MASSIVE RALLY on EU-India FTA in Delhi, 2 March

[Guest guest]

MEDIA ADVISORY: WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH 2011

RALLY – 10am, Ramlila Ground to Jantar Mantar, Delhi

PRESS CONFERENCE – 2 p.m., Foreign Correspondents' Club

HIV+ People from across India and Asia say –

" DON'T TRADE AWAY OUR LIVES " - in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement

People living with HIV/AIDS from across Asia who depend on affordable generic

medicines to stay alive will urge the Indian government to stand strong against

European Union demands on the sensitive intellectual property (IP) chapter in

ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

The EU is pushing for harmful IP provisions be included in the trade agreement

that will hinder access to quality, affordable generic medicines produced in

India, the " pharmacy of the developing world. " Affordable medicines produced in

India have played a major role in scaling up AIDS treatment to more than five

million people across Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Roughly 2000 people living with HIV coming from different parts of India are

expected to rally in India's capital, New Delhi to highlight the grave danger

this FTA brings to countless human lives in developing countries by preventing

the production, registration and distribution of quality affordable generic

medicines in developing countries.

Already the World Trade Organization rules obligated India to start granting

medicines patents in 2005. This is preventing production and access to

affordable versions of Hepatitis C drugs and the new generation of cancer and

HIV/AIDS drugs, some of which have already been patented in India.

At the press conference there will be a technical briefing on the IP and

investment provisions and patient groups will share their concerns about the

impact of trade agreements on their lives.

A PRESS CONFERENCE will be held after the rally:

When: Wednesday 2 March 2011, 2pm

Where: Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia, AB-19, Mathura Road, New

Delhi

Speakers:

Anand Grover, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health

Rajiv Kafle, Asia Pacific Network of Positive People

Abou Mere, Indian Drug User's Forum (IDUF)

Loon Gangte, Delhi Network of Positive People

Y.K. Sapru, Cancer Patients AID Association

For interviews and information contact: Sheila Shettle: +91 9871800723,

Shailly Gupta: +91 9899976108

Thanks & warm regards

Naresh Yadav

Chairperson, ITPC-India

Mb: +91 9415324329