US attempting to silence UN agencies on key anti HIV programs

[benburch]

Please circulate widely to your contacts and networks.

The US is pressing various UN agencies to silence UN support for harm
reduction and needle exchange. The story can be found at
<http://www.tni.org/drugs/index.htm>;
<http://www.tni.org/drugs/index.htm>;> http://www.tni.org/drugs/index.htm -
click on 'harm reduction'.

UNODC has bowed to US pressure (see the letter from Antonio Maria Costa -
the head of UNODC - to Bobby Charles at the US State Department). UNODC has
decided to remove references to harm reduction and needle/syringe exchange
in UNODC documents, websites. publications and statements. Funding has been
pulled from some harm reduction related activities.

The US is a major donor for UNODC and other UN agencies, which makes it
vulnerable to US pressure. We need to support the UN position on harm
reduction and protect achievements in the fight against HIV on the
international and country level.

A group of organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Canadian HIV/AIDS
Legal Network, International Harm Reduction Development Program,
International Harm Reduction Association, Central Eastern European Harm
Reduction Network, Transnational Institute, The Beckley Foundation, European
AIDS Treatment Group and many others are undertaking a series of activities
addressing this issue. Some of these will focus on delegates of Commission
on Narcotic Drugs (CND). The thematic debate of the Forty-eighth session of
CND, March 7-14 in Vienna, will be devoted to HIV/AIDS.

Could you please :

1) as an organization or as an individual add your support now to the
attached Open Letter to delegates of the Forty-eighth session of CND.

To sign simply send your name, organisation, city and country and email to
Jennifer Nagle at [e-mail] . Indicate whether this is organisational
or individual support.

The letter will be delivered to all CND delegates and to Antonio Costa.

2) contact your national delegations to CND and inform them about
HIV/AIDS situation. Inporm them of UN commitments (such as Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS < <http://www.un.org/ga/aids/docs/aress262.pdf>;
<http://www.un.org/ga/aids/docs/aress262.pdf>;>
http://www.un.org/ga/aids/docs/aress262.pdf>;
<http://www.un.org/ga/aids/docs/aress262.pdf>;> and the UN position paper on
HIV/AIDS prevention for drug users
<http://www.cicad.oas.org/en/Resources/UNHIVaids.pdf>;
<http://www.cicad.oas.org/en/Resources/UNHIVaids.pdf>;>
http://www.cicad.oas.org/en/Resources/UNHIVaids.pdf. Briefings should be
held prior to the March CND and are very important as in many countries the
national delegations are formed mainly of law enforcement representatives
who are often badly informed on HIV/AIDS.

3) use your NGO ECOSOC status if you have it, to attend CND and
participate in the official NGO forum scheduled at the meeting.

4) Inform your media of US pressure on the UN and encourage them to
cover this story.