Africa Development Forum Civil Society Organization consultations: Keynote address by Lalla Ben Barka deputy executive secretary economic commission for Africa

Abstract

Keynote Address by Lalla Ben Barka Deputy Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Africa at the Africa Development Forum Civil Society Organization consultations. Ms. Barka, on her remarks highlighted that, the objective of this meeting is to provide a forum for CSO participants to think about and discuss their input to the ADF meeting and consult on how to build networks of CSOs across Africa around an HIV/AIDS response. HIV/AIDS is not just a health crisis, it is also the foremost economic and social crises we face in the continent. Aside from this human tragedy, the pandemic has wiped out many of the socio-economic gains of the past three decades. The challenge of HIV/AIDS calls for the best leadership the continent can offer. The pandemic will require the active engagement of the broader spectrum of society at all level, from the family and household through civil society, national political leadership to the international level. Civil society organizations have already taken leadership roles in many African countries in combating HIV/AIDS.