From June 25-27, 2001, the United Nations held the first ever General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The Special Session addressed the pandemic not only as a global public health issue, but also as a looming development and security crisis requiring a multi-sector, multi-front strategy. This Declaration of Commitment, adopted by the General Assembly during the UNGASS on HIV/AIDS, outlines the United Nation's commitment on HIV/AIDS, describes the background of the epidemic, leadership initiatives, prevention as the mainstay of response, HIV/AIDS and human rights, and research and development initiatives, and lays out targets that need to be met in order to address the devastation of this epidemic.