PHA-Exchange> Feedback on ASIAN People's Charter on HIV/ AIDS (DRAFT) - Join US !

Fri May 28 01:25:54 PDT 2004

Feedback on the contents of Asian Charter on HIV/AIDS:
Jointly elaborated by PHM and Action Aid International

Dear Friends,

Thanks for the Asian Charter on HIV-AIDS, a basic tool for policy advocacy 
prepared by PHM and Action Aid International. We propose some additional 
points, which felt important for incorporation in the Charter: These are:

1.    On Action plan:   The role of PHM, Government and UNAIDS were 
mentioned. But the role of International Financial institutions specially 
the World Bank, IMF is seriously missing.  Though government is responsible 
to take up the issues bilaterally with those institutions, yet WB and IMF 
should sharply be accountable for social disasters owing to their policy 
influence.

2.    Debt Relief issues are directly linked with the issue of HIV/AIDS 
prevalent countries. Immediate cancellation of debts should be enforced 
urgently for those countries and regions identified as vulnerable or risky 
pockets of HIV-AIDS. Repayments should be stopped and convertible-ensuring 
accessibility of the poor affected with HIV/AIDS.

3.   In PRSP preparation, HIV-AIDS issue to be declared as rights-based 
priority area in the national development agenda, though in most developing 
countries PRSP is processed in ambiguity under certain limitations and 
framework of World Bank jeopardizing the interest of poor communities. 
Patent rights and monopolization of lifesavings drugs to be eroded 
providing accessibility of treatment and availability of ART for HIV/AIDS 
victims to be ensured by PRSP documents and pressurize governments wherever 
applicable.

4. Financial assistance for fighting HIV/AIDS epidemics should be treated 
as grants and not as loan from international financial institutions.

Special package should be launched for Sub-Saharan African countries owing 
to the following reasons:

Recapitulation:
a.      The world Civilization owes much from the sacrifice of African 
continents both in terms of human sufferings and material values. 
Trans-Atlantic Slave trades from west and east coast of Africa initiated 
the routes of present day’s globalizations for industrial growth of the 
west and huge accumulation of capitals at the expenses of the greatest 
tragedy in human history spread out over several centuries, legitimized by 
racist arguments through ‘Black Noirs’ (Codes),’justifying sale of human 
being as mobile asset. To-day’s Sub Saharan Africa was the worst victims of 
Slave trade vis-à-vis conflicts, resistance and violence over more than 
four centuries.

b.      As estimated, aggregate number of deportees from 8th to the middle 
of 19th century for all slave trades would be minimum 24 millions from 
Africa. Total African population in the middle of 19th Century was 100 
millions. Estimated that total size of the population would have reached in 
the middle of 19th century in absence of any slave trade around 200 
millions, almost double in the corresponding period.

c.      Slave trade shocked the African continents to its foundation, 
disintegrated the African societies and economy, weakening all developments 
there. Europeans brought the diseases,(TB, syphilis, smallpox  etc) 
alcoholism; famines caused by destruction of crops and ruined the political 
system that was developing and generated psycho-trauma in the 
socio-cultural areas limiting their growth for centuries.

d.      Africa currently spends $15 billion a year against unjustified 
debts and debts servicing obligations. Whereas, Sub-Saharan African 
countries need $10 billion a year to effectively fight against HIV/AIDS. 
Many African countries repay more against illegitimate debts than of their 
urgent need in the health care sectors.

e.      To-day’s gold reserve of World Bank and IMF is more than 110 
million ounces, are the extracts of African soil or the outcomes of African 
slaveries in the Brazilian goldmines.

f.      The remark of Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel that “ the Executioner 
kills twice, the second time by silence”. It is this silence on the 
historical, scientific and moral-on the       past and present African 
tragedy, which is perhaps the biggest challenge to fight HIV/AIDS epidemics.

We urge upon to International community to ‘Break the Silence’. Peoples 
Health Movement (PHM) and Action Aid Bangladesh may play pioneering role in 
the process.

** The editors responsible for preparing the charter are at full liberty to 
edit, accept, reject or summarize the above contents.

