Activists say AIDS issues may be deleted from UN document

[Guest guest]

For Immediate Release

September 8-9, 2005

AIDS Activists Track Erosion of AIDS Language in UN Outcome Document,

Call on 30-Nation Core Group to Resist Cuts to Millennium Development Goals

Contact:Kate Krauss kkrauss@...

Cell: 215-939-7852

Friedman 202-277-5974

More Information: www.healthactionaids.org

See excerpted language at: www.reformtheun.org

(United Nations) Several pivotal global AIDS issues are now being negotiated in

the United Nations outcome document, according to a review today by Physicians

for Human Rights (PHR) of the newest available draft. One central issue is

whether the document will stipulate that countries are even required to provide

money to fight the AIDS crisis; in another case proposed language removes the

timeline for funding a plan to mitigate brain drain. The document continues to

question the very terminology used, “Millennium Development Goals,†to

describe

these development goals.

Some AIDS Language now under negotiation (language is

attached):

• Whether to remove a deadline of 2010 by which time economically

advanced countries will be required to have provided critical support to

developing countries in combating brain drain and other health system problems;

• Whether to specify the type of AIDS prevention that will be available

to adults and young people;

• Whether countries will commit money needed for AIDS prevention,

treatment, care and support, or for full funding for the Global Fund to Fight

AIDS, TB, and Malaria and other desperately needed programs. The proposed

language, if adopted, would support “full funding†for the Global Fund

without

actually requiring any money.

• Whether to describe the International health regulations adopted by

the

58th World Health Assembly in May 2005 as obligations;

• Whether the international community should commit to a goal of

universal AIDS treatment for those in need.

Last week, US activists released a letter

[http://www.phrusa.org/campaigns/aids/pdf/mdg_letter.pdf] signed by an alliance

of four leading US AIDS groups calling for United Nations delegates to reject

proposed US changes to the UN draft outcome document, which will be considered

at the UN World Summit later this month.

The letter appeals for the delegates to defend the health needs of the poor by

including the strongest possible language to protect people with HIV/AIDS,

tuberculosis, and malaria and those at risk of infectious disease, as well as

to develop the health systems required to achieve the Millennium Development

Goals.

It calls for retaining language supporting the resources needed for full

funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and

stipulating the responsibility of countries to ensure access to HIV care and

other services. The letter recommends new language for the UN draft document to

support the development of a sufficiently funded, ongoing global initiative to

greatly enhance countries’ ability to address the health worker shortage that

is crippling access to health care in many African countries.

The NGOs also propose language that would recognize the need to address the

gaping inequalities in access to health services within countries so as to move

towards universal access to primary health care by no later than 2015.

UN General Assembly President Ping has called on a core group of

some 30 nations to examine 750 changes proposed by new United States

Ambassador to the United Nations Bolton. The changes would remove from the

document references to the Millennium Development Goals and the 35-year-old

commitment of developed countries to provide 0.7% of their gross national

income to official development assistance, and would weaken international

obligations in the fight against AIDS. Some of the many changes include reduced

international obligations to fund the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis

and Malaria; reduced obligations to address the health worker shortage in

developing countries; and reduced international obligations to provide

resources for prevention, treatment, care and support, the elimination of

stigma, and affordable medications for people living with HIV/AIDS.

Physicians for Human Rights

Founded in 1986, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), based in Boston, MA,

advances health and dignity by protecting human rights. Health Action AIDS, a

project of PHR, mobilizes health professionals to support a comprehensive AIDS

strategy and advocates for funds to combat the disease. It develops ways for US

health professionals to support colleagues and activists around the world and

researches the connection between human rights and HIV/AIDS. As a founding

member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, PHR shared the 1997

Nobel Peace Prize.