Statement from the Global Unions HIV/AIDS Campaign
The Global Unions and the World AIDS Campaign (WAC) appeal to YOU and your members for only 3 minutes of your time to make a promise for HIV/AIDS.
Click on this website: <font size="4">www.worldaidscampaign.net/community</font>
For World AIDS Day on December 1st, please show the world that trade unions are concerned by joining this effort yourself and by enlisting other union members to do the same.
Simply click and make a promise about HIV/AIDS. Your promise, along with those made by other trade unionists and millions of other concerned citizens, will stack up against the forgotten promises made by governments and others (see below).
In only 3 minutes YOU can help intensify efforts to tackle the root causes of the epidemic – poverty, discrimination, marginalization and inequality. Help remind our leaders about their forgotten promises and reinvigorate efforts to keep them.
By Clicking you will be asked a few questions
At the website identify yourself as a trade union member (or organisation). There, you will be asked to make a short pledge. Here are few sample pledges that you can make:
1. If you are an international trade union body, you might pledge to:
- Promote understanding about HIV/AIDS and its importance, throughout your organisation,
- Ensure AIDS is on the agenda of the global and regional leaders,
- Dedicate staff resources to this work,
- Adopt a workplace policy and provide support for members living with or affected by HIV/AIDS,
- Advocate for greater resources to protect workers,
- Promote integration of sustainable development priorities with HIV/AIDS programmes,
- Support joint action on HIV/AIDS between employers and trade unions,
- Assist affiliates in implementation of the ILO Code of Practice on …. ,
- Speak up against employer discrimination against practices directed at persons who have AIDS,
- Contribute funds to build a response to HIV/AIDS in the workplace.
2. If you are trade union national centre, you might pledge to:
- Adopt a resolution and agree to a plan of action,
- Integrate AIDS into ongoing training, rights, OHS and development action,
- Designate a staff person as a contact point on the issue or appoint a coordinator,
- Work on implementing an HIV/AIDS workplace policy and encourage affiliates to do the same,
- Work with National AIDS Coordinating bodies and agencies and the Global Fund country coordinating mechanism,
- Advocate for a national policy for the world of work, based on the ILO Code of Practice,
- Advocate for the national adoption of the ILO Code of Practice,
- Seek out national and local employers who are willing to work with trade unions on HIV/AIDS and develop joint activities,
- Advocate for the allocation of greater resources to HIV/AIDS nationally,
- Collaborate and share information and appeals for support for HIV/AIDS and health care initiatives with other trade union bodies.
3. If you are an individual, you might pledge to:
- Respect the dignity of my fellow workers who are living with or affected by HIV and AIDS,
- Become a vocal leader in my workplace and community about HIV and AIDS,
- Help organize a workplace programme at my workplace,
- Volunteer my time and recruit others to provide care to become involved in the struggle against HIV/AIDS,
- Vote for more resources to be allocated to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care
Click here for background information about the World Aids Campaign to “Stop AIDS. Keep the promise”.
189 Countries Made Promises
Your 3 minute gesture will show political leaders just how many people (including trade unionists) believe that global efforts on HIV and AIDS need to be increased, and NOW.
At a United Nations meeting four years ago, 189 countries agreed to:
a) Cut the number of young people with AIDS by 25% globally before 2010 and in the most affected countries by 2005. Evidence shows that this target has not been met.
b) Ensure that people everywhere — particularly the young — know what to do to avoid infection. Leaders have promised to increase the number of young people with access to information and education about AIDS to 95% by 2010. Judging by current progress, this target will not be met.
c) Stop mother to child transmission. Limited doses of antiretroviral medication can prevent HIV transmission from mother to baby before or during birth, and in the course of breast-feeding. In wealthy countries HIV transmission from mothers to children is almost non-existent. Leaders have promised to cut the number of infants with AIDS by 20% by 2005. In most countries this target will not be met.
d) Care for all whose lives have been devastated by AIDS. In most countries this target has not been met.
e) Provide treatment to all those who need it. At this year’s G8 the target was set to achieve universal access to treatment by 2010. Yet the WHO target to put 3 million people on treatment by 2005 has failed and this target was set to make the 2010 target achievable. We need more political commitment and greater resources to make universal treatment a reality.
For a background information leaflet on the Global Unions and HIV/AIDS
see: http://www.global-unions.org/pdf/ohsewpT_6.EN.pdf
See also: Trade Unions to Spread Action Against HIV/AIDS in 2006