Governments around the world are reneging on their commitments toward Universal Access to HIV care, treatment and prevention. The decision by the U.S. government to downgrade the effort on HIV/AIDS is now well-known and documented. European governments are also pulling back in their support for AIDS care, treatment and prevention. Governments in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, have failed to live up to their commitment to fund AIDS treatment and other health needs. Already, access to HIV treatment is being cut back. Waiting lists are growing. Drug stock outs are increasing at an alarming rate all over the world. Instead of meeting Universal Access and MDG targets, governments around the world are retreating from their commitments. .
There are many important discussions that will take place during the International AIDS Conference from July 18 23rd in Vienna. However, in order for any of those discussions to have any relevance, ALL conferees must first address the growing crisis in funding for AIDS care and prevention. All conferees must now become AIDS activists!
Those working to meet the needs of people living with and at-risk for AIDS all the conference attendees know what incredible progress has been made in the last eight years reductions in AIDS deaths, hospitalizations and new infections. You know how the investment in AIDS has served to strengthen health systems, reduced TB and malaria deaths, improved maternal and child health and built community engagement in public health efforts as never before. Now is not the time to scale back our commitments to AIDS. Now is the time to fulfill the commitments to UNIVERSAL ACCESS FOR ALL.
Action
We propose a peaceful though raucous demonstration in front of the conference center to take place as people are arriving for the Opening Ceremonies. The demonstration will call attention to the funding crisis and ask people to join in. The theme and information presented at the demonstration will carry over into other events throughout the conference and to other events throughout 2010 around the world. This is a peaceful action with no intention of breaking any laws or jeopardizing peoples safety.
The point is to force people to recognize the seriousness of the situation to say that unless all of us pay close attention to the funding issues, none of the other discussions at the conference will matter. The point is to force people to recognize the crisis as the very first thing they encounter at the conference to say that coming to this meeting should not be easy. The proposed action will not stop the conference from progressing and that is not its intention. It is to make people stop, listen and hopefully realize that this is not business as usual that the IAC party is not a party, but a place for serious confrontation about AIDS, health and the failure of governments.
For further information and to endorse this action, contact:
Matthew Kavanagh- HealthGap - matthew@healthgap.org
ENDORSEMENTS (List in formation):
Health GAP
International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC)
Housing Works
Treatment Action Campaign
ARASA (AIDS Rights Alliance of Southern Africa)
ITPC RU
Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group
APN+ (Network of Asians & Pacific Islanders Living with HIV)
Delhi Network of People Living with HIV
West Africa Treatment Access Group
Central Africa Treatment Access Group
East Africa Treatment Access Movement
Coalición Internacionales Activistas Tratamiento (CIAT)
Caribbean Treatment Action Group
Caribbean Coalition of Vulnerable Communities
Latin American Coalition of AIDS Service Organizations (LACASO)
International Community of Women Living with HIV East Africa
Positive Action for Treatment Access (PATA) - Nigeria
Pan-African Treatment Access Movement
Together Against AIDS Positive Association (TAAPA) - Uganda
Lean On Me - Kenya
Womankind Nigeria
International Community of Women living with HIV&AIDS (ICW Nigeria)
Network of African People Living with HIV (NAP+)
World AIDS Campaign
Huesped Argentina |
