Campaigners to G8: Keep Your Promises

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We, the undersigned welcome the British government’s recent reaffirmation of its commitment to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The announcement is an important recognition that achieving universal access must be a central element of any global health agenda. We call on all G8 member-states to follow suit by contributing to a clear transparent strategy that dedicates resources to meeting specific spending targets to reach the universal access goal.

The failure of the G8 member-states to follow-on the historic Gleneagles commitment to achieve universal access by 2010 by adopting and pursuing a clear evidence-informed strategy supported by firm resource commitments is a reminder that any global health agenda will likewise fail unless it is supported by leadership commitment, strategic purpose and solid resource commitments.

Working for universal access has contributed to the acceptance of the need for a broader global health agenda and some progress towards reaching Millennium Development Goals 4, 5, and 6. Though the gains that have been made are insufficient, it is clear that properly resourced, the steps necessary to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support have always had the potential for providing clear outcomes and the progress in reaching those outcomes has always had the potential of producing evidence-based results.
Even with insufficient resources, work to achieve universal access has made important contributions to strengthening health systems and in smaller degrees to integrating disease-specific programmes, improving reproductive health and beginning to address the shortage of health care workers. By any measure the progress is falling short of the needs, so the challenge now is to expand work on these critical health needs that are known to both contribute to MDGs 4, 5, and 6 and fill gaps and overcome barriers such as the global health workforce crisis to achieving universal access.

We are mindful of the need incorporate additional elements in the response to achieve universal access. We are fearful that such an ambitious effort will reverse rather than contribute to progress unless it is supported by a clear leadership commitment, guided by strategy and backed with predictable resources. We are hopeful that a mechanism is established that will underscore the G8’s leadership commitment and be tasked with developing a clear strategy, a plan for providing predictable resources and serve as a means to hold member-states accountable for their commitments.

As evidence of the G8’s good faith and willingness to take on new commitments, We call on leaders at the 2008 Hokkaido-Toyako summit to fulfil those it has pledged previously:

1. Ensure universal access remains on the G8 agenda

We agree with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda’s recent statement that, “HIV/AIDS is poised to inflict an even heavier toll than even the plague in the Middle Ages, becoming the most damaging infectious disease in human history.[1]” Until the G8’s signature goal of universal access is reached and Millennium Development Goal 6 has been realised, We firmly believe that AIDS must remain a part of the G8 agenda.
2. Publish firm plans and timetables to deliver existing commitments

We are simply demanding that the G8 provide firm plans and timetables to show ‘who will pay how much, when,’ for the key commitments made, particularly those made at the G8 summit in 2007. Key commitments from the 2007 G8 summit included:

1. Providing $60bn for AIDS, TB, malaria and strengthening health systems over the coming years.
2. Ensuring the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria can distribute $6-8bn per year by 2010.
3. Contributing significantly to the $1.5bn needed to achieve universal access to prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services by 2010.
4. Contributing significantly to the $1.8bn needed to achieve universal access to paediatric HIV treatment by 2010.
5. Contributing significantly to the $1.5bn for maternal and child health care and voluntary family planning.
6. Providing support for countries to produce, import and export affordable generic medicines.

3. Establish a high level G8 AIDS Mechanism to review progress and inform G8 strategy and commitments on HIV and AIDS.

Any mechanism established by the G8 on global health must include a component that is dedicated to AIDS. We call on the G8 to establish a high level AIDS mechanism dedicated to providing strategic guidance and building on the first review of progress on G8 infectious disease commitments issued by the German Presidency in 2007. The G8’s signature commitment on universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 has faltered for lack of a G8 strategy./

We call on G8 member states to designate focal points to assist the G8 AIDS mechanism in developing a common plan of action. It should continue the G8’s practice of drawing upon UNAIDS, WHO and relevant UN agencies for technical expertise in planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of efforts to respond to AIDS

Until a mechanism is established, We call on the government of Japan to follow the example of the German Presidency in issuing a review of G8 actions on AIDS, TB and malaria as was called for in the St. Petersburg and Heiligendamm summits
Like the 2000 Kyushu-Okinawa summit, this year’s G8 summit will leave a legacy. The question is whether this summit’s legacy will be one of action appropriate to the challenges of our times or just another meeting filled with more promises postponed. We call on the G8 to honour the AIDS commitments that have already been made.

