US State Dept slams Congress for failure to renew anti-AIDS program
US State Dept slams Congress for failure to renew anti-AIDS program Reuters
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US State Dept slams Congress for failure to renew anti-AIDS program
WASHINGTON, Oct 2 (Reuters) – The failure of Congress to reauthorize the main U.S. program aimed at reducing the spread of AIDS sends a message that Washington is “backing down” from its leadership on the issue, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday.
A deadline to renew long-term funding for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) passed on Saturday, despite a stop gap deal reached to avoid a partial government shutdown.
“In the short term, PEPFAR will be able to continue providing the lifesaving prevention, care, and treatment services in partnership with PEPFAR-supportive countries,” Miller told a reporters at a regular press briefing. He declined to say how long current funding would last.
“However, the fact that Congress did not re-authorize the program sends a message to partners around the world, especially in Africa, that we are backing down from our leadership in ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat.”
The Biden administration supports a five-year extension of PEPFAR, which began in 2003 under Republican President George W. Bush and enjoyed bipartisan support until recently. The program was renewed five years ago by unanimous consent – with no objections from members of either party – in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
This year, Republican opponents of abortion rights, led by Chris Smith, who leads a House subcommittee responsible for the program, came out against a five-year reauthorization. Smith insisted PEPFAR should not be reauthorized unless it barred nongovernmental organizations that used any funding to promote or provide abortion services.
In a statement, Smith accused the Biden administration of changing the program to support abortion access overseas, something the administration denies.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases.
- SDG 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
- SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 3.3: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 population.
- Indicator for SDG 5.6: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
- Indicator for SDG 10.3: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases, and other communicable diseases. | Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 population. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences. | Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. | Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law. |
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Source: reuters.com
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