It’s not much fun representing an NGO at the World Health Assembly (WHA). Professional associations like IAS are allowed “Observer status” at UN meetings. This is definitely a government gig – a little bit shocking for those of us lulled by the rather inclusive style of new AIDS approaches like the Global Fund. But the UN is all about the world’s governments. That’s not always a bad thing. Big government gatherings can have important outcomes – making resolutions and guidelines that change how governments do things for their people. And of course WHO has a vital role in setting health standards and advising Health Ministries on effective responses. But there is often a risk that those who reach the elevated state of government simply don’t know what will make a difference for the people they serve – and they are subject to the lurches of political interest and change. For AIDS and development this is often dangerous. Development takes time; AIDS can’t be solved with “quick fixes”.

This is a defining year for AIDS, 2010 is the deadline established by the international community to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care for all those in need. Sadly the WHA planners hardly seemed to notice that this is a special year for AIDS, but then this is nothing new. AIDS rarely makes it on to the agenda of the WHA, so the only way anyone could speak about AIDS was to intervene (if allowed) in the debate on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). And for a civil society “Observer” that meant jumping through a large number of tedious bureaucratic hoops. More...