[afro-nets] International Call to End Restrictions under PEPFAR

["Jodi Jacobson" <jjacobson@genderhealth.org>]

International Call to End Restrictions under PEPFAR

Cross-posted from: AIDS-Beyond-Borders@googlegroups.com

PEPFAR Watch <http://www.pepfarwatch.org

 Dear Friends,

 We are seeking the support of international NGOs to ensure that U.S. global HIV prevention funding and programs promote the basic health and human rights of all individuals through evidence-based, comprehensive approaches to HIV prevention. Prevention programs must address the root causes of vulnerability to HIV infection, reduce stigma and discrimination, and simultaneously ensure that /all individuals at risk/ of HIV infection have complete access to the skills-training, information, and methods (including male and female condoms) necessary to practice safer sex.

 In short, we are requesting that you sign on to the international statement of support
 <http://www.pepfarwatch.org/pubs/IntlSignOnStatement.doc (also pasted below) for U.S. legislation that seeks to rescind the abstinence-until-marriage earmark in the original legislation authorizing PEPFAR and ensure a comprehensive approach to HIV prevention. If at all possible, we request that you *reply by 5:00 pm Tuesday, September 5,* so that we can present your endorsement to members of Congress at an important Congressional hearing on Wednesday, September 6. We will continue to collect signatures after September 5. We welcome both organizational and individual signatories.

 *Background:
 *As many of you already know, on June 22, 2006, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and 56 original co-sponsors in the United States Congress introduced the PATHWAY (Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth) Act. This bill has received considerable support in Congress and around the U.S.; there are now 73 members of Congress that have co-sponsored the bill and 78 U.S. national, local, and community endorsers.

 Building on momentum from the Toronto International AIDS Conference and the overwhelming call for an end to the abstinence-until-marriage spending requirement in U.S. international HIV prevention programs, we want to add your voice to a list of international organizations supporting the PATHWAY Act. The PATHWAY Act eliminates the mandate requiring a minimum of one-third of U.S. HIV prevention funds be spent on abstinence-until-marriage programs, to ensure that funds can be used to support the most effective strategies to prevent the greatest number of HIV infections among populations at risk.

 *Please email your name, organization, country and contact information (and indicate whether organizational or individual signature!) to Healy Thompson, outreach@genderhealth.org if possible by Tuesday, September 5,  2006.

 **You can find more information about the PATHWAY Act on our Legislation page
 <http://www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=31 of www.PEPFARWatch.org <http://www.pepfarwatch.org/, including PATHWAY Act summary
 <http://www.pepfarwatch.org/pubs/OverviewPATHWAYAct6-21-06.pdf (pdf) and lists of U.S. endorsers <http://www.pepfarwatch.org/pubs/endorsingorgs.doc (doc) and U.S. Congressional co-sponsors <http://www.pepfarwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=31.
 
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Jodi Jacobson 
mailto:jjacobson@genderhealth.org