People's Charter on HIV and AIDS
Preamble
Health is a social, economic and political issue and,
above all, a fundamental human right. Inequality, poverty, exploitation,
violence and injustice are at the root of ill-health. Achieving health for
all means that powerful interests that work against people’s wellbeing
have to be challenged, corporate globalization has to be opposed and
political and economic priorities have to be drastically changed.
HIV and AIDS is a development issue that calls for social
and political action. It is also a public health issue that requires
people-oriented health and medical interventions. Such responses require
democracy, pro-people inter-sectoral policies, good governance, people’s
participation and effective communication. They should be rooted in
internationally accepted human rights and humanitarian norms.
The special needs of women and children as infected
persons, their dependents and care givers should be addressed.
In the current context, this Charter recognizes the
devastating impact of war and conflict on health systems and how it
amplifies the vulnerabilities of people to HIV and AIDS.
This Charter draws upon perspectives of communities
affected and infected with HIV and AIDS and those vulnerable to the
infection. It encourages people to develop their own solutions and to hold
accountable local authorities, national governments, international organizations
and corporations to their promises and responsibilities.
Vision
As stated in the People’s Charter for Health: “Equity,
ecologically sustainable development, social justice and peace are at the
heart of our vision of a better world – a world in which a healthy life
for all is a reality; a world that respects, appreciates and celebrates all
life and diversity; a world that enables the flowering of people’s talents
and abilities to enrich one another; a world in which people’s voices
guide the decisions that shape our lives.”
Perspectives
The AIDS pandemic is one of the greatest humanitarian
crises of all times. It has caused death and misery, destroyed families and
communities, derailed development and reversed health gains achieved over
decades in one stroke. HIV and AIDS is already wiping out a generation in
Africa. Two decades after it began its onslaught, the disease is still
spreading fast, gaining a firm foothold in all parts of the world.
HIV and AIDS spreads along migration routes charted out
by globalized trade. Social and economic distress due to conflict, war,
disasters, skewed international trade and unjust economic policies make more
and more people vulnerable to the infection.
The landmark Alma Ata Declaration of 1978 promised Health
for All by 2000 through primary health care. Verticalisation, changing
economic priorities, invasion of private interests into political
decision-making and a lack of political will led to a total breakdown of the
public health and primary health care systems during the 1980s and 1990s.
The spread of HIV and AIDS also contributed to the non-achievement of these
goals.
Poverty, hunger and ill health are increasing because of
neo-liberal economic policies. In this context, integrated,
adequately-resourced health systems based on primary health care and public
health are urgently required.
Lack of sensitization and training of health personnel
have created negative attitudes towards persons living with HIV and AIDS.
Such attitudes and practices lead to stigma and discrimination that impede
interventions.
It is essential to ensure that health care is safe and
that people undergoing treatment at health care facilities are not exposed
to HIV or other infections.
A CALL FOR ACTION
By people and social movements
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Mobilize and strengthen capacities of communities in
health promotion, disease prevention and care.
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Empower women and youth as key players in HIV
interventions.
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Build alliances among positive people’s networks, women’s
movements, health and social activists, trade unions, student groups,
academics and other progressive constituencies.
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Intensify the campaign for equitable and universal access
to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment through comprehensive primary health
care.
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Facilitate legal measures and mass campaigns to change
intellectual property rights regime that escalate drug prices.
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Oppose policies dictated by multilateral financial and
trade institutions that disregard people’s right to health and health
care.
-
Expose links between the spread of HIV and AIDS and
the underlying societal determinants such as poverty, war and displacement,
and participate in efforts to redress these injustices.
By health professionals and health
workers
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Provide responsible care and quality treatment to persons
living with HIV and AIDS.
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Stop stigma and discrimination in institutions of care
and treatment.
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Respect patients’ right to dignity and privacy.
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Follow ethical and regulatory principles in drug trials.
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Provide adequate preventive measures to avoid
transmission of infection in health care
institutions.
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Support People’s Health Movement initiatives that
address the larger social, political and economic issues.
By governments
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Develop and strengthen comprehensive approaches based on
primary health care to include HIV and AIDS interventions.
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Enhance involvement of people and civil society in
planning and implementation.
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Ensure greater involvement of persons living with HIV and
AIDS at all levels.
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Ensure occupational safety of health workers.
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Increase access to basic services to people living with
HIV and AIDS.
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Ensure easy, affordable and sustained availability of
quality generic ARV and other essential drugs.
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Allocate adequate resources for public health.
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Implement guidelines for transparent, scientific and
ethical clinical trials.
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Make nutritional inputs and psycho-social support part of
HIV and AIDS care.
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Develop programs for life skill education and women’s
health empowerment.
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Promote traditional systems of medicine with enough
resources.
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Promote harm reduction policies and programs for all
vulnerable sections, including sex workers, drug users, sexual minorities
and street children.
By corporates
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Place people above profits.
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Make available diagnostic and prognostic tests that are
affordable.
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Ensure the availability of ARV and essential medicines at
affordable rates.
By WHO and UNAIDS
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Evolve a comprehensive approach that strengthens primary
health care and health systems, with built-in indicators of progress.
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Stop narrowly-focused vertical programs.
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Urge all governments to follow the UN’s International
Guidelines on HIV infection and AIDS and Human Rights.
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Include non-priority countries in the 3x5 initiative.
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Take appropriate action in ‘low prevalence countries’.
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Start immediate action for sub-Saharan African countries.
By World Bank, International
Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization
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Be accountable for social disasters caused by anti-poor
macroeconomic policies.
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Cancel debts of all poor countries, especially those
identified as vulnerable to HIV and AIDS.
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Stop free trade agreements, privatization of essential
services, and the commercialization of health care.
-
Finance HIV and AIDS interventions with grants instead of
loans.
-
Remove pharmaceutical patents that adversely affect
availability of generic drugs.
We call upon all individuals and organizations to endorse
and
implement the People’s Charter on HIV and AIDS and
join the People’s Health Movement.
PHM has an active presence in about 100 countries.
