Health: HIV/AIDS
Prospects:
Although HIV/AIDS is not a specified 2011 G8 Deauville Summit agenda item, it will likely enter into G8 discussions on African development, identified by Sarkozy as one of several priority issues. There may be additional focus on HIV given the imminent discussions on the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, endorsed at last year’s summit. In addition, several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have placed pressure the G8 to strengthen their commitment to fight HIV/AIDS, which may draw the attention of leaders to the issue. In its pre-summit media briefing, Oxfam International outlined the tremendous benefits of previous HIV/AIDS funding initiated by the G8, and urged leaders to step up further to meet the continued challenges of the epidemic.
The inclusion of HIV/AIDS as a key sub-section of the Health section in the Deauville Accountability Report suggests that the issue remains pertinent in the minds of G8 leaders. The report, while highlighting G8 contributions to fight HIV/AIDS, acknowledges that the target of universal access to treatment has not yet been achieved. It reaffirmed the commitment of G8 leaders to combat the disease, stating that “the G8 was and remains directly involved and determined to promote and guarantee the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.” Areas for further action, highlighted in the report, include the development of technical expertise, further financial support (especially for non-governmental partners), promoting human rights as a key tenant of prevention, condemning the criminalization of homosexuality, promoting sexual and reproductive health rights, strengthening health care systems, addressing gender inequalities, mitigating the social consequences of HIV, reinforcing prevention awareness, and reduce the cost of HIV drugs. These priority areas will likely be the foundation of any discussions on HIV/AIDS at the Deauville Summit.
HIV/AIDS will also feature prominently on the Spouses’ Program at the Summit, as Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has adopted it as her area of focus. Her initiative, “Born HIV-free,” will be publicized at the Deauville Summit, as Bruni urges G8 leaders and civil society to step up in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The campaign will be the topic of a working lunch on May 27th, which will likely be the focal point of the HIV/AIDS coverage at the Deauville Summit.