Global AIDS Week of Action 2008:18 May - 24 May

WHY?

The severe impact of the AIDS pandemic on families, communities and economies is commonly acknowledged by scientists, the media and politicians the world over. However, more than 25 years later the losses remain stark: AIDS continues to kill almost 6000 people each day and more than 2 out of 3 HIV positive people still lack access to treatment. While women make up an increasing proportion of those living with HIV and bear a greater burden of care, current AIDS responses do not tackle the violation of women’s rights – a key driver of the pandemic.

For the past two years during the Global AIDS Week of Action, activists have organised actions in over 30 countries to hold world leaders accountable on their landmark commitment to fight AIDS made at the United National General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS) in 2001. In 2005 world leaders made another historic promise on universal access, committing to: “developing and implementing a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of universal access to treatment by 2010.”

The world needs to honour this ambitious promise to stop the needless deaths of women, men and children. Our governments must meet their national targets for universal access to treatment prevention, care and support. Multinational drug companies must stop putting profits before people. Rich nations, including the G8, must back their warm words on AIDS with real funds.

The Global AIDS Week of Action is the defining mobilisation moment before world leaders report back to the UN on the progress they have made to meet their commitments on HIV and AIDS. So as our governments boast about their efforts at the UN meeting in New York, in cities from Abuja to Phnom Penh and Delhi to Lilongwe, citizens will call on them to deliver on their promises.

WHEN?

The Global AIDS Week of Action from 18-24 May 2008 is an opportunity for activists around the world to stand together, generate political pressure and demand action from our leaders. The week starts with the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day on 18 May – a Sunday when the world recognizes and remembers those who have died of AIDS. The week of action is just two weeks before a high level meeting at the UN discusses the progress made by each of our governments in the fight against AIDS. In early July the club of rich nations (G8) meet in Japan – let them know that the world is watching to see if they put money where their mouth is and agree a funding plan for the universal access goal.

WHAT IS HAPPENING DURING THE WEEK?

Many actions have already been planned. These are just few examples:

Africa:

• In Liberia – Roundtable discussions on Access to treatment, political commitments and stigma & discrimination.
• In Ethiopia – Live radio discussion and panel discussion with government bodies on access to treatment and food security for rural women PLP.
• In Malawi – Public debates with communities and hearing of personal testimonies, marches and petitions.
• In Uganda – Week of Action - week of treatment literacy training, a meeting of communities with VCT and Family Planning Community Outreach Services, and a ‘Right to City Campaign in Kampala’.
• In Sierra Leone – accountability hearing to discuss UNGASS report, awareness raising activities including use of female condoms, HIV education for children and youth.
• In Nigeria – ‘Stand up Campaign’ to present 7 demands to leadership of National Assembly, round table discussion on ‘Strategies on Alternative Livelihood Options for PLWHAs’.
• In Zimbabwe – theatre Road Show – HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.

Latin America:

• In Uruguay – Roundtable discussions on ‘Access to treatment for PLHIV in Uruguay within the overall framework of integrated health system’.
• In Argentina – Rallies will meet several hospitals and clinics in the city of Cordova to address issues such as human rights of PLHIV, access to health care services for PLHIV, stigma & discrimination and sexual reproductive health rights.

Asia:

• In India – Rallies led by PLHIV will meet the health department and local administration, orientation workshop for sex workers, MSM and PLHIV of 24 districts, series of meetings, press releases of advocates and community representatives for HIV and Aids Bill, public hearing by women living with HIV/AIDS.
• In Nepal – Press conference ‘Global Aids Week and UNGASS’ to stress the importance of the week of action and UNGASS and 11 commitments signed by Nepal, radio and television debates, interaction programme and a mass rally for ‘Universal Access to Food, Nutrition and Treatment’.
• In Cambodia – series of community drives in capital and other districts, civil society platform to draft Charter of Demands on Universal Access and a press conference.
• In Pakistan – Press conference for a launch of Pakistani shadow UNGASS report and dissemination of Charter of Demands.

Visit www.globalaidsweek.org to learn more about these events and more. Have you planned your own activities? Send the details (it needs to be only 2/3 lines describing activity, date, time and contact person) to info@globalaidsweek.org and your plans will be uploaded immediately on to the website.