Mumbai Letter: The AIDS genocide is an issue for the WSF

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Mumbai Letter: The AIDS genocide is an issue for the WSF

Hi

A " Struggle Meeting " was held in Mumbai on 16th January 2004 before the World

Social Forum. The participants of the meeting were Vivek Divan ( Lawyers

Collective), Fatima Hassan ( Treatment Action Campaign), Emedie Gunduza( Action

Aids, Women and AIDS Support Network), Nmthandazo Makhalima ( Action Aid,

Zimbabawe Womens Resourses Centre and Net Work), Barbra dembedza ( Action Aid

International, Africa Regional Office), Jayasree AK, Subash TV, Jyotikumar (

Firm), Katia Giumars( brazil AMB), fese Vilise( One world One Fight),

Liandvo Lindners ( GapaIRs Owef Brasil), Alesandra Nilo( GESTOS/One World One

Fight), Stern ( Agua Buena, Costa Rica). The meeting released a document

called Mumbai Letter calling the WSF Organising Committe to put AIDS on its

agenda.

THE MUMBAI LETTER: THE AIDS GENOCIDE IS AN ISSUE FOR THE WSF

The World Social Forum (WSF) is the place to discuss globalization, human rights

and health. Therefore it MUST address the global crisis of HIV/AIDS.

Every six seconds someone in the world becomes HIV positive. Fourteen thousand

people around the world become HIV positive everyday. About 350 people will die

of AIDS in India during the 6 days of the WSF. By 2010 the epidemic would have

orphaned 25 million children. Around 6 million people living with HIV/AIDS need

treatment right now. In future another 34 million people will need treatment.

Millions will die before it ever reaches them.

In developed countries vast majority living with HIV have access to treatment.

One of the main reasons is because 97% of the existing PATENTS on medicines

belong to the MNCs in the Industrialised / Developed countries. Right to health

and life should not be determined by the place of birth and financial status.

Who controls Patents ?

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the MNCs of Corporate Interests impose

Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), that is one of

the most unjust neo-liberal agreement humanity is facing now.

According to WHO 6 million people all over the world, including Asia, Latin

America, Africa, in developing countries require treatment for HIV/AIDS. Why

have they been denied access? Because of the high costs of medicines that make

treatment unaffordable and out of the reach of the masses. This has been the

result of TRIPS. People's health and life have been compromised by private

profit interests and international trade agreements.

Even in Brazil, which provides free ARV medicines for treatment of HIV, will not

be able to provide the same in future because of the TRIPS regime. In South

Africa, the global campaign and civil disobedience forced the government to

announce a treatment program. However, use of generic medicines depends on the

license (mercy) from MNCs.

But, in countries where there is no patent protection, there are other obstacles

to getting access to treatment. Lack of political will, no or little local

manufacturing capacity, corruption etc. International agencies such as UNAIDS,

WHO provide some services to facilitate treatment access. Millions of people

have lost their lives to the epidemic.

People in developing countries must have access to proper health care services

and also have the right to the highest attainable standard of health.

AIDS AFFECTS EVERYONE. AIDS IS A WORLD SOCIAL ISSUE.

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM PUT AIDS ON THE AGENDA NOW!!!

Lawyers collective

E-mail: <aidslaw@...>