In solidarity,

A.F.M. Imam Uddin
Member Secretary,
PHM Bangladesh Circle

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>Subject: ASIAN People's Charter on HIV/ AIDS (DRAFT) - Join US !
>
>Call for Immediate Action                                People’s Health 
>Movement
>
>
>----------
>ASIAN People's Charter on HIV/ AIDS  (DRAFT)
>
>Amplifying the voices of the people affected, infected, living with and 
>suffering from HIV/AIDS.
>
>The charter will be officially released to the international community 
>during the
>
>International AIDS conference in Bangkok (11–16 July 2004).
>
>Click 
><http://www.phmovement.org/charter/pch-hiv.html>www.phmovement.org/charter/pch-hiv.html 
>
>
>JOIN US !
>
>Please send your feedback with comments, suggestions and critique to 
><mailto:hiv at phmovement.org>hiv at phmovement.org before 31st May 2004.
>
>This Charter, an initiative of the People's Health Movement, is 
>facilitated by many, including ActionAid International
>
>
>----------
>About the Charter...
>
>The charter is a consensus/campaign document that amplifies the voices of 
>the people affected, infected, living with and suffering from HIV/AIDS. It 
>calls for immediate action.
>
>Objective: To amplify people’s voices and provide a people’s perspective 
>on HIV/ AIDS and related issues like access, rights and trade issues.
>
>Is it only for Asians? No, it is universal. However, in the context of the 
>International AIDS conference that will be held in Asia (Bangkok, 
>Thailand)in July 2004, naming it ‘Asian’ carries a strategic campaign and 
>advocacy value.
>
>Who is leading this? The process is initiated and facilitated by the 
>Peoples Health Movement (PHM) (www. phmovemnt.org) – a mass movement with 
>a presence in over 100 countries. Several grassroots groups, mass 
>movements, organisations of people living with HIV/AIDS, NGOs, INGOs (like 
>ActionAid International), media and others are ensuring synergy.
>
>How is it being developed? The Peoples Health Charter, the guiding spirit 
>of PHM and the largest consensus document on health, is the 
>model.(<http://www.phmovement.org/pubs/index.html#Charter>www.phmovement.org/pubs/index.html#Charter) 
>. This Charter also derives the analysis from the Mumbai Declaration 
><http://www.phmovement.org/md/index.html).>www.phmovement.org/md/index.html)<http://www.phmovement.org/md/index.html).>. 
>Spread across the world, the consultative process is dynamic and 
>interactive. The key highlight is consultations at the grassroots and with 
>people infected, affected, living with and suffering from HIV/AIDS. 
>Starting from April 2004 onwards, the draft charter is being presented and 
>discussed at various meetings, conferences, people’s summits, workshops, 
>etc. – at local, provincial, national, regional and international levels.
>
>What we are doing at the international level:
>Meetings and discussions held all over the world to coincide with World 
>Health Day (7 April) during the first week of April 2004 and continuing 
>through until 31 May 2004 XVIII World Conference on Health Promotion and 
>Health Education in Australia during the last week of April 2004, along 
>with several meetings in universities and other institutions The Public 
>Health Association of South Africa & International Association of Health 
>Policy Conference 2004 from 06 to 08 June in Durban, South Africa 
>International Conference on Primary Health Care from 23–25 June in Iran 
>World Health Assembly from 17–22 May 2004 in Geneva  Call for Action – 
>Meetings to promote and advocate for women’s sexual and reproductive 
>health and rights by WGNRR, Netherlands EQUINET Southern African 
>Conference on Equity in Health, Durban, South Africa. In addition to the 
>above, the draft charter will be discussed, debated and fine-tuned through 
>a dynamic and inclusive Internet-based discussion. Click 
>www.phmovement.org/charter/pch-hiv.html
>Responses will be collected till 31 May and the Charter will be ready for 
>circulation and endorsement in June first week. The official launch of the 
>Charter will take place at the International AIDS conferences in July in 
>Thailand. It will be submitted to the tions of people living with 
>HIV/AIDS, media, international community, governments, NGOs, academicians, 
>INGOs, donors, bilateral and multilateral agencies, WHO, UNAIDS and other 
>UN agencies.
>
>Join the process! What can you do ?
>
>One: ORGANISE discussions and consultations on the proposed charter in 
>your community, family, schools, colleges and universities during 
