Universal Access - Fight for Action

27 Oct 2006 – 10:47 (modified on 29 Nov 2006 – 14:16)

by Edwin

Thank you to everyone for your responses to this letter. Please see below the final letter that will be sent out.

10 November 2006

Dr. Peter Piot

UNAIDS Executive Director

UNAIDS Secretariat
20, avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland

Dear Dr. Piot,

The Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS adopted by the UN General Assembly in June 2006 calls on countries to establish ambitious national targets on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support toward the goal of achieving universal access by 2010.

To provide guidance to countries in this process, UNAIDS has recently distributed Operational Guidelines for setting National Targets towards Achieving Universal Access.

The Guidelines emphasize the importance of including a “full spectrum”[1] of stakeholders in the Universal Access national target setting process, and reiterates UNAIDS’ commitment to supporting full civil society participation in defining national targets.

We are writing to express our concern that the level of country-level civil society participation in the Universal Access target setting process to date has not been satisfactory. While discussions have taken place with some regional networks of civil society organisations, at the national level, too few civil society organizations are aware that target-setting is going on; even fewer have been consulted and involved in the process of setting targets. At present, through provision of these guidelines and the associated process to date, UNAIDS has presented itself as the lead agency on Universal Access. If UNAIDS has this capacity then we welcome this situation, however, the evidence to date suggests that civil society organisations are still facing significant challenges accessing information and processes related to target-setting at country level

We have learned from the UNGASS review process that without civil society awareness of universal access targets and participation in planning to uphold their implementation in the period between now and 2010, the Universal Access process, which we support, will lack credibility and legitimacy at the country level. This may in turn have a negative impact on the effectiveness of implementation and overall success of the process.

To demonstrate its commitment to supporting full and meaningful civil society participation in the Universal Access national target setting process at country level, we ask UNAIDS to:

• Provide technical assistance to countries to implement a participatory process, with a timeline for: formation of a consultation group with strong civil society participation); information collection; in-country review of targets with all stakeholders; participation in relevant regional meetings; finalization of national targets; and review of guidelines by technical experts (including from civil society);
• Encourage governments to designate a focal point to liaise with civil society on the universal access process, and disseminate the contact information widely;
• Encourage countries to continue developing targets and carrying out consultations with civil society beyond the December 2006 deadline, including discussions of plans to measure progress.
• Support awareness-raising campaigns on the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment and Universal Access process at the country level;
• Establish mechanisms to verify that the universal access process is consultative and participatory, and that governments develop and disseminate plans for on-going consultation and regular public review and evaluation of progress towards the implementation of national targets.

We therefore request that UNAIDS provide a clear documented strategy for responding to the above issues, and demonstrating how it will ensure that civil society are involved as we move forward towards Universal Access.

Signatories listed here:

Act Up-East Bay, Oakland, CA - USA

Act Up-Hellas

Act Up-Paris

Action against AIDS Germany

Action Group for Rural Organisations (AGRO) - India

ActionAid International

AfricaFiles - Canada

African Civil Society Coalition

African HIV Policy Network - UK

Afrihealth Information Projects/Afrihealth Optonet Association - Nigeria

AIDS Action Europe

AIDSfonds - Netherlands

AIDS Prevention Society of Pakistan (APSOP)

AIDS-Hilfe Baden-Württemberg e.V. - Germany

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

Argentinian Network of Women Living with HIV/AIDS

Artists Against AIDS - Nigeria

Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organisations (APCASO)

Asia Pacific Network of PLHIV (APN+)

ASIDH - Mozambique

Asociación Atlacatl Vivo Positivo - El Salvador

Asociación VIA LIBRE- Peru

Asociacion Vivo en Positivo-Bolivia

Assoc. Lagartense GLBT - Brazil

Assoc. Roraimense Pela Diversidade Sexual – Roraima - Brazil

Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS - ABIA- – Brazil

Associação Cena aberta companhia de teatro – Cabo Verde

Associação Roraimense Pela Diversidade Sexual- Brazil

Association for Protection of Drug Users Rights (PASSAGE) - Macedonia

Association of Protestant Churches and Mission (EMW) - Germany

Association SunAids - Cameroon

Australian AIDS Fund Inc., The

Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO)

Ave de Mexico- Mexico

Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF)

Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network - USA

Bread for the World - Germany

BUKO Pharma-Kampagne - Germany

Canadian Crossroads International (CCI)

