CONTACT: Health GAP (Global Access Project)
Asia Russell, Health GAP +1 267 475 2645

WHAT: Press conference by people living with HIV, AIDS activists on the day of the UN's high-level meeting of the General Assembly to review the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS

WHEN: Thursday June 2, 9:00 AM

WHERE: The New York Helmsley Hotel, Murray Hill Room on the third floor, 212 East 42nd Street, Manhattan

WHO: * Stephen Lewis, UN Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa * Paisan Suwannawong, Director, Thai Treatment Action Group * Dorothy Onyango, Director, Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya * Asia Russell, Director of International Policy, Health GAP

Background: AIDS has killed more than 12 million people worldwide since countries signed the UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in 2001, pledging their commitment to stopping AIDS. The Declaration of Commitment established time-bound targets regarding HIV treatment and prevention agreed to by all UN member countries.

AIDS treatment advocates warn that governments are breaking their promises: several 2005 targets are in danger of being missed, threatening global efforts to increase access to life-saving AIDS treatment in developing countries. The WHO's Initiative to ensure 3 million people with HIV have access to treatment by 2005 is likely to fail: In December 2004, 700,000 people with HIV were estimated to be on treatment in developing countries. In order to reach the goal of 3 million, the number has to be doubled, twice, by the end of 2005.

In one month, the wealthiest donor countries will meet at the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, where Africa and HIV/AIDS will be high on the agenda.

Experts will comment on funding and policy commitments donors should make at the G8 Summit, as well as these questions

* Whether donors will fill the $700 million funding gap faced by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and commit the approximately $8 billion needed by the Global Fund for 2006 and 2007

* Why securing a fair deal on debt cancellation and elimination of IMF macroeconomic policies at the July G8 Summit is critical to the fight against AIDS in poor countries

* What donors should be doing to correct the massive shortage of trained health care workers in poor countries struggling to increase HIV treatment access

* What impact ideologically motivated responses to HIV prevention and treatment have on efforts to respond to the pandemic.

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