Civil Society Letter to G8 Heads of State

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See pdf versions below with signatures, last updated 5 June 2007

2 June 2007

Dear G8 Heads of State,

Re: Civil society demands you keep the promise on universal access.

We are writing as campaigners, activists, people living with and affected by HIV & AIDS, and civil society organisations working to fight the AIDS pandemic.

We welcome Germany’s commitment to ensure that Africa and the AIDS pandemic are high on the G8 and EU agenda, in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We are particularly heartened by Chancellor Merkel’s focus on addressing the feminisation of the pandemic.

As Germany presides over both the G8 and the EU this year, we believe it is a historic opportunity for you to deliver on the 2005 Gleneagles commitment to universal access by 2010. It is two years since the G8 set this ambitious target and we are concerned that the additional funds needed to achieve this goal have not been identified, let alone made available to scale up the world’s response against AIDS.

We are gravely concerned that the international community has lost the momentum of the 3 by 5 campaign to rapidly scale up treatment. We welcomed the universal access commitment spearheaded by the G8 in 2005. However with only three years to 2010, the G8 is on the brink of squandering its legacy of having played a leadership role in promoting this bold promise. For example, at the current rate of scale-up, less than half of all people in urgent need of treatment by 2010 will be receiving it. Five million lives stand to be lost . Clearly we need to fight together to ensure that “as close as possible” to universal access is not misinterpreted in this way.
In this letter we outline our main reasons for concern and make specific demands to be met before the end of 2007.

1. UNAIDS estimates that the global AIDS response needs $20-23 billion per annum, but on current commitments we are $8 billion short in 2007 and $10 billion short annually from 2008-2010. G8 leaders should deliver a funding plan for universal access by 2010. This should include specific resource commitments based on fair share contributions and ensure additional, predictable and sustainable AIDS funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and other donor mechanisms. Further, the G8 should use their influence with African heads of state to encourage them to live up to their own target of 15% national budget allocation to health as laid out in the 2001 Abuja Declaration.

2. Only a few countries have submitted costed national plans for achieving universal access. This was the first step of the universal access process, and already leaders are faltering. In many of the countries we write from there are either no plans for universal access - where they exist they often lack quality, transparency, and engagement of civil society. We request that G8 leaders help in getting costed national plans drafted more quickly, with better quality, and greater engagement of civil society.

3. As leaders in the international response to AIDS, the G8 needs to put clear global targets to the universal access goals. Civil society across the world also urgently requires these targets for measuring your success and ours. Please state your global targets for providing universal access to treatment, care, prevention and support. These should include a pledge to provide treatment to 9.8 million people by 2010.

4. Implementation and delivery are not keeping up with need, and so we ask the G8 to put in place a permanent mechanism to monitor and review progress on AIDS commitments. This is particularly necessary in relation to international efforts for universal access to AIDS treatment, care and prevention.

5. As heads of state of the most powerful economic nations, we want you to encourage the use of flexibilities in the WTO TRIPS agreement in a manner supportive of public health and to refrain from including provisions that go beyond TRIPS in bilateral and regional trade agreements. We request that additional funding is committed to the WHO in order for them to take the necessary lead in developing a robust plan on access to essential second-line antiretroviral drugs in collaboration with its partners.

The lives of millions depend on our joint efforts to make universal access a reality. Your commitment and leadership can help ensure that we keep the promise on universal access by 2010.

Yours sincerely,

Abogada Feminista Brasileña Consultora en Género y Derechos Humanos, Brazil
ACCIÓN ZULIANA POR LA VIDA, Venezuela
ACCSI, Venezuela
Action against AIDS Germany, Germany
Action Medeor, Germany
ActionAid International, International
Advocates for Youth, United States
Africa Japan Forum, Japan
Africa Public Health Rights Alliance, Nigeria
African Council of AIDS Service Organizations (AfriCASO), Senegal
African Youth Future Network, (AYFN), Nigeria
Afrihealth Information Projects/Afrihealth Optonet Association, Nigeria
Agency for Cooperation in Research and Development (ACORD), Kenya
AGIHAS, Latvia
Agrupacion Alma Viva de PPVVHIH/SIDA, Chile
AID FOR AIDS International, International
Aid for AIDS Society, Nigeria
AIDES, France
AIDS Action Europe, Europe
AIDS Alliance, Nepal
AIDS Care Education & Training (ACET), Uganda
AIDS Committee of Ottawa, Canada
AIDS Concern Hong Kong, China
AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), Eastern Europe/Central Asia
AIDS Rights Alliance of Southern Africa (ARASA), Southern Africa
AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC), United States
Aidsfonds, The Netherlands
AIDSfreeAFRICA, United States
Alfaomega Associazione Volontari, Italy
All-Ukrainian Network PLWH, Ukraine
Altermonde, Japan
Amuka Kibera Youth Self-Help Programme, Kenya
ANPPCAN Uganda Chapter, Uganda
Argentinean Network of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Argentina
ASHOKA, Mexico
Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (APN+), Thailand
Asian Harm Reduction Network, Thailand
Asociacion Agua Buena, Costa Rica
Asociacion de Minorias Sexuales del Uruguay, Uruguay
Asociacion de Soporte e informacion de Personas seropositivas ASIPo+, Peru
Association "Pozityvus Gyvenimas", Lithuania
Association of Korean Doctors for Health Rights, South Korea
Association of Physicians for Humanism, South Korea
Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, Australia
Ayus: a network of Buddhist Volunteers on International Cooperation, Japan
BAUANG FAMILY HEALTH CARE CLINIC, Philippines
Behinderung und Entwicklungszusammenarbeit e.V. (bezev), Germany
Belorussian Public Union "Positive Movement", Belarus
Bidii Community Development Group, Kenya
Bok Jeff, Senegal
BONO Direct Aid Association, Germany
Bright Futures Network of PLWHAs (BFN+), Vietnam
Buds of Christ, India
Cambodian Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Cambodia
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Canada
Care International Japan, Japan
Cátedra de la Paz / Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela
Center for Environmental Education and Development, Nigeria
Center for Sustainable Health and Development, India
Centre for Health and Nutrition Promotion (CHANP), Nigeria
Centre hospitalier de l’Ouest Guyanais – Coordination des Actions de Prévention in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana
CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, The Netherlands
Christian Aid, United Kingdom
CIAT - ITPC (Coalición Internacional de Activistas en Tratamientos), Latin America
Coalición Ecuatoriana de Personas que Viven con VIH/SIDA, Ecuador
Coalicion Internacional de Activitas en Tratamiento (CIAT), Colombia
Colectivo Sol, A.C., Mexico
Commercial, Industrial & Allied Workers Union (CIAWU), Malawi
Communiquer la Vie in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana,
Community Action International, Nigeria
Community Welfare Initiative Network (CWIN), Uganda
Concern Brethren Circle, Nigeria
Constella Futures, United States
Coordinadora Peruana de PVVS, Peru
Crossroads Teen AIDS Ambassadors, Unites States
Crosswinds Wesley Foundation at the University of South Florida, United States
CRY - Coalition on Rights and Responsibilities of Youth, Pakistan
Danish AIDS Foundation
Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+), India
Desde la Alianza de OPVVS, Uruguay
Desde Perú la ASOCIACION PROSA, Peru
Development Partnership International, Nigeria
Difaem - German Institute for Medical Mission, Germany
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), International
Education International, Africa
EMPOWER, India
Engender, South Africa
ENTRAIDES GUYANE, French Guiana,
Estonian Network of PLWH, Estonia
Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED), Germany
Family AIDS Caring Trust Mutare, Zimbabwe
Family First Foundation for Youth & Children at Risk, Trinidad & Tobago
FGTB-ABVV, Belgium
Fight Against AIDS, Guinea
Finnish Aids Council, Finland
Fondation Femme Plus, DRC
Foro Patagonico Patagonia Positiva, Argentina
Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), Uganda
Foundation for Studies & Research on Women (FEIM), International
Frenpavih, A.C. (Frente Nacional de Personas Viviendo con VIH/SIDA), Mexico
Fundación Apoyo y Solidaridad - Cali., Colombia
Fundacion Arcoiris, Mexico
Fundación Ciudadana para Las Américas, Chile
Fundación Huellas, Ecuador
Fundación Red de Apoyo Social de Antioquia. RASA, Colombia
Fundacion REDVIHDA+, Bolivia
FUNDARVI, Colombia
GAT - Grupo Português de Activistas sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA, Portugal
Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC), Georgia
German Leprosy and TB Relief Association (GLRA), Germany
Ghana AIDS Treatment Access Group, Ghana
Ghana Healthy Life International, Ghana
Ghana United Nations Students & Youth Association, Ghana
Global AIDS Alliance, International
Global Health Advocates, International
Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), International
Global Unions HIV/AIDS Programme, International
Grupo de Autoapoyo Clínica 27 & 30 IMSS, Mexico
Grupo de Teatro Polos Opuestos, Mexico
Grupo Génesis Panamá +, Panama
Guli Surkh, Tajikistan
Guyana Human Rights Association, Guyana
Health Advocates' Club, Nigeria
Health Care Foundation, Nigeria
HIV/AIDS Caucus - Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), United States
Hong Kong Coalition of AIDS Service Organizations, China
Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI), Kenya
Human Resources Trust, Zambia
ICASO, International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, International
ICW Latina, Argentina
Igat Hope Inc., Papua New Guinea
Initiative Development Now (IDN), Nigeria
Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD), Canada
International AIDS Women's Caucus (IWAC), InternationaI
International Center for Research on Women, United States
International Civil Society Support (ICSS), International
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions - African Regional Organisation (ICFTU-AFRO), Africa
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, International
International Labour Foundation For Sustainable Development, International
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), International
International Trade Union Development Cooperation Training (ITUC-CSI), International
International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), International
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), International
ITPCRU, Russia
Japan AIDS and Society Association, Japan
Japan Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (JaNP+), Japan
Japan Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning, (JOICFP), Japan
Kampala Youth Workers Association, Uganda
Kazakhstan's Union of PLWH, Kazakhstan
Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO), Kenya
Kids and Teens Resource Centre, Nigeria
Kiribati Family Health Association, Kiribati
Kitovu Mobile, Uganda
Korea Dentists Association for Health Society, South Korea
Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights (KFHR), South Korea
Korean Gaymen's Human Rights Group 'Chingusai', South Korea
Korean Pharmacists For Democratic Society, South Korea
LACCASO, Latin America
Latin American Network of PLWHA - RedLa+, Colombia
League of PLWH of Republic of Moldova, Moldova
Live Alive Foundation, Nigeria
Lordbee & Friendz Network, Nigeria
Loving Hand, Zimbabwe
Lumière Action, Ivory Coast
Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, United States
Malteser International, Germany
MB Development Agency, Namibia
Medecins du Monde Japon, Japan
Media AIDS Project (MAP), Nigeria
Mothers Acting Up, United States
Movimiento Latinoaméricano y del Caribe de Mujeres Positivas (MLCM), Latin America & Caribbean
Movimiento Mexicano de Ciudadanía Positiva (MMCP), Mexico
MVS, Niger
National AIDS Committee, Guyana
National AIDS Trust, United Kingdom
National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH), Zimbabwe
National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Nigeria
National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS, Nigeria
Network Of Men Living With HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NETMA+), Kenya
Network of People living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Nigeria
Network of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, Nigeria
New Dawn of Hope, Zimbabwe
Norwegian Church Aid, Norway
Open Society Institute, International
Organization for Good Life of the Marginalized (OGLM), Uganda
OXFAM Japan
People to People Aid, Japan