Accion Ciudadana Contra el SIDA (ACCSI)-Venezuela
ACT-UP – Paris - France
Action against AIDS - Germany-Germany
ActionAid
Advocates for Youth-USA
African Civil Society Coalition on HIV/AIDS (ACSC)
Africa Japan Forum-Japan
African Services Committee-USA
AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific
AIDES- France
Alberta Labour History Institute -Canada
Animation Rurale, Coopérative et Organisation des Paysans (ARCOOP/UNTC)-Democratic Republic of Congo
APON-Bangladesh
Asian Harm Reduction Network-Thailand
Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
Asociación de Mujeres Meretrices de Argentina (AMMAR)-Argentina
Astitva-India
Australian Council of Trade Unions-Australia
Australian Education Union-Australia
Bangladesh Free Trade Union Congress (BFTUC)-Bangladesh
Bangladesh Mukto Sramik Federation-Bangladesh
Bankers Union of Zambia-Zambia
Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia-Zambia
Botswana Federation of Trade Unions-Botswana
Botswana mine Workers Union ( BMWU)-Botswana
Bus Drivers and Taxis Workers Union-Zambia
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)-Canada
CGT-France
COC Nederland-Netherlands
Communication Workers Union-Ghana
Communication Workers Union of Malawi (COWUMA)-Malawi
Community Aid-Republic of Maldives
Confederación de Trabajadores de la Educación de la República Argentina (CTERA)-Argentina
Confederacion Unitaria De Trabajadores De Honduras-Hondurus
Confédération des Syndicats Autonôme du Cameroun-Cameroon
Confederation Des Syndicats Autonomes Du Senegal(C.S.A)-Senegal
Confédération Nationale des Travailleurs du Sénégal-Senegal
Confederation of Burundian Trade Unions -Burundi
Confederation of Indonesian Trade Union (CITU)-Indonesia
Confédération Syndicale des Travailleurs du Cameroun -Cameroon
Confédération Syndicale Indépendante du Luxembourg -Luxemborg
Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)-South Africa
Consentimiento De Declaración De La Unión Sindical Obrera (USO)
Construction Building Workers Union-Ghana
Coordination Nationale (UNTC/SIDA)-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coordination of Action Research on AIDS & Mobility, CARAM- Asia
Copperbelt University Workers Union-Zambia
Département des femmes travailleuses "UNTC/DFT"-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Development Action for Women Network (DAWN)-Philippines
Dutch FNV Confederation-Netherlands
EANNASO -Comoros Network-Comoros
Education International (EI)-
El Centro de Estudios de Salud Seguridad e Higiene Industrial (CESSHI)-Ecuador
EMPOWER-India
Environment & Community Development Information Centre-Sri Lanka
European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG)-Belgium
Fédération des Syndicats des Employés de la Santé,Pharmacies et Assimilés du Cameroun (FSESPAC) -Cameroon
Federation National Des Postes Et Telecommunications-Morocco
Fédération nationale de l'enseignement supérieur, science et culture-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération Nationale des Cadres-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des Enseignants et Educateurs sociaux -Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des travailleurs de l'alimentation et boissons-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des travailleurs des Mines et Métallurgie-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des travailleurs des plantations -Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des travailleurs du bois et du bâtiment-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des travailleurs du pétrole, énergie et chimie-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale des travailleurs du transport-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale du Commerce, hotellerie, restaurant, café et économie informelle-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération Nationale du Personnel de la Communication-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération nationale du personnel de la Santé-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Fédération Nationale du Personnel de l'Etat et des collectivités-Democratic Republic of the Congo
FGPS/UGTT-Tunisia
FNTBAIF-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Foundation Mainline-Netherlands
Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM)-Argentina
General Agricultural Workers Union-Ghana
General Private Road Transport Union-Ghana
General Transport Petroleum and Chemicals Workers Union-Ghana
GESTOS-Brazil
Ghana Mine Workers Union-Ghana
Ghana Trades Union Congress-Ghana
Global AIDS Alliance - USA
Global Foundation for Social Harmony & Sustainable Development-Canada
Global Network of People living with HIV/AIDS - North America (GNP+NA)-Canada
Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GNP+)
GlobalSIDA – Spain
Global Treatment Access Group (GTAG) - Canada
Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)-Cameroon
Grain and Meat Workers Union-Zambia
Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS)-India
Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA)-Guyana
Health & Development Networks (HDN)-Thailand
Health Services Workers Union-Ghana
Histadrut-Israel
HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee (HACC)-Cambodia
Hoadedhdhoo Association for Development-Republic of Maldives
Hotel Catering and Allied Workers Union of Zambia-Zambia
Hotel Employees Federation Of India-India
Humanity for Orphans,Youth and Widows Initiatives Kenya ( HOYWIK)-Kenya
ICW Namibia -Nambia
Independent Education Union of Australia-Australia
Institut Supérieur des sciences du travail "ISST/UNTC"-Democratic Republic of Congo
Instituto Laboral Andino (ILA)
Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) - Canada
International AIDS Women's Caucus (IAWC)
International Civil Society Support (ICSS)-Netherlands
International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW)
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions
International Textile, Garment & Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF)-Africa
