South Africa: Demand Coverage For Anti-Retroviral Therapies In National HIV/AIDS Prevention And Treatment Plan

02/12/2003

SUMMARY

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) endorses and forwards this urgent action calling for coverage of anti-retroviral therapies for South African people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the new National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Plan.

Immediate response is critical. On February 14, 2003, the Treatment Access Campaign is organizing a "Stand Up for Our Lives" march in Capetown to call upon the South African government to sign and implement a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment plan that includes coverage for anti-retroviral therapies. IGLHRC will march in solidarity with TAC and several hundred others who promise to gather on this day. Join in this call for international solidarity to help save the lives of over 5 million South African PLWHA.

FORWARDED ACTION FROM TREATMENT ACCESS CAMPAIGN (TAC)

CALL FOR SOLIDARITY--ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN-ON LETTER, VIGILS:

ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

Please send organizational endorsements by February 12, 2003, to:
ansadeborah@aol.com

Dear Friends,

We are writing to ask your organization to sign a letter and take action in support of a major South African mobilization effort to help save the lives of millions of South African people living with HIV/AIDS. Please forward this request for endorsements and action to any organizations you know that might be interested in participating.

On February 14, South Africa's Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is organizing a "Stand Up For Our Lives" march in Cape Town. South African AIDS activists are calling on their government to sign and implement a comprehensive prevention, care, and treatment plan, the outline of which has already been negotiated between the government and labor, business, religious, activist and NGO organizations. They've requested support from international allies, and have asked that actions be undertaken in a firm but friendly manner.

Please read the letter below and send authorization to list your organization no later than February 12, 2003, to: ansadeborah@aol.com. The names of the people to whom letters will be sent, and their contact information, are listed below, after the endorsement form. There is further background about TAC and this action at the end of this email.

INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL LETTERS
If you or your organization would like to write you own letter in support of TAC, please write to your local consulate as well as to the following people before February 14, 2003:

The Honorable JG Zuma Deputy President:: Via Fax: 011-27-12-323-3114
E-mail: Deputypresident@po.gov.za
The Honorable Dr NC Dlamini-Zuma Minister of Foreign Affairs:: Via Fax: 011-27-12-351-0253
E-mail: media@foreign.gov.za
Ms Lakela Kaunda Chief Director: Communication and Spokesperson: Via E-mail: lakela@po.gov.za
Deputy Chief of Mission Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo: South African Embassy
Via Fax: 202-265-1607
Consul General Thami Ngwevela South African Consulate General - New York: Via Fax: 212-213-0102
Consul General Glaudine Mtshali South African Consulate General - Los Angeles: Via Fax: 323-651-5969
Consul General Pat Sonjani South African Consulate General - Chicago: Via Fax: 312-939-2588

Please CC a copy of any letters you send to TAC via E-mail at:
info@tac.org.za

WHAT YOU CAN DO (FOR US-BASED CONSTITUENTS):

Sign on to the organizational letter of support; see form below.
Send your own letter to South African officials and consulates.
(For US-based constituents): If you are close to Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, or New York City, try to meet with consulate or embassy officials.
Write letters to the editors of local and major newspapers.
Organize a solidarity vigil in your area.

Go to http://www.healthgap.org for:

updates on solidarity vigils in the U.S. and how to organize your own vigil
information on where to send letters and requests for meetings with consulate officials in the US.
sample letters to the editors
sample short letters to consulates
template of press release for vigils and consulate meetings
letter seeking international solidarity from TAC

Be sure to notify TAC of the actions you are taking and send them copies of letters and press releases to: info@tac.org.za. And keep up with TAC's campaign at: http://www.tac.org.za.

Please stand with TAC and all South African people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.

In solidarity,

Health GAP and Artists for a New South Africa

SAMPLE LETTER

ORGANIZATIONAL SIGN ON LETTER

We, the undersigned organizations, are deeply concerned about South Africa's HIV/AIDS crisis.

South Africa has been a source of hope to the world, as your nation triumphed over apartheid, established a new democracy, adopted the world's most inclusive Bill of Rights and underwent a precedent-setting process of truth and reconciliation. As the country at the very epicenter of the global AIDS pandemic, with the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS and one of the fastest growing infection rates, it is essential that South Africa again demonstrate bold and decisive leadership. We implore the South African government to act now by introducing a treatment plan that aims to save the lives of South African people already infected with HIV.

We join the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African Medical Association (SAMA), and numerous other South African organizations, in calling on the South African government to implement a National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Plan.

We endorse TAC's "Stand Up For Our Lives" march in Cape Town on February 14, 2003, which will coincide with the opening of Parliament by President Thabo Mbeki. We stand in solidarity with the thousands of people who will march for their right to healthcare and treatment.