Persia+, Iran
Physicians for Human Rights, International
Pinoy Plus Association Inc., Philippines
PITA Foundation, Indonesia
Plan International Deutschland, Germany
Plan International, Brazil
Plan International, Eastern and Southern Africa
Plan Nederland, The Netherlands
Plan Sweden, Sweden
Plan USA, United States
Positive Action Foundation Philippines, Philippines
Positive Generation, Cameroon
Positive Life Association of Nigeria (PLAN), Nigeria
Positive Life, Mongolia
Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+), Malaysia
Positive Women of Hope Organization, Cambodia
Posterity League International, Nigeria
Poverty and Development Unit, Japan 2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum, Japan
Prayas, Nepal
Prevent AIDS Society (PAS), Nigeria
Public Organization on AIDS Fight, Azerbaijan
Public Personalities Against Aids Trust (PPAAT), Zimbabwe
Public Personalities Against Aids Trust, Zimbabwe
Public Pharmaceutical Center, South Korea
Public Services International, International
Public Union of PLWH "Ishonch va Hayot", Uzbekistan
Real World, Real People, Armenia
Red Argentina de Mujeres Viviendo con vih-sida, Argentina
Red Argentina de Personas Viviendo con VIH Sida (REDAR+), Argentina
Red Boliviana de PVVS, Bolivia
Red de Pvvs Mar del Plata, Argentina
Red de Trabajadoras Sexuales del Ecuador, Ecuador
Red Venezolana de Gente Positiva (RVG+), Venezuela
Red Venezolana de Gente Positiva, Venezuela
Rede Nacional de Pessoas Vivendo com HIV/AIDS, Brazil
REDLA+, Ecuador
Réseau Ensemble pour le Développement Durable du District d’Arta (E.D.D.A.), Djibouti
Réseau Matoutou in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, French Guiana,
Results, Japan
Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, United States
Ruban Rouge, Ivory Coast
Ruslan PCF "Positive Initiative", Kyrgyzstan
Sarangbang Group for Human Rights, South Korea
Save the Future, Nigeria
Scarborough & Environs Action Group, Trinidad & Tobago
Sensoa, Belgium
Services for Health in Asian and African Regions (SHARE), Japan
Share Hope Organization (SHO), Nigeria
Soa Aids Nederland (STI AIDS Netherlands), The Netherlands
Society for Adolescents & Youth International (SAYHI), Nigeria
Society for Anti AIDS Among Nigerian Students (SANS), Nigeria
Society for Widows & Orphans/Youths Against Aids Nigeria (SOWIPHANS/YAAN), Nigeria
Solidarity for HIV/AIDS Human Rights of Korea NANURI+, South Korea
Solidarity for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Human Rights of Korea, South Korea
Solidarity for Worker's Health, South Korea
Somaliland Voice of Youth (SOLVOY), Somaliland
Southern African Treatment Access Movement (SATAMO), South Africa
St. John's Cathedral HIV Education Centre, China
Stop AIDS Now!, The Netherlands
Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative (SHAII), United States
Stop the Silence: Stop Child Sexual Abuse, Inc., United States
Support Group for ARV Users (A39SARV), Nepal
The Agency for Cooperation in Research and Development (ACORD), Kenya
The AIDS Institute, United States
The Condom Project, Nigeria
The German Foundation for World Population (DSW), Germany
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance, United Kingdom
Tobago Oasis Foundation, Trinidad & Tobago
Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), International
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), South Africa
Treatment Action Movement (TAM), Nigeria
Treatment Advocacy & Literacy Campaign (TALC), Zambia
Trinidad & Tobago Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS, Trinidad & Tobago
True Hope Foundation, Indonesia
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society, United States
United Steelworkers, United States, Canada & Caribbean
Vanguardia Mexicana de Personas Afectadas por el VIH/SIDA (VANMPAVIH), México
Vietnamese Community Mobilization Center for HIV/AIDS Control (VICOMC), Vietnam
Vivo Positivo, Chile
World AIDS Campaign, International
World Vision International, International
World Vision, Japan
World Vision, Germany
World Voices, Sierra Leone
Yayasan Kaseh Puan, Indonesia
Young Activists Against AIDS, Ghana
Young Positives', The Netherlands
Youth Coalition for Sexual & Reproductive Rights, Canada
Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR), United States
Youth Development Association, Nigeria
Youth Vision, Zambia
Yugoslav Youth Association against AIDS - Youth of JAZAS, Serbia
Zambia AIDS Law Research and Advocacy Network (ZARAN), Zambia
Zambia Deaf Vision, Zambia
Zimbabwe Activists Against HIV & AIDS (ZAAA), Zimbabwe