“Each year on World AIDS Day we come together as an international community to reflect on the progress we have made combating this horrific disease, as well as recognize how much we have left to accomplish.

 

“We cannot reach our goal of combating this disease without acknowledging the problems that still persist. In 2007, 33 million people worldwide were still living with HIV, 2.7 million were newly infected, and 2 million people were lost to AIDS-related deaths. Those numbers represent real people, and we cannot allow their suffering to continue.

 

“The entire world is affected by HIV/AIDS and thus the entire world shares the responsibility of committing to the prevention of its spread and finding its cure. America must lead this fight, and lead the world towards a future free from AIDS."