Ireland will contribute an additional $30 million annually to the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Taoiseach has told the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In a 10-minute speech yesterday morning, Mr Ahern told delegates from 180 countries the disease had claimed more victims than any conflict since the second World War. Mr Ahern said the money would be spent "directly on helping the poorest of the poor in the fight against AIDS". Asked later how much would be allocated to the UN's Global AIDS and Health Fund, he said he would discuss this with the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan.
Mr Ahern told the delegates Ireland's development budget would increase by more than $100 million next year, including the $30 million devoted to HIV/AIDS. Mr Ahern said there should be greater debt relief for countries afflicted by the disease. "If this means that countries with high prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS should receive debt cancellation, Ireland will agree," he said.
Indirectly referring to differences involving Western and Islamic countries on a proposed reference to homosexuals and other vulnerable groups in the UN draft declaration, Mr Ahern said: "In Ireland we continue to work to overcome the forces of denial, prejudice and fear. I am sure that many others in this room are also struggling to push forward prevention campaigns in accordance with your traditions and cultures. This is not easy work but it is vital to save millions of young lives."
The issue was also taken up by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, who told a discussion on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights of her "astonishment" at the resistance to including guidelines referring to these groups in the draft declaration.
They were only guidelines and could be adapted to different circumstances, she said. It was necessary to "speak openly and even bluntly" about these matters.
Mrs Robinson praised the frankness of the Prime Minister of Mozambique, Mr Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi, who said 37 per cent of 16-year-olds in his country had HIV/AIDS and would die before they were 30.
Mr Mocumbi highlighted the difficulties faced by teenage girls married to much older men who might expose them to sexually transmitted diseases. "Abstinence is not an option for these child brides. Those who try to negotiate condom use commonly face violence or rejection," he said.
Sweden yesterday announced a contribution of $60 million to the Global AIDS and Health Fund. Uganda was the first developing nation to make a contribution, donating $2 million. Pledges to the fund now stand at $600 million.
South African delegates rejected criticism of their President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, for not attending the special session despite the high incidence of AIDS in his country and the fact that he was in the US visiting President Bush. Mr Mbeki has in the past aroused controversy by questioning the link between HIV and AIDS. Editorial comment: 17
The full text of the Taoiseach's address to the UN General Assembly is available on the Irish Times website, www.ireland.com