CARE International

CARIS - Christian AIDS Resource and Information Service - South Africa

Casa Servo de Deus- Brazil

CCF-Kinderhilfswerk e.V. - Germany

Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) - USA

Center for Reproductive Rights - USA

Central Confederation of Trade Unions (CCOTU) - Sierra Leone

Centro da Mulher 8 de Março -Paraíba - Brazil

Centro de Educação Sexual – CEDUS – RJ - Brazil

Christian Aid

Church of Scotland

Church World Service

Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Union (CETU)

Confederation Syndicale du Congo (CCSC)

Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

Corporación Chilena de Prevención del SIDA- SIDACCION – Chile

COSI - Benin

COTRAF - Rwanda

COTU - Kenya

Council for World Mission

Crusaid PlusInitiative Nigeria

CSA - Benin

Czech Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOT)

Deep Griha's Integrated Service for HIV/AIDS (DISHA) - India

Difaem - German Institute for Medical Mission

Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA)

El Closet de Sor Juana - Mexico

European AIDS Treatment Group (EATG)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Evangelical Lutheran Mission Leipzig - Germany

FAVRA CBO - Kenya

Federação de Bandeirantes do Brasil - Brazil

FEDUSA - South Africa

FEIM - Foundation for the Research and Study of Women - Argentina

FOBONG - Fórum Baiano de ONG/Aids - Brazil

Fondation Femme Plus

Fórum Catarinense de ONG/AIDS – SC - Brazil

Fórum de ONG/AIDS do Amazonas - Brazil

Fórum de ONG/AIDS do DF - Brazil

Fórum de ONG/AIDS do Espírito Santo - Brazil

Fórum de ONG/AIDS do Pará - Brazil

Fórum ONG/AIDS-RJ - Brazil

FUNDACION APOYO Y SOLIDARIDAD DE CALI- COLOMBIA

Fundacion Arcoiris - Mexico

GAPA/SP- Brazil

Gasp. Corações Amigos de Cuiabá-MT - Brazil

GAYRREIROS DO VALE DO PARAIBA - Brazil

German Doctors for Developing Countries

German Foundation for Worldpopulation (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung/DSW)

Gestos - Brazil

GIV – SP - Brazil

Global AIDS Alliance

Global Foundation for Social Harmony and Sustainable Development

Global Health Advocates

Grupo de Apoio e Prevenção à AIDS/RS- Brazil

Grupo Gayvota – Maranhão - Brazil

Grupo Liberdade Igualdade e Cidadania HomossexuaL –GLICH - Brazil

GRUPO PELA VIDDA/RJ - Brazil

Grupo Português de Activistas sobre Tratamentos de VIH/SIDA (GAT) - Portugal

Grupo Vontade de Mulher – Bahia - Brazil

Guyana Human Rights Association

HEAL Foundation - Sri Lanka

Health & Development Networks (HDN) - Thailand

Health Global Access Project (Health GAP) - USA

Health Network Africa

Healthy Options Project Skopje (HOPS) - Macedonia

HelpAge International - UK

HISPANOSIDA - Agrupación de ONG de personas con VIH/Sida - Spain

HIV Scotland

Hoima Diocese - Uganda

Human Rights News of Bangladesh

Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU)

ICW - Brazil - Brazil

ImpAcTAIDS - UK

Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)

Instituto Arco Íris - Florianopólis - Brazil

Instituto de Desarrollo Humano –IDH- Bolivia

International AIDS Society (IAS)

International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights (INCRESE)

International Chemical, Energy and Mineworkers Federation (ICEM)

International Metal Workers Federation (IMF)

International Planned Parenthood Federation, The (IPPF)

International Transport Federation (ITF)

International Union of Foodworkers (IUF)

International Union of Sex Workers (IUSW)

International Women's AIDS Caucus (IWAC)

International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC)

Islamic Relief - UK

IZBOR /Choice/ - Strumica, Macedonia

Jamaican Network of Seropositives

Japanese Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (JaNP+)

Justice Social Health & Education Development Initiative, Imo State - Nigeria

Katiró – Manaus - Brazil

Kenya Network of HIV Positive Teachers (KENEPOTE)

Latin America and the Caribbean Council AIDS Services Organization- LACCASO

LAZOS DE VIDA . IQUITOS . PERU

Lifeline Foundation - Nigeria

Live Alive Foundation - Nigeria

LO - Norway (Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions)

LO - Sweden

Lutheran World Federation - Nepal

Lutheran World Federation, The (LWF)

Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation (MASSO)

