CS participation in national targets towards achieving Universal Access

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

Greetings from Jaipur,

In the light of the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted by the UN General

Assembly in June 2006 calls on countries to establish ambitious national targets

on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support toward the goal of achieving

universal access by 2010, the operational guidelines distributed by UNAIDS for

setting National Targets towards Achieving Universal access to provide guidance

to countries in this process emphasize the importance of including a " full

spectrum " of stakeholders in the Universal Access national target setting

process, and reiterates UNAIDS' commitment to supporting full civil society (CS)

participation in defining national targets.

While contacting with some regional networks of civil society organisations few

civil society organizations are aware that target-setting is going on. It

reflects that civil society organisations at large are not aware of what is

going on in the country on this issue and still facing significant challenges

accessing information and processes related to target-setting at country level.

Even I, in my personal capacity as NGO Delegate (Alternate) for Asia Pacific in

the UNAIDS PCB and being first NGO working on HIV/AIDS in the Rajasthan state of

India and working in this area for last 15 years, neither heard anything nor

received any message from any where on the process.

As we have learned from the UNGASS review process that without civil society

awareness of universal access targets and participation in planning to uphold

their implementation in the period between now and 2010, the Universal Access

process will lack credibility and legitimacy at the country level. This may in

turn have a negative impact on the effectiveness of implementation and overall

success of the process.

The matter will be discussed in the 19th meeting of UNAIDS PCB in Lusaka

(Zambia) going to be held on Dec. 6-8, 2006 where countries would be presenting

their progress. As an NGO delegate (alternate) for Asia pacific, I will be

participating in the meeting, it would be great if you kindly share with me your

experience in your area (country/region) on whatever has been/being done in this

regard so that the commitment to support full and meaningful civil society

participation in the Universal Access national target setting process at country

level could be demonstarted adequately.

Looking forward to hear from you soon,

with regards,

Bhawani Shanker Kusum

Secretary & Executive Director

Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS)

NGO Delegate (Alternate) for Asia Pacific, UNAIDS PCB

Amber Bhawan, Amber 302 028 Jaipur India

Tel.: 91-141-2531242 Fax.: 91-141-2530719

E-mail: gbsbsk@... www.gbsjp.org