LocationsWednesday, 4th of December 2019, 9 a.m.
Hyatt Regency
Honourable Mr. Ravshan Rajabov, Member of Parliament
I’m very honoured to be here today at the Official Opening of the regional Youth, Women, and HIV Forum. The theme of the Forum fully reflects the core principle of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and of the AIDS response: to leave no one behind.
By signing the SDG agenda, Tajikistan, along with 193 countries in the world committed to a multisectoral, rights-based, people-centered approach to health and well-being, including HIV/AIDS epidemics. Another important Global community’s commitment to overcome HIV/AIDS epidemics is so-called 90-90-90 strategy
According to the UNAIDS Report on Global AIDS Epidemic, in many regions of the world the AIDS epidemics entered a downturn; but in our region the increase of HIV infection cases is alarming: the number of officially registered HIV cases is continuing to grow; and is the only region in the world where HIV prevalence has increased by more than 25% over the last years.
Additionally, we see the feminization of the epidemic and a significant increase in the number of new cases of HIV infection among women and young people at the regional and national levels. According to the National AIDS Center, in Tajikistan, the number of women living with HIV in recent years has increased by 5% and exceeded 40%. More than 70% of women living with HIV are in the age group of 19-39 years.
UN assist Governments, CSOs, and affected people by advancing the right to health, gender equality, human rights, employment and social protection. Jointly with our partners we put efforts to address entrenched social norms, social exclusion and legal barriers that undermine health and development outcomes. Since 2003 UN and Government of Tajikistan mobilized almost $100 million from The Global Fund for HIV Programme only.
The year of 2019 and the next 2020 are very important in terms of global processes and commitments: in November 2019, in Nairobi, the progress, achievements, gaps, and challenges related to ICPD Platform of Action were assessed. In 2020 we will be reviewing global progress on Beijing Platform of Action on women’s and girls’rights and time to review and report about the progress on global 90-90-90 strategy is upcoming.
But no progress can be achieved and reported unless the needs of all people including MSM, sex workers living with and affected by HIV, and determinants of health and vulnerability, are addressed. It’s not a secret, that people living with HIV often face discrimination, marginalization, and affected by inequality and instability.
At the 71st session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in October 2018, in addition to the State report, several alternative thematic reports on the implementation of the CEDAW convention in Tajikistan were presented. Reports highlighted multiple forms of violence experienced by WLWH: psychological violence in the form of insults, humiliations; physical violence in the form of beatings; isolation, and removing of a child, etc. etc. Stigma and discrimination reports were alarming.
Yet, in Tajikistan, there are significant legal barriers to an effective epidemic response: criminalization of HIV transmission, compulsory testing practices; and administrative punishments. Often, we hear reports on ignorance of rights, and lack of access to justice.
Today the regional InSpiteOf campaign, featuring 15 inspirational stories of overcoming and leadership of 15 women living with HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia will be launched. These strong and courageous women will be sending us their collective message: support, women’s leadership, prevention of violence, respect of rights and dignity, combating stigma and discrimination have always been and remain the most important aspects in countering the HIV epidemic.
I welcome all guests and speakers of the Forum and would like to thank all our partners for their commitment and dedication to the global and regional priorities for the best of the population in our diverse region.