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)-Asia Pacific
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)-Africa
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
International Treatment Preparedness Coalition-
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations, IUF / UITA
International union of Food, Agriculture,Hotels Catering restaurant ,Tobacco and Allied Associations-Africa Region
ISWOP-Pakistan
Japan AIDS and Society Association-Japan
LA féderation nationale de l'alimentation et de l'hotellerie du Burkina (fF.N.A.H.B )-Burkina
Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ)-Zimbabwe
Lady Mermaid's Bureau -Uganda
Latin American and Caribbean Council or AIDS Service Organizations (LACCASO)
Living Positively-Canada
Local Government Workers Union-Ghana
Malawi Congress Of Trade Unions (MCTU)-Malawi
Mamio Namen Project Foundation-Suriname
Maritime and Dock Workers Union-Ghana
Mauritius Labour Congress-Mauritania
Mauritius Labour Congress -Mauritius
Medical Care Development Inputs (MCDI) -Kenya
Mineworkers Union of Zambia-Zambia
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (in 70 countries)-
MSM: No Political Agenda - MSMNPA-Trinidad and Tobago
National AIDS Committee -Guyana
National Association of PLHA-Nepal
National Energy Sector Allied Workers Union-Zambia
National Executive Council of Nigeria Labour-Nigeria
National Federation of the Banks and Financial Organisations of Cameroun -Cameroon
National Professional Teachers' Organisation Of South Africa ( Naptosa )-South Africa
National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova -Republic of Moldova
National Union of Building and General Workers-Zambia
National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers-Zambia
National Union of Communication Workers-Zambia
National Union Of Petroleum And Natural Gas Workers-Nigeria
National Union of Plantation and Agricultural Workers-Zambia
National Union of Public Service Workers-Zambia
National Union of Seamen-Ghana
Network of Zambian People living Positively (NZP+)-Zambia
Network of Zimbabwean Positive Women (NZPW+)-Zimbabwe
New York City Central Labour Council, AFL-CIO -USA
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions-New Zealand
NTEU - University of Southern Queensland-Australia
Osservatorio Italiano sull’Azione Globale contro l’AIDS/Italian Network against AIDS - Italy
Organisation des Travailleurs Unis du Congo (OTUC)-Congo
Oxfam GB,Global HIV and AIDS Programme
Partners Uganda-Uganda
Pemba Island Relief Organisation (PIRO) -Tanzania
Presbyterian Hospital Society-India
Presbytery of the Ohio Valley-Task Force-USA
Public Services International (PSI)
Public Services Workers Union-Ghana
Public Utility workers union-Ghana
Railway Engine Men Union-Ghana
Railway Workers Union-Ghana
Railway Workers Union of Zambia-Zambia
Ramapo Federation of State College Teachers, AFT Local 2274-USA
Recovering Nepal-Nepal
Rel-UITA -Latin America
RESULTS Educational Fund-USA
SANGRAM( Sampada Grameen Mahila Sanstha)-India
Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC) –Singapore
Stop AIDS Campaign - UK
Street Works-USA
Sudanese PLHA Care Association-Sudan
Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU)-Swaziland
SYNACOM-Cameroon
SYNBANK-Niger
Syndicat des Agents des Postes et Télécommunications du Tchad (Syanpostel_Tchad)-Republic of Chad
Syndicat des chargées et chargés de cours de l'Université de Montréal-Canada
Syndicat des Techniciens et Ouvriers de la Société Nationale d'Electricité du Burkina (STOB / SONABEL)-Burkina
Syndicat Des Travailleurs Des Emtreprises De Boissons-Togo
SYNTIPCI-Ivory Coast
Teachers and Education Workers Union-Ghana
The Christian Trade Union of Belgium-Belgium
The Confederation of Burundi Labor Unions (COSYBU)-Burundi
Timber and wood Workers Union -Ghana
Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC)-France
Transport Workers Union, Local 100-USA
Treatment Advocacy & Literacy Campaign-Zambia
Uganda Mines, Metal and Allied Workers Union [UMMAWU]-Uganda
Union Ceylon Workers Congress-Sri Lanka
Union Network International – Abidjan-Côte d'Ivoire
Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance-Ghana
Union Provinciale de Kinshasa-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale de l'Equateur -Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Bandundu-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Bas-Congo-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Kasai Occidental-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Kasai oriental-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Katanga-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Maniema-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Nord Kivu-Democratic Republic of the Congo
Union Provinciale du Sud Kivu-Democratic Republic of the Congo
United Civil society Coalition for HIV and AIDS ,TB and MALARIA (UCCATM) -Kenya
United Mineworkers Union-Sierra Leone
United Steel Workers of Amercia-USA
University of Zambia Allied Workers Union fo Zambia-Zambia
University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union-Zambia
VAMP(Veshya Annay Mukti Parishad)-India
Women Work & Health Initiative ( WWHI )-India
World AIDS Campaign
Youth Coalition
Youth Integration On Rights Health and Eradication of HIV/AIDS (YIRHEA)-Nigeria
Y-PEER,Youth Peer Education Network
Zambia AIDSLaw Research & Advocacy Network-Zambia
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions-Zambia
Zambia Graphical Workers Union-Zambia
Zambia Local Authority Workers Union-Zambia
Zambia National Union of Teachers-Zambia
Zambia Revenue Authority workers Union-Zambia
Zambia Security Officers and Allied Workers Union-Zambia

[1]_{Opening Remarks by H.E. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister of Japan on the Occasion of "From Okinawa to Toyako: Dealing with Communicable Diseases as Global Human Security Threats," May 23, 2008}

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