Final report from Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa

The Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) will present its final report "Securing Our Future" to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 9 June 2008 at UN Headquarters. This will be followed by a high-level panel discussion on “Regional lessons in the progress towards universal access.”
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan established the Commission in 2003 under the leadership of the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, K.Y. Amoako and 20 Commissioners, including UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot.

The Commission’s brief was to advise African governments on the extent of the AIDS epidemic’s impact on African social, political and economic institutions and on the appropriate policy responses and programmes that need to be taken in order to address the unique challenges posed by the multiple ways in which the epidemic impacts upon development and governance on the continent.

The 280 page report includes an analysis of findings and a series of key recommendations. It is the culmination of a wide consultation by the CHGA Commission¬ers in Africa and beyond. The findings and recommenda¬tions reflect the views of the more than 1,000 Africans—including policymakers, advocacy groups, nongovernmental organizations, community-based organizations, people living with HIV, research organizations and UN agen¬cies—who took part in the consultation process.

During its lifespan the Commission held five sub-regional consultations to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and constituencies. Each interactive session provided an opportunity to share experiences and discuss the way forward in their sub-regional context.

AIDS has already had limiting consequences on social and economic development in Africa. The Commission concludes that the epidemic will have dire implications for governance for years to come unless decisive actions deepen the commitment and leadership to the AIDS response. This includes leadership within each African society at national and local level, by governments and political leaders, donors, civil society, tradi¬tional and community leaders and people living with HIV.