>conferences, workshops, e-groups, in organizations, clinics, Primary 
>Health Care centers, hospitals, etc. Please forward this to others.
>
>Two: JOIN us either as an individual or representing your 
>organization/association/union.
>
>Three: USE this draft charter as an issue for discussion during the week 
>of World Health Day (April 7) in April until May.
>
>Four: SEND names of persons and organizations to which we can send the 
>final Charter for endorsement.
>
>Five: MAIL your feedback with comments and suggestions to 
>hiv at phmovement.org before 31 May 2004.
>
>Six: PUBLICIZE the launch of the charter in July through the local media 
>in your province/ country and through meetings. Send us a list of 
>journalists and their contact details. Let us know whether you can help to 
>distribute the press release in your region.
>
>_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
>
>Access to ARV treatment has increased the life expectancy and quality of 
>life of those who can afford it. The majority of AIDS patients being
>
>impoverished are denied access to treatment in violation of the principles 
>of the international covenant on social, economic and
>
>cultural rights. Children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and women being more 
>vulnerable, take a heavy toll.
>
>Preamble
>
>Health is a social, economic and political issue and above all a 
>fundamental human right. Inequality, poverty, exploitation, violence
>
>and injustice are at the root of ill-health and the deaths of poor and 
>marginalized people. Health for All means that the powerful interests
>
>have to be challenged, globalization has to be opposed, and political and 
>economic priorities have to be drastically changed.
>
>HIV/AIDS is a public health issue that calls for medical, social and 
>political responses.
>
>This Charter builds on the perspectives of people who are affected, 
>infected, suffering from and living with HIV/AIDS. It encourages people
>
>to develop their own solutions and hold accountable the local authorities, 
>national governments, international organisations and corporations.
>
>Vision
>
>Equity, ecologically-sustainable development and peace are at the heart of 
>our vision of a better world – a world in which a healthy life for
>
>all is a reality; a world that respects, appreciates and celebrates all 
>life and diversity; a world that enables the flowering of people’s talents
>
>and abilities to enrich each other; a world in which people’s voices guide 
>the decisions that shape our lives. Resources are in abundance to achieve 
>this vision.
>
>Introduction
>
>HIV is recognized as a ‘global development emergency’ destabilizing 
>societies and economies, thus threatening millions of lives, especially
>
>in some of the world’s most populous nations. The AIDS pandemic is one of 
>the greatest humanitarian crises of all times. It has caused death and 
>misery, destroyed families and communities and ravaged entire populations. 
>HIV/AIDS is already wiping out a generation in Africa. Two decades after 
>it began its onslaught in Sub-Saharan Africa, the disease has been 
>spreading fast. It has gained a firm foothold in other places like in 
>parts of Asia, etc. Africa’s experience shows that HIV/AIDS, in a single 
>stroke, can destroy development gains of several decades as well as the 
>social composition of people. A similar tragedy is unfolding in other 
>parts of the world. Spreading along migration routes related to 
>globalization and to social and economic distress due to war, global trade 
>and economic policies, HIV/AIDS is now associated with the resurgence of 
>other communicable diseases of poverty, such as tuberculosis. The Alma Ata 
>Declaration of 1978 promised Health for All by 2000. HIV/ AIDS was not a 
>key issue in 1978. While HIV/AIDS has contributed in negatively affecting 
>this goal, the total breakdown of the public health system and primary 
>health care during the 1980s and 1990s has amplified the spread and impact.
>
>Peoples Health Movement (PHM) considers HIV/AIDS as a public health issue. 
>However, PHM believes that the way to combat HIV/AIDS is not through just 
>a medical approach, but through better politics, care, research, 
>pro-people policies, rights and governance and effective communication.
>
>The HIV/AIDS crisis – a public health issue
>
>Poverty, hunger, ill health and its contributing factors are increasing. 
>The process is amplified by neo-liberal economic policies, lack of respect 