Malawi Congress of Trade Unions

Marie Stopes International

Missão Nova Esperança – Paraíba- Brazil

Movimiento Latinoaméricano y del Caribe de Mujeres Positivas (MLCM+)

Mujer y Salud Uruquay (MYSU)

Mujeres y Vihda de Cochabamba - Bolivia

National Council of Trade Unions - South Africa

National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NYNETHA) - Kano State

NetMediaOne - USA

Network Forum, Taraba State - Nigeria

Network of Sex Work Projects - USA

Network of Zimbabwe Positive Women (NZPW+)

Nigeria Labour Congress

Norwegian Church Aid

Núcleo de Prevenção da AIDS - Bahia - Brazil

Obra Foundation - Ghana

One World Action - UK

Organization for Good Life of the Marginalized (OGLM) - Uganda

OSISA - Southern Africa

Pakistan Workers Federation

Pan African Treatment Access Movement (PATAM)

Panos

Partners in Health/Harvard - USA

PASTORAL ECUMÉNICA VIH-SIDA – Argentina

People Against Injustice - The Gambia

Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+)

Primate's World Relief and Development Fund, The (PWRDF), The Anglican Church of Canada

Projeto Esperança de Salvador - Brazil

Prostitutes of New York

Public Health Watch/OSI - USA

Public Personalities Against AIDS Trust (PPAAT) - Africa

Rainbow Women and Child Welfare Foundation - Bangladesh

RCOMVIDA – Santa Catarina - Brazil

RED LATINOAMERICANA DE PERSONAS QUE VIVEN CON VIH- - REDLA

Red Nacional de Pvvs de Bolivia-Red Bol+

REDBOL Bolivian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Research Quality Institute NGO - Peru

Reseau des Organisations Nationales de Lutte contre le SIDA (RONALSI) - Central African Republic

River Fund, The - USA

RNP+ Ceará - Brazil

RNP+ Curitiba - Brazil

RNP+ Porto Alegre- Brazil

RNP+ Tocantins - Brazil

Rotary-UNAIDS Cooperation Programme on HIV/AIDS, Rotary International District 3140 - India

SAfAIDS - Zimbabwe/Southern Africa

Sahara Centre for Residential Care and Rehabilitation, New Delhi - India

Seed for Change, A - Canada

Sex Workers Outreach Project - USA

Sex Workers' Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN) - C.E.Europe & C.asia

Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC)

SILOE - Côte d'Ivoire

SME Business Initiative on HIV/AIDS in India

Social Help & Research Organization (SHRO) - Pakistan

Society "Association HIV.LV" - Latvia

STOP AIDS NOW! - Netherlands

Student Global AIDS Campaign

Sustainlabour Foundation

Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU)

Synergy for youth development - Nigeria

Talented Youths International (TYI) - Nigeria

Terre Nouvelle - Togo

Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC)

Trade Union Confederation - Ghana

Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)

Treatment Action Group, New York

Treatment Advocacy & Literacy Campaign (TALC) - Zambia

Trinity United Church, Newmarket (Ontario) - Canada

UGTCI - Cote d'Ivoire

UK AIDS and Human Rights Project

UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS

Union Nationale des Syndicats de Travailleurs du Benin (UNSTB)

Union Network International (UNI)

United Church in Canada, The

United Transportation Union - Canada

VSO - UK

Western Cape Education Department (WCED) - South Africa

Women's Equity in Access to Care and Treatment (WE-ACTx) - USA

World AIDS Campaign

World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)

YIELD - Nigeria

Youth Empowerment and Health Development Initiative (YEHDI) - Nigeria

Youth Fate Renaissance - Nigeria

Youths Afrik International - Nigeria

Zambia AIDSLaw Research & Advocacy Network (ZARAN)

Zentrum Ökumene der EKHN - Germany

Zi Teng (sex workers concern organization) - Hong Kong

ZONA - Kavadarci – Macedonia

CC: Mr Antonio Guterres, High Commissioner United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Ms Ann Veneman, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Mr James T. Morris, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

Mr Kemal Dervis, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Ms Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Mr Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Mr Juan Somavia,Director-General, International Labour Office (ILO)

Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General-elect. World Health Organization (WHO)

Mr Nicholas Krafft, Acting Vice-President. Human Development Network, World Bank

[1]Including non-governmental organizations, networks of people living with HIV/AIDS, faith-based organizations, trade unions, community-based organizations, youth, women’s organizations, members of or organizations working with hard to reach or most affected populations