Report of an Indian delegate to UNGASS on HIV/AIDS

[Guest guest]

United Nations General Assembly Meeting on HIV/AIDS

The Executive Director of EMPOWER Mr. A. SANKAR's participated in the

United Nations General Assembly Special Session's Review and High Level Meeting

which was held at New York from 28th May to 2nd June on the progress towards the

implementation of 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. Besides, EMPOWER

had been specially accredited by the ECOSOC for participation in the UNGASS. He

summarized the following,

In a major victory for India, a high-level United Nations conference on AIDS has

accepted New Delhi's viewpoint that intellectual property rights should not

stand in the way of distribution of cheaper generic anti-retroviral drugs to

treat the deadly disease.

The cocktail of generic drugs produced by the Indian pharmaceutical firms to

treat the disease costs around $ 145 a year against more than $ 10,000 brand

name medicines manufactured by western drug firms. During the negotiations,

some of the western nations had strongly opposed such a provision in the

declaration, the efforts which were slammed by activists and non-government

organizations as also African countries hosting millions of HIV-infected people.

After intense negotiations, the meeting agreed to reaffirm that the World Trade

Organization's Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property

Rights (TRIPS) " does not and should not " prevent members from taking measures

" now and in the future " to protect public health.

The following are the vital points of the Declaration adopted:

1.The declaration fully reaffirms the 2001 Declaration of Commitment;

2.It describes successes since 2001, but acknowledges that we have failed to

meet many of our targets;

3. It includes several references to vulnerable groups. It explicitly mentions

may prevention approaches, including male and female condoms, and harm-reduction

efforts related to drug use;

4.It has strong language on young people, and on women and girls;

5. It resolves to assist developing countries so they can employ the

flexibilities outlined in the TRIPS agreement, including the production of

generic antiretroviral drugs;

6. It unambiguously extends, for the first time, the definition of universal

access to include comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and

support;

7. It clearly recognizes the UNAIDS estimate that $20-23 billion is needed per

annum by 2010;

8. It pledges that all credible national AIDS plans will be funded;

9. And it commits all countries to set, this year, 2006, ambitious national

targets for 2010, with interim targets for 2008.

The Indian Delegation was lead by the Honourable Minister of State for Youth

Affairs and Sports Mr. Fernandes with the participation of the Director

General of NACO, M.Ps and a strong contingent of civil society activists.

Thanking you,

Yours in Global Concern

A.SANKAR

Executive Director

EMPOWER.

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TUTICORIN-628 008

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