transformed\u00a0HIV from a death sentence to a manageable chronic\u00a0disease. There is a real opportunity to eliminate\u00a0new infections among children within the next\u00a0three years, and our goal to ensure that 15 million\u00a0people receive antiretroviral therapy by 2015 can be\u00a0achieved.<\/p>\n
Yet every day, thousands more people are newly\u00a0infected with HIV. Many are in groups at higher\u00a0risk. They deserve special support and access to\u00a0prevention services, such as condoms and measures\u00a0to reduce harm. Others lack the information and\u00a0resources they need and deserve to avoid infection.\u00a0Far too many do not have the power to negotiate\u00a0safer sex.<\/p>\n
Stigma against people living with HIV and those at\u00a0higher risk of infection persists. This is a human\u00a0rights violation that also hampers our ability to\u00a0address AIDS. Stigma, discrimination, punitive laws,\u00a0gender inequality and violence continue to inflame\u00a0the epidemic and thwart our strongest efforts to \u2018get\u00a0to zero\u2019.<\/p>\n
Last year, United Nations Member States set clear\u00a0targets for significantly reducing HIV infection and\u00a0AIDS deaths, and for scaling up treatment by 2015.\u00a0The goals in their Political Declaration on HIV and\u00a0AIDS can be met with the right commitment to,\u00a0and investment in, the AIDS response.<\/p>\n
People living with HIV enjoy full and productive\u00a0lives, raising families, supporting others and\u00a0becoming leaders in their own right. This success\u00a0comes in large part thanks to the contributions\u00a0of rights advocates, health workers, young people\u00a0and communities united in their efforts to end\u00a0the epidemic. The AIDS response has proven the\u00a0power of partnerships among the private sector, the\u00a0international community and political leaders.<\/p>\n
Now is the time to take even more bold action,\u00a0inspired by true global solidarity to achieve an\u00a0AIDS-free world. I hope all those reading this report\u00a0will use the information it provides to spur progress\u00a0towards this goal. Together, we can realize our vision\u00a0of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and\u00a0zero AIDS-related deaths.<\/p>\n