Campaigns around HIV/AIDS
In the UK, most development-related AIDS campaigning is coordinated by the Stop AIDS Campaign, an initiative which brings together more than 80 UK development and HIV/AIDS groups, including major Christian organisations such as CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund and World Vision.
Stop AIDS' current campaign is called "Access Denied" It focuses on the promise G8 leaders made at Gleneagles that there would be universal access to AIDS treatment by 2010. The campaign estimates that at present the vast majority of people who need AIDS treatment don't actually have access. Unfair trade rules and practices are discouraging or preventing the manufacture of generic medications that could help change this situation. To find out more, and to take action, go to the Stop AIDS campaign website and click on "Access Denied"
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, which is a broad ecumenical network for cooperation on AIDS and trade, is in the middle of its "Keep the Promise" campaign. It describes its campaign as:
holding individuals, religious leaders, faith organizations, governments and intergovernmental organizations accountable for the commitments they have made and advocates for further efforts and resources to fight HIV and AIDS. The campaign works to protect the rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, promote an attitude of care and solidarity which rejects all forms of stigmatization and discrimination, and advocates for access to necessary forms of treatment as well as expand efforts for education and prevention.
The "Keep the Promise" website (follow link above) has a wealth of campaigning, advocacy, educational and worship resources gathered around five broad areas:
- fighting stigma and discrimination
- promoting prevention
- mobilizing resources
- advocating universal access to treatment
- promoting accountability
Individual agencies also have their own AIDS campaigns within the wider framework. Click below to link to: