The United Nations has opened an international gathering on HIV/AIDS to review progress against the disease and affirm new commitments. The High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS is expected to adopt a pledge to ensure universal treatment by 2015. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS head Michel Sidibé addressed the opening session.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “Today’s historic meeting is a call to action. First, we need all partners to come together in global solidarity as never before. That is the only way to truly provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care by 2015.”

Michel Sidibé: “It is not a question of paying now or paying later. Either we pay now, or we pay forever. Getting to zero also demands that we unleash the power of innovation.”

As the gathering began, hundreds of people from around the world marched to the United Nations to demand firm commitments to combat HIV/AIDS. Democracy Now! spoke to Lucy Chesire of TB Action Group Kenya.

Lucy Chesire: “When you look at the African continent, we have over 1,500 people who are dying of TB every day. We know very well at the end of the day that TB is the leading killer of people living with HIV and AIDS. And for me to be in this meeting, even during this […] process, I would really want to hold the leaders accountable to the promises they have made in addressing the two diseases together.”