The United Nations has played a critical role in the fight for freedom of the Namibian people and in the birth of our free and independent nation. Our freedom is the foundation on which we are building our future. Namibia is proud to be a signatory to the Millennium Declaration. During the Millennium Summit in New York in 2000, our Prime Minister, Theo-Ben Gurirab, as the President of the UN General Assembly, oversaw the drafting of the Millennium Declaration. His Excellency the President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Sam Nujoma, co-chaired the Millennium Summit. The Summit was a landmark occasion that brought together an unprecedented number of nations to form a global consensus on the challenges facing humanity and, more importantly, on what needs to be done to overcome these challenges.
The CCA comes just after the completion of the first progress report on the Millennium Development Goals, which documented tremendous progress in the years after Independence in improving access to basic social services in critical areas such as education, health and clean water, especially in the rural areas. However, years of progress in human development and the fulfilment of the full range of human rights is being diminished by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As the CCA documents, the epidemic, combined with high levels of structural poverty, inequality and food insecurity, as well as the erosion of capacities at all levels of society from the household to the central Government, represents a new type of development crisis - a triple threat - a formidable development challenge; but a challenge that can be overcome.
We know now what it takes to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic and its many determinants and manifestations. First and foremost among the many facets needed are: visionary leadership at all levels and mobilization of communities, civil society and traditional leaders and; zero-tolerance towards discrimination against women and stigmatization against people living with HIV/AIDS. The Government of the Republic of Namibia remains deeply committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS and the promotion of human rights for all Namibians.
By 2030, we should all be proud to look back knowing that the CCA and the resulting UN Development Assistance Framework served as indispensable tools for Namibia and its partners in the international community to take us towards our long-term Vision for Prosperity, Harmony, Peace and Political Stability. The UN in Namibia remains a true and trusted friend and partner. We warmly welcome the commitment and determination by a more focused and streamlined UN System in Namibia to stand with us in translating our freedom into real choices and opportunities for development.