>for health and human rights and the breakdown of nation states because of 
>conflicts, wars and disasters. While endorsing concern about the HIV/AIDS 
>epidemic, the need for Primary Health Care-oriented and Health 
>Systems-strengthening approaches to other communicable and 
>non-communicable diseases in an integrated way is urgently required.
>
>Principles of this charter
>
>This charter calls for:
>
>Action by People’ People’s s Health Movement and Civil Society:
>
>CONTINUE campaigns for the rights of people in poor countries to receive 
>ARV treatment delivered through comprehensive PHC services
>
>FACILITATE Public Interest Litigations to oppose changes in Patent laws 
>that are expected to escalate the ART prices
>
>MAKE links between the spread of HIV/AIDS and the underlying societal 
>determinants such as poverty, war and displacement, and participate in 
>efforts to redress these injustices.
>
>Action by Governments:
>
> DEVELOP a comprehensive Primary Health Care-oriented and health 
>systems’-strengthening approach to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic through 
>interventions, including:
>
> Peer education inclusive of sexual and reproductive health and rights 
>information
>
> Oppose stigma and promote respect and care for people living with HIV/AIDS
>
> Increased access to basic services by people living with HIV/AIDS
>
> Immediate availability of ARV drugs
>
> Support those affected by the epidemic through empowerment
>
> Allocate more resources for primary health care in general and 
>communicable diseases in particular
>
> Reduce the budget for factors like military expenditure that amplify 
>public health and HIV/AIDS crisis
>
> Place people above profits and politics and thus take control of 
>policies that affect people’s lives in general and people infected,
>
>affected, suffering (from) and living with HIV/AIDS
>
>Develop a transparent, scientific and human way to conduct clinical 
>trails through an informed consent approach.
>
>Action by WHO:
>
>œ EVOLVE a comprehensive approach emphasizing Primary Health Care and 
>health systems-strengthening approaches including
>
>preventive information and services and ARV treatment
>
>œ WORK towards reduction of high drug costs
>
>œ ENHANCE involvement of people, affected communities and civil society 
>in its planning and initiatives through proactive dialogue
>
>œ NEED for:
>
>¡ a paradigm shift. WHO’s 3x5 initiative [that promises 3 million persons 
>with AIDS receiving Anti-retroviral (ARV) Treatment by 2005]
>
>requires contextual solutions. The 3x5 initiative at present focuses on 
>treatment alone, ignoring the complexity of the epidemic ¡ low
>
>cost drugs. High drug costs can lead to long-term dependency on donors
>
>¡ adequate involvement of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS 
>and civil society in planning, implementation and
>
>evaluation
>
>¡ adequate budgetary and related commitments on improving health systems, 
>particularly Primary Health Care to provide drugs and general health 
>services and information in the long term
>
>¡ adequate attention to life skill education, women’s health empowerment 
>and utilization of traditional systems of medicine.
>
>Action by UNAIDS:
>
>œ HIGHLIGHT the cost of inaction in ‘so-called low prevalence countries’
>
>œ DEVELOP a specific global programme strategy to address the prevention 
>and care needs of ‘so-called low prevalence countries’
>
>œ ADDRESS its own shortcomings in using the in-country UN Theme groups 
>effectively. Several in-country UN Theme groups have yet to sign a 
>framework for collaboration with the national governments
>
>œ FACILITATE International and National NGOs evaluating and monitoring 
>the efficacy of country-level supports of the UN Theme groups
>
>œ FACILITATE a regional and national score card of UN Theme groups
>
>œ CHAMPION the cause of non-priority countries of the 3x5 initiative.
>
>
>----------
>Please send your feedback with comments, suggestions and critique to 
><mailto:hiv at phmovement.org>hiv at phmovement.org before 31st May 2004.
>
>Click on www.phmovement.org/charter/pch-hiv.html to download this document.
>
>
>Content-Type: application/pdf;
>         name="Asian People's Charter on HIV AIDS- DRAFT two pages 
> designed for"
>         WHA.pdf"
>Content-Disposition: attachment;
>         filename="Asian People's Charter on HIV AIDS- DRAFT two pages 
> designed"
>         for WHA.pdf"
>
>---
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