UNAIDS Press Release - June 8, 2004

The Campaign û made up of networks of non-governmental organizations from around the world û today issued a 'Call for Action' urging the G8 leaders to "provide the practical, financial and political support necessary to increase prevention, care and treatment to tackle the HIV pandemic." The 'Call for Action' will be delivered by WAC national partners to each of the G8 Heads of Government during this week's summit in the United States.

"It's easy to make promises but it's much harder to keep them," said Marcel van Soest, the WAC's Director. "In 2003, the G8 governments promised to fulfill their shared obligations to deliver on the commitments they agreed to in the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001. Yet in 2004, AIDS is not even on the G8 agenda. If anything, we are moving backwards."

"Twenty years after the discovery of the HIV virus, the need to bring this devastating epidemic in the developing world under control has never been greater", said van Soest. "With 40 million people infected worldwide, 5 million new infections and 3 million HIV-related deaths last year, we cannot wait any longer."

"The tragedy is that we know what works û and we can reverse this epidemic with enough resources and political leadership. That is why we are insisting that governments keep their promises," he added.

CALL FOR ACTION

We are people living with HIV and AIDS, citizens and friends of those countries in the world that are being ravaged by HIV and AIDS.

We know firsthand what AIDS can do to our countries, friends, and families. We know that defeating AIDS requires all of us to play our part.

We know that we can save millions of lives and make the world a fairer, more stable and safer place for all people.

We know the G8 members have a special role. You represent the most wealthy and powerful nations on earth. If you fail to honour your responsibilities and commitments, others will too.

We call upon you, the leaders of the G8 governments, to deliver on your pledges in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS to provide the practical, financial and political support necessary to increase prevention, care and treatment to tackle the HIV pandemic.

In the coming year we call for clear plans across G8 governments for the full implementation of the Declaration.

In particular, we call on you to:

*Ensure increases in the availability of resources, technical support and capacity for all the key players - including multilateral organizations and civil society groups - in line with the levels necessary to reach the targets;

*Ensure an integrated approach to HIV and AIDS programmes on prevention, care and treatment;

*Intensify your support for research and development to ensure effective and safe medicines, vaccines, microbicides and other preventive methods are developed and accessible to all those who need them;

*Commit to the full funding of The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to enable it to fulfill its mandate; and,

*Budget an overall increase in overseas development assistance aimed at reducing poverty, a key factor in the spread of HIV throughout the world.

In turn, we pledge to use our influence to ensure that your actions are matched by others, including our own organizations, to improve the lives and options for all people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

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