AFRO-NETS> Launch of Stop AIDS Campaign

[Liz Dodd <lizdodd@stopaidscampaign.org.uk>]

Launch of Stop AIDS Campaign
----------------------------

Launch of new UK campaign to fight AIDS worldwide.

On 28 November 2001, ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, represen-
tatives of 15 of the UK's leading charities[1] will launch the 'Stop 
AIDS Campaign' - a new initiative for greater UK and international 
action on global HIV/AIDS[2]. The epidemic claims over 7,000 lives 
every day and is set to become the world's biggest killer, yet in a 
statement to be released on 28 November, the Stop AIDS Campaign de-
scribed the international community's response to the global epidemic 
as 'woefully inadequate'[3].

The Campaign is calling on the UK government to show ever-stronger 
political commitment and take an international lead in fighting the 
epidemic - including pledging a five-fold increase in resources de-
voted to tackling the crisis. The Campaign will also work with other 
groups to tackle critical issues such as the debt burden, which con-
tinues to divert vital resources away from health care, health sys-
tems and education, and the lack of affordable medicines to treat 
HIV/AIDS and the opportunistic infections it causes. Derek Bodell, 
Chair of the Stop AIDS Campaign said, "The Stop AIDS Campaign, 
through its members and in partnership with others, will work to make 
sure that the courage of campaigners across the developing world is 
matched by action from leaders of the world's most powerful coun-
tries". 

The new Campaign has already received significant national and inter-
national support. Sir Elton John has urged people across the UK to 
get involved in the Campaign. Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for 
the same 'passion, solidarity, commitment and energy' as was shown in 
the fight against apartheid. [4] 

United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan said:
"The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that re-
quires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidar-
ity between richer and poorer nations. The Stop AIDS Campaign is an 
example of just this kind of response and one which I warmly wel-
come."

Andrew Purkis, Chief Executive explains why the Diana, Princess of 
Wales Memorial Fund, is supporting the Stop AIDS Campaign:

"The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is delighted to back this 
vital initiative. Diana, Princess of Wales did so much to highlight 
the tragedy of HIV/AIDS around the world and challenge the stigma and 
inertia around combating its spread. The coming together of so many 
of agencies on global HIV/AIDS sends a clear signal to the UK public 
and government that this is not an issue to be ignored. History is 
watching us." 


[1] Members of the Stop AIDS Campaign are: Acord, Action Aid, African 
HIV Policy Forum, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Diana Princess of Wales Memo-
rial Fund, Elton John AIDS Foundation, HelpAge International, Inter-
national HIV/AIDS Alliance, National AIDS Trust, Oxfam, Save the 
Children UK, Tearfund, UNICEF UK and VSO. 

[2] The launch will take place at 12.15pm at the Foreign Press Asso-
ciation, 11 Carlton House Terrace, SW1. This event will follow a 
press briefing on the launch of new statistics on the global epidemic 
by UNAIDS. Representatives from the Stop AIDS Campaign will work to-
gether to build the Stop AIDS wall.

[3] For a copy of the statement contact Liz Dodd.

[4] A full list of statements of support for the Campaign is avail-
able from Liz Dodd. 

--
Liz Dodd 
Campaign Manager 
Stop AIDS Campaign 
New City Cloisters 
196 Old Street 
London EC1V 9FR, UK
Tel: +44-207-253-5860
Fax: +44-207-253-5861
mailto:lizdodd@stopaidscampaign.org.uk 
http://www.stopaidscampaign.org.uk

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