One week. One voice
Is the world doing enough to stop AIDS? Take action in your country
and show solidarity globally.
Join a groundswell of civil society voices from across the world
during the week of 18-24 May to demand urgency, accountability and
more resources in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
WHY: The severe impact of the AIDS pandemic on families, communities
and economies is commonly acknowledged by scientists, the media and
politicians the world over. However, more than 25 years later the
losses remain stark: AIDS continues to kill almost 6000 people each
day and more than 2 out of 3 HIV positive people still lack access to
treatment. While women make up an increasing proportion of those
living with HIV and bear a greater burden of care, current AIDS
responses do not tackle the violation of women's rights - a key driver
of the pandemic.
For the past two years during the Global AIDS Week of Action,
activists have organised actions in over 30 countries to hold world
leaders accountable on their landmark commitment to fight AIDS made at
the United National General Assembly Special Session on AIDS (UNGASS)
in 2001.
In 2005 world leaders made another historic promise on universal
access, committing to: "developing and implementing a package for HIV
prevention, treatment and care with the aim of coming as close as
possible to the goal of universal access to treatment by 2010."
The world needs to honour this ambitious promise to stop the needless
deaths of women, men and children. Our governments must meet their
national targets for universal access to treatment prevention, care
and support. Multinational drug companies must stop putting profits
before people. Rich nations, including the G8, must back their warm
words on AIDS with real funds.
The Global AIDS Week of Action is the defining mobilisation moment
before world leaders report back to the UN on the progress they have
made to meet their commitments on HIV and AIDS. So as our governments
boast about their efforts at the UN meeting in New York, in cities
from Abuja to Phnom Penh and Delhi to Lilongwe, citizens will call on
them to deliver on their promises.
WHEN: The Global AIDS Week of Action from 18-24 May 2008 is an
opportunity for activists around the world to stand together, generate
political pressure and demand action from our leaders. The week starts
with the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day on 18 May - a
Sunday when the world recognizes and remembers those who have died of
AIDS. The week of action is just two weeks before a high level meeting
at the UN discusses the progress made by each of our governments in
the fight against AIDS. In early July the club of rich nations (G8)
meet in Japan - let them know that the world is watching to see if
they put money where their mouth is and agree a funding plan for the
universal access goal.
HOW: Between now and the end of May, it's time to take action. You
bring together fellow activists in your country to plan what action to
take and what demands to make of your government. You then share your
plans with friends and activists in other countries through the Global
AIDS Week website, www.globalaidsweek.org. Communication of your ideas
and plans is the glue that will bind all our actions together and send
a strong message to world leaders.
Are you ready to join the Global AIDS Week of Action: Take the
initiative by sending an email with the plans agreed by activists in
your country to info@globalaidsweek.org and we will add you to the
list of active countries and send you updates. Then log on to the
website to see your actions listed!
There is no global secretariat or chief organiser - the groups listed
below are joining forces to make this call, and the rest is up to you.
The success of the Global AIDS Week of Action depends entirely on
committed people and networks working together in a coalition in their
own countries. During this one week we must show solidarity
internationally by campaigning nationally.