We ask the South African government to turn this march into a celebration of life by announcing a National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Plan that includes a clear commitment to providing anti-retroviral therapy as a fundamental part of care and treatment for all South Africans living with HIV/AIDS who need it.

We recognize the challenges inherent in such an effort. We urge South Africa to exercise every available policy tool to ensure affordable and sustainable supplies of generic anti-retroviral medicines, including issuing compulsory licenses on patented AIDS drugs and beginning local production of anti-retrovirals. As Americans, we will continue to demand that our own government stops reneging on the commitment it made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November, 2001 when it, along with all the other WTO Member States, adopted the WTO Ministerial Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Public Health. We will also continue to demand that the United States contribute its fair share of the funds needed to combat the global AIDS pandemic effectively.

We welcome President Bush's pledge for increased unilateral funding for international HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and will work to make sure that these promises are kept, that bilateral programs coordinate with recipient prevention, care, and treatment plans, and that the bulk of the money be channeled through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This will help ensure that unfair conditions are not placed on developing countries and that bureaucracy, duplication, and delays are minimized.

Finally, we would like to respectfully inform you that if the government fails to sign and implement a National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Plan by the end of February 2003, we will fully support TAC and their allies in their decision to pursue a national campaign of non-violent civil disobedience. Using civil disobedience to call for access to medicines should be unnecessary and is avoidable. The world is waiting for South Africa's leadership in confronting this epidemic and implementing a program to deliver care, support, and medicines to those most in need. We believe that unity amongst activists, trade unions, business, and government is possible. We again urge the South African government to act now.

Sincerely,

YES, ADD OUR ORGANIZATION TO THE SIGN-ON LETTER ABOVE.
FOR LISTING PURPOSES:

Organization Name:

City where organization is headquartered:

State where organization is headquartered:

REQUIRED INFORMATION:

Name of person authorizing listing:

Title / Affiliation with endorsing org:

OPTIONAL INFORMATION:

Address:

Phone:

Fax:

E-mail:

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

TAC APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

TAC Appeal for International Solidarity for March to Opening of Parliament on 14 February 2003

Dear friends, comrades and allies

On 14 February 2003, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) is organizing a "Stand Up for Our Lives" march in Cape Town. This march will mark the opening of Parliament by President Thabo Mbeki. This will be one of the last opportunities for the South African
government to demonstrate goodwill and to avoid civil conflict on HIV/AIDS.

We want this march to be the biggest national HIV/AIDS demonstration to show the will of the people in support of an HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention plan. The march already has the support of trade unions, religious leaders, youth and thousands of ordinary people. This is an appeal to our international allies to write to the South African government requesting that they sign and implement a treatment and prevention plan that includes anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS. The letter should also appeal to the government to immediately apply for compulsory licences against the drug companies to ensure an affordable and sustainable local supply of generic anti-retroviral medicines. You can write to your local consulate or embassy. Or, fax the Deputy President Mr. Jacob Zuma or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Our march will also pass the US Consulate. We are saying to the South African government: "We are standing up for our lives. Act now to save our country and continent." We are saying to the US government: "Stop militarism and military spending. Spend money on the real threats to global human security: poverty, environmental degradation and ill health. We urge the US government to fund the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment."

We cannot wait any longer for a visible and dynamic response from the government, business and international community. We do not need any more reports to tell us what we already know - HIV/AIDS is killing 600 people a day in this country and ruining lives and hopes. But with will and commitment this does not have to happen. With leadership from business and government, together with labour and communities, it is still possible to save lives and restore hope.

On 19/20 January 2003, the TAC National Executive and more than 100 activists, trade union, religious and people re-affirmed that if government fails to sign and implement an national treatment and prevention plan that we will start a national campaign of civil disobedience. We ask you to write to the South African government to avoid unnecessary conflict and instead to save the lives of our people.

Internationally, the work of MSF, Consumer Project on Technology, HealthGAP, ACT-UP, OXFAM, PATAM, IGLHRC, Bread for the World, GMHC, Action Southern Africa, Southern African Development Fund, Student Global AIDS Campaign, ATTAC, Brazilian HIV/AIDS NGOs, all the organisations of PATAM and others have sustained HIV/AIDS activism and a global conscience in the epidemic. We appeal to all organisations and individuals to write to the South African government and to assist in saving millions of lives in our country.

Thank you for your support and solidarity. The relevant contact addresses are pasted below. Please send your letters on or before 14 February 2003 and copy them to info@tac.org.za

Regards,

Zackie Achmat, Nathan Geffen, Sindiswa Godwana, Mark Heywood, Nonkosi
Khumalo, Mandla Majola, Tsakane Mangwane, Sipho Mthathi and Theo
Steele on behalf of the Treatment Action Campaign

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