Global AIDS Week of Action held in Manipur

[Guest guest]

Global AIDS Week of Action held in Manipur

Rally demands concrete commitments from leaders

By : A Staff Reporter 5/23/2007 1:57:46 AM

IMPHAL, May 22: Demanding a stronger response, greater accountability

and more resources to meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS, a rally was

taken out here today as part of the Global AIDS Week of Action.

The Global AIDS Week of Action is from 20th to 26 May, and this week

is an opportunity for PLHA, activists and concerned NGO to generate

political pressure and demand action from the leaders.

The organizers of the rally – MNP+, SASO, Kripa Society and Lifeline

Foundation – said that in Manipur the main call is for the government

to fulfill commitments made in the Declaration of the UN General

Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS), to create new laws and enforce

existing laws that protect and promote the social, economic and human rights of

PLHA in order to help eliminate stigma, bigotry and discrimination.

Ishwarchandra Haobam, South Asian Regional Focal Point, Global Youth

AIDS Coalition on HIV/AIDS said, " Youths around the world need to

stand together to protest the slow progress of the commitments made at UNGASS in

2001. I personally feel that the youths should be a part of the decision making

process and a separate policy specially for youths should be formulated in

Manipur. " He also added that instead of spending on weapons of mass destruction,

the rich nations should help by drawing the attention of world leaders to

increase funding on AIDS treatment.

The organizers demanded the government to ensure access to second-line ARV

treatment, promotion and urgent treatment provision for PLHA with Hepatitis C

co-infection, address the needs of women and children living with HIV/AIDS. They

also call for the legislative assembly to support and endorse publicly and

within the Assembly the advocacy efforts of the infected and affected

population.

The rally started from Hotel Imphal and concluded at BOAT where a

Candle Rock was held with cultural programmes.

Source:Imphal Free Press

www.ifp.co.in

Contact: Ishwarchandra Haobam, ishwarchandra@...

--

Joya Banerjee

Program Coordinator

Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS

307 West 38th Street, Suite 1805

New York, NY 10018

1-212-661-6111

1-212-661-1933 (fax)

www.youthaidscoalition.org

joya@...