These targets and priorities were agreed upon in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS that was adopted by 189 countries during a previous UNGASS on HIV and AIDS in 2001. The declaration outlines priority areas for international action such as leadership, prevention, treatment, human rights, and resources needed to fund a successful response to the epidemic.

It contains 66 goals, 12 of which specifically refer to the intersection between gender inequality and HIV and AIDS, including commitments to decrease women's vulnerability to HIV infection by eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, including violence against women and girls; creating national strategies to promote women's human rights; empowering women; and providing gender-based health care and health services.

The declaration also requires UN Member States to submit country reports every two years and those that were presented at this June meeting will be used to inform the 2008 UNAIDS report on the global epidemic that will be launched at the all-important XVII International AIDS Society Conference that will be held in August 2008 in Mexico City. The next UN High-Level meeting on this topic will be held in 2011.

HIV and AIDS Funding Gaps and Burden of Care Among Critical Issues for Women

Women's organizations highlighted the fact that goals set out for women and HIV and AIDS in the Declaration of Commitment remain partially or completely unfulfilled by many governments and that there has been more rhetoric than action.

Further, there are serious gaps in funding that prevent full implementation of these goals for the progress of women. For example, one of the goals stipulates that governments implement national strategies that promote the advancement of women and women's full enjoyment of all human rights. However, earlier this year the United Nations Secretary-General released a stock-taking report on the execution of the Declaration of Commitment, which notes that of the 80% of countries that now have women-focused policies, only 53% provide these programs with budgeted support.

Read more: Women's UN Report Network website