February 2, 2002

ACTIVISTS DEMAND CORPORATIONS PROVIDE AIDS DRUGS FOR THEIR WORKERS IN POOR COUNTRIES

(Manhattan) Activists respond to the Global Health Initiative of the World Economic Forum report on the "Business Response to AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria." The report presents "best practices" for corporations responding to the global AIDS crisis, but remains largely silent on the issue of access to the life-extending AIDS drugs that are widely available in rich countries.

Seven ACT UP New York members were arrested Thursday (1/31/02) for hanging banners in Manhattan demanding corporations pay for treatment for the tens of thousands of HIV-positive workers they employ in poor countries. One banner read: "WEF's Corporate Response To Global Aids: Deny Workers HIV Medicine, Count the Dead Bodies."

Some 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. 95% of those infected do not have affordable access to AIDS drugs, including antiretrovirals. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region hardest hit by the epidemic, with 24 million people infected.

"The WEF represents a moral vacuum where business executives refuse to commit the resources to stem the tide of death that threatens to decimate whole continents," said Sharonann Lynch of ACT UP New York. "If real action is not taken, then the message is clear: losing a generation of mothers and fathers in Africa is acceptable."

Activists contend Multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in developing countries have a moral obligation to implement HIV/AIDS workplace policies that include non-discriminatory policies, awareness and prevention programs, confidential voluntary counseling and testing, and the provision for treatment, care, and support for affected/infected employees and their families and household members.

"Coca-Cola, Anglo-American Mining Corporation, Shell, and other WEF members operating in developing countries trumpet their efforts to provide condoms and display AIDS awareness posters, while continuing their policy of willful neglect of doing nothing while workers die," said Mark Milano of ACT UP New York, one of the activists arrested.

The overwhelming majority of multinational corporations with HIV/AIDS workplace programs are doing little more than monitoring the impact of the AIDS pandemic upon their workforce. A small number of multinational corporations have adopted non-discriminatory policies towards people living with HIV or prevention and educational programs. However, almost all MNCs are falling short of their full responsibilities to provide treatment of AIDS, including antiretrovirals, to their direct and indirect employees.

"It's business as usual at the WEF, as multinational corporations continue to do little more than counting the dead among their workforce," said Stacie Smith of ACT UP New York. "Some mining corporations in sub-Saharan Africa will hire 3 workers for one position, knowing 2 will die.

"The World Economic Forum is endorsing mass death by skirting the issue of access to affordable AIDS drugs," said Asia Russell of Health GAP. "Corporations must use their resources to pay for workplace treatment---including access to anti-HIV drugs. The Global Health Initiative should be condemned for refusing to mandate access to HIV drugs for workers."

Activists announced they will target multinational corporations in developing countries as part of a global campaign until such corporations provide AIDS treatment to all employees and their families. Such corporations include: Coca-Cola, Shell Oil, BP Amoco, Anglo American Mining Corporation, DeBeers, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Volkswagen, Unilever, McDonald's, Heineken, Roche, Standard Chartered Bank, Nestlé, Aventis, ChevronTexaco, Citigroup.

The Health GAP Coalition will release a paper on the inadequate response of multinational corporations to HIV/AIDS in poor countries, including corporations' "Worst Practices." To receive a copy call 212-674-9598 or email: info@healthgap.org

WORST PRACTICES:

-- Coca-Cola skirts its responsibility to provide treatment to employees with HIV/AIDS, by defining its employee base in Africa as 1,600 rather than its true workforce of 100,000 people.

-- Anglo-American Mining Corporation estimates it could lose 20 percent of its South African workforce to AIDS and yet reversed a publicity announcement to supply antiretroviral drugs to all its HIV/AIDS infected workers. Instead, only a pool of 12,000 senior staff will be eligible to receive ARV treatment as opposed to its 85,000 workers in southern Africa. Ironically, an official from Anglo American represents the private sector on the Board of the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria.

-- As part of a Pan-Africa Aids Awareness Initiative, Shell hangs up AIDS awareness posters and provides AIDS education for all staff, but does not provide treatment for its workforce. In Africa, Shell employs 60,000 people indirectly and offers direct employment to about 8,000.

-- Last Summer McDonald's refused to supply anti-AIDS drugs to a staff member in eastern South Africa who was raped after working a late shift. McDonald's South Africa human resources director Alfred Enagbare insisted "we can't just give money to everyone who asks for it".

HEALTH GAP DEMANDS:

-- Global Health Initiative include AIDS treatment including antiretrovirals as a cornerstone of a best practice for multinational corporations responding to HIV/AIDS.

-- Multinational Corporations develop and implement HIV/AIDS workplace programs in collaboration with employees and unions, and where possible, in coordination with community-based initiatives.

-- Workplace programs must include non-discriminatory policies, awareness and prevention programs, confidential voluntary counseling and testing (VCT),

-- Multinational Corporations must provide for the treatment, care, and support for affected/infected employees and their families, including antiretroviral treatment. The standard of care should also include diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and opportunistic infections, medicines for the prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT), antiretroviral treatment and appropriate monitoring and testing, home-based care, palliative care and hospitalization.

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