A/HRC/19/37 I. Introduction 1. The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 16/28 on the protection of human rights in the context of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), emphasized the significance of the 2011 comprehensive review of progress achieved in realizing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS. The 2011 comprehensive review was requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 65/180 of 20 December 2010. In the fourth preambular paragraph of the resolution, the General Assembly noted that a comprehensive review was apposite to mark three decades of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, 10 years since the adoption of the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and its time-bound measurable goals and targets, and five years since the adoption of the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS with the goal of achieving universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. In its resolution 16/28, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to engage actively with the 2011 General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS, providing a human rights-based perspective, and to inform the Human Rights Council thereon. The present report is submitted pursuant to that request. 2. The present report includes background information on the context and objectives of the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS adopted at the General Assembly HighLevel Meeting on AIDS in its resolution 65/277; a summary of the human rights challenges prior to the adoption of the Political Declaration; information on the role that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights played in advocating for a human rights-based perspective; and an analysis of the 2011 Political Declaration from a human rights perspective. II. Thirty years of AIDS: context and objectives of the 2011 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS A. Rationale for a new declaration on HIV and AIDS 3. The Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted unanimously by the General Assembly at its twenty-sixth special session in its resolution S-26/2, emphasized that the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is essential to reduce vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. The Declaration highlighted the central importance of addressing stigma and related discrimination against people living with and at risk of HIV. Noting the disproportionate risk of HIV faced by women, the Declaration committed Member States to developing and implementing national strategies that promote the advancement of women and women’s full enjoyment of human rights. The 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 60/262, committed States to intensify efforts to enact, strengthen or enforce legislation, regulations and other measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against and to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people living with HIV and members of vulnerable groups. It also included a commitment to the full and active participation of people living with HIV and vulnerable groups in HIV responses, as well as to achieving the goal of universal access to HIV prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010. 4. Together these landmark declarations have galvanized global support for reversing the spread of the epidemic and accelerating momentum in providing universal access to 3