Global AIDS Week of Action 2006

HIV and AIDS Campaign: 

 One week that can change the next five years.

Introduction

During the week of 20-26 May, civil society voices from across the world are speaking out to demand a stronger response, more accountability and more resources in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This Global AIDS Week of Action is the platform for civil society to stand together, generate political pressure and influence decision-makers making choices that affect our lives.

The week of action is the last moment for influencing decision-makers before they walk into the halls of UN for the 2006 High-Level Meeting on AIDS. At this meeting, they will analyze the small gains, the big losses and make new promises to respond to the epidemic. They will decide what the priorities are and how much money will be spent on what.

The message of the Global AIDS Week of Action will not only denounce the current situation by saying that we are 'disappointed' and ‘demand more' of our governments; it will make clear that civil society sees that the current level of government action is no longer sufficient. AIDS is continuing to spread, and we are asking for a new order that includes more empowering and meaningful roles for people living with HIV or AIDS and civil society participation in implementation of AIDS programmes as well as future accountability efforts.

What You Can Do

Between now and the end of May in your country, it's time for action.

Would you like to have a say in how AIDS in your world will be shaped over the next five years? Make a big noise! You choose what action, how and where. Share your ideas with friends and colleagues in other countries by sending an email to: aidsweek@ungasshiv.org.

These actions will be posted on the www.ungasshiv.org site to share with the world.

The specific actions chosen in each country are not as important as the process of involving a larger coalition in discussing the realities of turning the tide against HIV and AIDS and clearly communicating the key national priorities and demands to our governments, as well as essential roles for civil society in the HIV and AIDS response.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance strongly encourages everyone to be involved in country- level advocacy. This advocacy is even more important than coming to New York for the review itself! Here are some ideas of where you could begin:

Involve young people! Request a free copy of the "Keep the Promise" Teacher's Resource through the online order form, or download the guide directly from the web in four languages.

Conduct a letter writing campaign. Write letters to your President or Prime Minister, Minister of Health or Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador to the United Nations and contact your National AIDS Programme or Ministry of Health to ask him/her to keep their promise and support a renewal and strengthening of commitments made in 2001.

A sample letter and background information can be found in the curriculum listed above.

Ask a local community leader to take up the cause, interview the leader or ask him/her to make a statement regarding the Declaration of Commitment.

Organize a prayer service to raise awareness of the impact of HIV and AIDS in your community. Invite faith leaders and people living with HIV and AIDS to speak. Consider collecting and donating the offering to a local group working with people living with HIV or AIDS in your community.

Organize a rally, vigil, protest or march in your local area or even in the capital city. Take out an ad in the local paper; make signs, slogans or t-shirts!

Be sure to write press releases, host press conferences and encourage press interviews and media coverage of all of your events. Take photos of your events and share them with us.

Expose what AIDS promises haven't been kept, make a noise about what you think are priority AIDS issues in your country and your community.

Review the Declaration of Commitment along with your country's progress report. Country reports will be available before the end of April. Civil society organizations in a number of countries are also preparing shadow reports.

These reports are or will be available at http://ungasshiv.org/

Identify what are the best practices and obstacles faced -- what is and is not working in the country to prevent the spread of HIV and how/ why treatment is or is not being administered. Share this information with your government leaders.

Ensure that your government delegation understands the concerns and needs of people living with HIV, knows who the marginalized affected groups are and has a list of the most urgent needs of frontline health workers, before they catch the plane to the meeting in New York.

Join the EAA's UNGASS review listserve for further updates and action alerts. Subscribe by sending an email with your name and organization to cbordeau@e-alliance.ch.

Are you a part of your country delegation?

We are working to identify and contact these participants well in advance of the meeting to offer information about logistics, programs, side events, etc. We would also like to facilitate dialogue, exchange of information, messages and ideas among participants to make civil society participation in this event much more effective and meaningful.

Please complete the following information and send to: cbordeau@e-alliance.ch

Get Involved in UNGASS 2006! For more information. 

Ecumenical planning for the UNGASS Review: 

For past Action Alerts and Bulletins from the HIV and AIDS Campaign, see here