Citizenship and rights
Civil society recommendations for the UNGASS review political declaration
Inclusion of civil society, clear targets and universal access critical to effective AIDS response
Authors:
; International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)
Publisher:
International Council of AIDS Services Organsiations , 2006
This document outlines recommendations from civil society for the 2006 UNGASS (United Nations General Assembly Special Session) review meeting. The document argues that political failings stand in the way of effectively addressing the epidemic. These include lack of adequate resources, disregard for human rights, inattention to health workers and health systems, refusal to base interventions on evidence and financing and trade policies that undermine access to drugs. The authors argue that these barriers can and must be removed and that a comprehensive response must take into account the need to deliver on the commitment of universal access to prevention, treatment and care interventions, along with the need to develop better tools, including drugs, diagnostic and prevention technologies.
Governments need to strongly reaffirm all international commitments on HIV and AIDS, recognise the role of human rights abuses, reaffirm gender equality and poverty eradication, and reaffirm the commitment to the GIPA (Greater Involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS) principles to involve people living with HIV and AIDS in all aspects of the response. The recommendations also call for: the involvement of civil society to be ensured and enabled at all levels of decision making; and a commitment to universal access to prevention, care and treatment, including numerical targets and clear assignments of responsibility. [adapted from author]
