UNAIDS was established through ECOSOC resolution 1994/24 of 26 July 1994 to undertake a joint and cosponsored United Nations programme on HIV on the basis of co-ownership, collaboration, planning and execution and an equitable sharing of responsibility with six cosponsoring United Nations organizations (the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Bank). This group was joined by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 1999, the International Labour Organization in 2001, the World Food Programme in 2003, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2004 and UN Women in 2012. UNAIDS is now composed of 11 United Nations organizations and the UNAIDS Secretariat.
Six programme objectives for UNAIDS were listed in ECOSOC resolution 1994/24:
UNAIDS reports to ECOSOC on a biannual basis through the Report of the Executive Director of UNAIDS, transmitted to ECOSOC by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral. It is practice that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the PCB cofacilitate the development of a resolution on the Joint Programme.
UNAIDS governance has been recognized by the 54 Member States of ECOSOC in ECOSOC resolutions as a model for the United Nations system for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal agenda.
In resolution E/2017/L.27 in 2017, ECOSOC stated that it, “Recognizes the critical importance of the Joint Programme in actively contributing to and engaging in the follow-up and review process of progress on the 2030 Agenda, including at the high-level political forum, to ensure that adequate attention is given to the HIV and AIDS response and its interlinkages with the other Sustainable Development Goals and targets.”
In resolution E/RES/2013/11 in 2013, ECOSOC stated that it, “Recognizes the value of the lessons learned from the global HIV and AIDS response for the post-2015 development agenda, including the lessons learned from the unique approach of the Joint Programme.” It also stated that it, “Recognizes that the Joint Programme offers the United Nations a useful example to be considered, as appropriate, as a way to enhance strategic coherence, coordination, results-based focus and country-level impact, based on national contexts and priorities, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/226 of 21 December 2012 on the quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system.”
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