Alexander De Croo pledges 4 million euros to UNAIDS
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo has met today with Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. This organization is an important multilateral partner of the Belgian Development Cooperation. During the meeting, a framework arrangement for the cooperation during the next four years was signed. Minister De Croo decided on a core contribution of 4 million euros to UNAIDS .
Alexander De Croo: "UNAIDS is a successful organisation. Since 2000, it has managed to prevent 30 million new HIV infections and 8 million deaths from HIV / AIDS, to reduce the rate of children infection by almost 60%, and to put 15 million HIV-infected people under treatment. That is a nice track record in a major battle that Belgium continues to support consistently."
UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, is committed to an accelerated, comprehensive and coordinated global action on the HIV / AIDS epidemic. With a core contribution of 4 million euros for this year, the total contribution of the Belgian Development Cooperation to UNAIDS for the period 2013-2016 will amount to 18.52 million euros. Belgium is the tenth largest donor to UNAIDS.
During their meeting, Alexander De Croo and Michel Sidibé discussed the role of UNAIDS within the UN system in the global and national coordination to combat the HIV epidemic. De Croo emphasized that for Belgium, this role needs to be strengthened. The outcome of the recent High Level Meeting on AIDS, held in New York June 8-10, was also on the agenda. Finally, De Croo and Sidibé discussed the importance of an integrated approach to the HIV epidemic within national health systems and a multi-sectorial and human rights-based approach.
