Address by Minister Bibeau to the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

September 22, 2016 - Montréal, Quebec

Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

It is an honour to be with you today—and to be among the greatest number of heads of state and government ever present at a replenishment conference.

Your presence clearly demonstrates that the whole world is united in the fight against the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis [TB] and malaria epidemics.

And, after the first day of pledges, we have made significant progress toward our goal.

But we must carry this momentum forward to the end of the day—because this replenishment conference is, first and foremost, a message of hope to the world.

We have a unique opportunity today to mark Montréal as the place where we decided, together, to end these epidemics for good by 2030.

To maintain the gains and to accelerate progress, our ambitious goal is to raise $13 billion.

These resources will allow the Global Fund to:

• save millions more lives;
• support partner countries in building resilient and sustainable health systems; and
• enable us to continue our work of advancing human rights and gender equality.

The world is currently facing significant challenges.

In addition to the HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria epidemics, crises and conflicts are increasing in number and lasting longer.

Climate change threatens the water access, health and even safety and security of millions of people, particularly women and girls.

This year, 2016, has been a record-breaking year: the total number of displaced people worldwide is now 65 million.

Borders are closing. Violence and intolerance are increasing.

So our meeting today on the Global Fund is no accident.

We are here because we know from instinct and experience that the only way to overcome such challenges is for us—governments of developed and developing countries, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and activists—to unite and to pool our resources and talents.

Today in Montréal, we have decided together to put an end to HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria and to eliminate them for good by 2030.

Can we do it? Of course we can. Remember, back in 2000, when AIDS was a death sentence? The world came together, and look where we are now.

At the peak of the AIDS crisis 15 years ago, the world rallied and said, “We can do this: we can push back against this epidemic.”

As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said recently in South Africa, “Sixteen years ago, less than 1 percent of all people living with HIV in poorer countries had access to treatment, and many died waiting for drugs.”

And look where we are right now:

• 20 million lives saved;
• 9.2 million people receiving antiretroviral treatments;
• the number of AIDS-related deaths down by 45 percent; and
• the cost of medicines and bed nets continuously decreasing.

By working in partnership with the most affected countries, the Global Fund is also helping to build stronger health systems.

I was in Senegal two weeks ago. My counterpart there told me how the Government of Senegal was able to better respond to the Ebola crisis and save even more lives through its investment in the country’s health system—thanks to the Global Fund.

So now we have moved from saying “we can push back against these epidemics” to “we can end these epidemics.” For good. By 2030.

That is a powerful message of hope to the world—hope that we can address the root causes of these diseases: poverty and inequality.

And, as you know, poverty is sexist. Women and girls are still the most affected by the double challenge of poverty and epidemics.

We know that poverty is fuelled by inequality and marginalization.

But by supporting the Global Fund, we are reaching and working with the most vulnerable populations:

• the displaced;
• the sexually exploited;
• the young girls forced into marriage;
• the drug users;
• the sex workers; and
• those persecuted for their sexual orientations.

Today, we are not just supporting a medical response. We are fighting for human rights, for gender equality and for women and girls.

And Canada is committed to helping the poorest and most vulnerable by lending its voice to those who need it most.

By working with partners to find common solutions.

To uphold human dignity.

Thank you.

Contacts

Bernard Boutin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-5977
bernard.boutin@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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