[afro-nets] Announcement: People's Health Assembly II

[Claudio Schuftan <claudio@hcmc.netnam.vn>]

Announcement: People's Health Assembly II
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THE PEOPLE´S HEALTH MOVEMENT AND THE ECUADOREAN NATIONAL FRONT
FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE

First Announcement
Second People´S Health Assembly

19-23 July, 2005
Quito, Ecuador

VENUE

Ecuador is located in the North-western part of South America.
It has a history of people's struggles in the defence of health
and life. Ecuador is a country rich in natural and cultural re-
sources which are known the world over. Internally, there is a
huge contrast between rich and poor and social inequality is
vast with dominant economic and political groups being directly
responsible for this situation. The awareness of the people
about the situation has generated important processes leading to
close networking and social mobilization.

THE PROCESS

The Second People's Health Assembly will be the end stage of a
preparatory process of local and national reflection, of discus-
sions and debate, and of an exchange of experiences of communi-
ties and networks; national and regional conferences and work-
shops will precede the Assembly discussing all aspects influenc-
ing the health and well being of everyone.

At the same time, there will be a joining together of campaigns
and a mobilization of organizations and groups of people from
around the world. Campaigns coalescing will be those on Health
For All Now, No to War, and Reform the WTO.

OBJECTIVES OF PHA II

a. To promote and strengthen the People´s Health Movement as a
network that works for the revival of the spirit of Health for
All.
b. To boost global action on the Right to Health as a fundamen-
tal human right.
c. To promote open debate and to exert the needed resistance to-
wards all mechanisms that violate the right to health of the
people (many dressed in the form of neo-liberal reforms, global-
ization or militarization).
d. To share knowledge and practical experiences on alternative
models promoting and providing community health.

THE CONCEPT OF HEALTH

"Health is a social, economic and political issue and, above
all, a fundamental human right. Inequality, poverty, exploita-
tion, violence and injustice are at the root of ill-health and
the death of poor and marginalized people. Health For All means
that powerful interests have to be challenged, that the negative
aspects of globalization have to be opposed, and that political
and economic priorities have to be drastically changed." (Peo-
ple´s Charter for Health)

VISION

"Equity, ecologically-sustainable development and peace are at
the heart of our vision of a better world - a world in which a
healthy life for all is a reality; a world that respects, appre-
ciates and celebrates all life and diversity; a world that en-
ables the flowering of people's talents and abilities to enrich
each other; a world in which people's voices guide the decisions
that shape our lives.
There are more than enough resources to achieve this vision."
(People´s Charter for Health)

THEMES OF THE PHA II

The preliminary themes that have been identified for the PHA II

a. Health as a fundamental human right
b. Health care reforms and the right to health
c. Health and Indigenous Peoples; Natural and Traditional Medi-
    cine.
d. HIV and AIDS
e. Population Sectors and the demand for health: youth, women,
    children, the elderly.
f. Militarization: an open challenge to health
g. Free trade agreements: The World Trade Organization and its
    repercussions on the health of the people.

ACTIVITIES DURING THE ASSEMBLY

Groups and organizations are encouraged to sign up for the di-
verse activities of the PHAII. There will be conferences, testi-
monies, panel discussion, poster sessions, artistic presenta-
tions and rallies. Following the Assembly, there will be oppor-
tunities for meaningful field visits to different areas in Ecua-
dor.

Organizations can sign up on the forms that will be available at
mailto:saluddelospueblos@yahoo.es

TENTATIVE CALENDAR

* Submission of planned events: Deadline March 31, 2005
* Inscription of participating organizations: Deadline May 15,
   2005
* Individual inscription: Deadline May 31, 2005

FOR INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

National Front for the Health of the People
(Frente Nacional por la Salud de los Pueblos)
Fax: +593-7-288-4765
mailto:saluddelospueblos@yahoo.es

International People´S Health Council - IPHC
Telefax: +505-2-662-225
mailto:info@iphcglobal.org

Secretariat of the PHA II
mailto:phaII@phmovment.org