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Media releases > Coalition launched to Make AIDS history
International activists coalition launched to Make AIDS History
(16 March 2005)
An international group of civil society organisations, including the UK’s Stop AIDS Campaign, whose members includes VSO, SPW, ActionAid and Oxfam, have come together under the banner of Make AIDS History.
Citing this year as an unprecedented opportunity to compel donor countries to pay their fair share to fund the fight against AIDS, to cancel 100% of debt for all impoverished countries, and to commit to achieving universal access to life sustaining HIV treatment, the coalition will leverage the UK presidency of the G8 in order to achieve immediate AIDS action.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that there is an urgent funding gap of $2bn needed to achieve the internationally-agreed target of ensuring 3 million people with HIV are receiving treatments by the end of this year. The coalition will take coordinated action to target G7 donors to win a scaled-up response to the global AIDS crisis in 2005. 'Since Okinawa in 2000 donor countries have used global AIDS at G8 meetings to show the world their compassion,' said Kirsty McNeil of the Stop AIDS Campaign.
We expect these leaders to do more than talk about AIDS - they must take action. The world's richest countries have delivered a barrage of empty commitments and broken promises on AIDS in poor countries. 2005 must be different. Instead of excuses we are calling for real resource on the negotiating table by July's G8 Summit.
Today the Global Fund for AIDS TB and Malaria will have its first Replenishment Conference in Stockholm and Make AIDS History members will stage a day of joint action in the UK, US, Japan, France, and Canada, demanding the G8 must increase contributions to the global fight against AIDS by fully funding the Global Fund and committing their fair share to meet WHO 3X5 goals.
The action comes a week after the Commission for Africa report criticised donors for failing to deliver on promised funds for HIV and AIDS, and is ahead of the G8 Development Ministers meeting later this week (March 17-18) in Derbyshire.
Campaigners will deliver letters to all G8 embassies and Downing Street urging heads of government to find the $2bn needed to fund the WHO initiative to get 3 million on treatment by 2005. They will arrive under the slogan 'all mouth and no trouser', hidden behind G8 leader facemasks but wearing no trousers.
For more information contact Kirsty McNeill at STOP AIDS on +44 (0)7887 856 571.
- The Stop AIDS Campaign is a member of MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY, an alliance of more than 300 UK charities, campaigning groups, trade unions, faith groups and celebrities who are united by a common belief that 2005 offers an unprecedented opportunity for global change.
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