1987 Venice Summit Chairman's Statement on AIDS

Analytical Studies
G7/8 Summits • G7 Venice Summit

Chairman's Statement on AIDS

Venice, June 10, 1987

On the basis of the concern already shown in the past for health problems (London Chairman's oral statement on cancer and Bonn Chairman's oral statement on drugs), the Heads of State or Government and the representatives of the European Community affirm that AIDS [acquired immune deficiency syndrome] is one of the biggest potential health problems in the world. National efforts need to be intensified and made more effective by international cooperation and concerted campaigns to prevent AIDS from spreading further, and will have to ensure that the measures taken are in accordance with the principles of human rights. In this connection, they agree that:

International cooperation will not be improved by duplication of effort. Priority will have to be given to strengthening existing organizations by giving them full political support and by providing them with the necessary financial, personnel and administrative resources. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the best forum for drawing together international efforts on a worldwide level to combat AIDS, and all countries should be encouraged fully to cooperate with the WHO and support its special program of AIDSrelated activities;
In the absence of a vaccine or cure, the best hope for the combat and prevention of AIDS rests on a strategy based on educating the public about the seriousness of the AIDS epidemic, the ways the AIDS virus is transmitted and the practical steps each person can take to avoid acquiring or spreading it. Appropriate opportunities should be used for exchanging information about national education campaigns and domestic policies. The Heads of State or Government and the representatives of the European Community welcome the proposal by the United Kingdom government to cosponsor, with the WHO, an international conference at ministerial level on public education about AIDS; and
Further cooperation should be promoted for basic and clinical studies on prevention, treatment and the exchange of information (as in the case of the EC program). The Heads of State or Government and the representatives of the European Community welcome and support joint action by researchers in the seven countries (as in the case of the joint program of French and American researchers, which is being enlarged, and similar programs) and all over the world for the cure of the disease, clinical testing on components of the virus and the development of a successful vaccine. The Heads of State or Government and the representatives of the European Community welcome the proposal by the president of the French Republic aiming at the creation of an international committee on the ethical issues raised by AIDS.

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Source: U.S., Department of State, Bulletin, No. 2125 (August 1987): 10-11; Canada, Department of External Affairs, Economic Summits, 1975-1987: Declarations (Ottawa, 198-): Tab 36 [unpublished]; Canada, Department of External Affairs, Toronto Economic Summit, June 19-21, 1988 (Ottawa, 1988), p. 51.

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