The People's Charter on HIV/AIDS is a consensus charter - a campaign document that provides a people's perspective on HIV/AIDS and related issues like access, rights and equality.
It aims to help create a world in which people are placed above profits and politics, and those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS are given the appropriate medical, social and political responses.
The Charter was developed at a grassroots level, taking in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, and was written after consultations held in the lead up to XV International AIDS Conference by HIV-positive people's networks, NGOs, trade unions and other associations, media and communication strategists, and UN agencies and government representatives.
Support for people-oriented actions on HIV/AIDS contained within the Charter is under the banner of the Asian People's Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS.
The writing process was led by the People's Health Movement - a movement with a presence in more than 100 countries.
HIV/AIDS crisis is a public health issue, the Charter notes. The Charter argues that poverty, hunger, ill-health and other factors contributing to the spread of the disease are increasing, assisted by neo-liberal economic policies, lack of respect for health and human rights and a breakdown of nation states due to conflict, war and disaster.
While endorsing concern over the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Charter demands increased emphasis on primary healthcare and the strengthening of health systems to address other communicable and non-communicable diseases in an integrated way.
The Charter calls for action at various levels.
Civil society is asked to:
- Continue campaigns for the rights of people in poor countries to receive antiretroviral treatment, delivered through comprehensive primary healthcare services.
- Draw attention to the links between the spread of HIV/AIDS and underlying societal determinants such as poverty, war and displacement.
- Participate in efforts to redress these injustices.
Governments are asked to:
- Provide education on sexual and reproductive health rights.
- Oppose stigma and promote respect of and care for people living with HIV/AIDS.
- Increase access to basic services for people living with HIV.
- Allocate more resources for primary healthcare in general and communicable diseases in particular.
- Reduce budgets for factors that amplify public health and HIV/AIDS crises, such as the military.
- Place people above profits and politics, and thus focus on policies that improve people's lives in general, and the lives of people infected, affected, suffering from and living with HIV/AIDS particularly.
- Develop a transparent, scientific and human way to conduct clinical trials through an informed consent approach.
The WHO is asked to:
- Commit funds to improve health systems, particularly for primary healthcare, and to provide drugs, general health services and information in the long term.
- Enhance involvement of lay people, especially affected communities and civil society, in its own planning, implementation and evaluation.
Some delegates attending the XV International AIDS Conference who have been involved with the consultation process feel that the Charter should focus on improving access to primary health care, since this is a proven means of improving people's quality of life and combating HIV/AIDS.
