European NGOs call upon the EU to take urgent action on HIV/AIDS policies

MEDIA ADVISORY from Stop Aids Alliance (a coalition of the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and Stop AIDS Now), the Campaign for Access for Essential Medicines, and ActionAid International

WHEN

Thursday 1st December 2005, World AIDS Day

WHERE

European Parliament, Development committee, 3pm, Room ASP 3G2

WHY

The EU has a crucial role to play in the days and weeks to come in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Ahead of the Hong Kong World Trade Organization Ministerial in December, there has been much speculation about the current negotiations on intellectual property (TRIPS) and access to medicines. On the same time, the EU is about to decide on its financial perspectives which will have a definitive impact on the level of funding for HIV AIDS.

At this crucial moment, and on World AIDS day, European Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are calling upon the EU to fight HIV AIDS by acting now by: scaling up HIV prevention, ensuring access to affordable medicines, promoting increased R&D of new tools, and ensuring sufficient funding to effectively confront the HIV/AIDS crisis in developing countries.

WHO

Geena Gonsalves, invited by Action Aid International

Dr. Delphine Sculier, MSF

Marta Monteso Cullell, Stop AIDS Alliance

Note to Editors

Mrs Geena Gonsalves from the Philippines is going to give a testimony on living positively with HIV and AIDS in developing countries. The speakers will give a quick briefing to the Members of the European Parliament on the current issues at stake and will be available for individual interviews after the briefing. A European NGO position paper with the recommendations to the European Parliament on the current negotiations will be available in the briefing room.

For further information, please contact

Alexandre Polack

ActionAid International

Mobile: +32 4 73 86 18 92

alexandre.polack@actionaid.org