Activists also demanded of the Global Fund Secretariat and of national governments that PLWHA be permitted more central involvement in the process of grant writing and program implementation.

The groups contend that the world's wealthiest countries, including Japan, the U.S., U.K., and Australia, have reneged on commitments to provide the billions needed to combat AIDS, TB and malaria, and to scale-up treatment access for the 42 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, 6 million of whom face imminent death without access to affordable medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO) last month declared the failure to deliver affordable medicines to people with HIV in developing constitutes a "Global Health Emergency." Of the 1 million people in clinical need of antiretroviral medicines among the developing countries population in Asia, only 4% are currently receiving therapy.

The Fund the Fund Campaign called upon donor countries to give their "fair share" of contributions to the GFATM based on the size of their economies. The GFATM has called for US $3 billion in funding in 2004, but countries like Australia and Japan have refused to provide adequate contributions. At the meeting in Chiang Mai, the board will announce the recipients for its third round of grant disbursements.

The government of Japan has resisted efforts of civil society to give their "fair share" to the Global Fund comparable to its portion of global wealth. Japan's GDP at 16% of the world economy warrants a contribution through 2004 of at least US $480 million. Although it pledged US $200 over 3 years for years 2002-2004, only a small portion, a little over US $80 of that amount has been paid. This is less than 14% of their fair share. Australia has not given any funding to the Global Fund since it was launched in 2002. According to Fund the Fund and Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, the Australian government should provide US $70 million of current funding needed through 2004.

"It's ironic the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting is happening just after the Global Fund Board meeting," said Paisan Tan-Ud of the Thai Treatment Access Group. "We know that without real international commitment, the AIDS crisis will undermine economic development in Asia and the Pacific. That means real programs like the Global Fund must be assured full funding, and real experts like PLWHA have the power to influence the writing and guide the implementation of proposals that are submitted to the Global Fund."

The Global Fund chose to have its sixth board meeting in Thailand to underscore the role of Global Fund grants in accelerating access to treatment. Activists say that without substantial funding and government commitment, Thailand and other countries in the region will be unable to meet its portion of the WHO goal of treating 3 million people with antiretroviral medicines or to put in place effective prevention policies to stave off new infections especially through intravenous drug use, the main mode of transmission of HIV in southeast Asia.

The Thai government, partially using GFATM funding, announced it would provide treatment to 60,000 Thais by the end of 2003. Financing from the Global Fund will also enable over 100,000 on HIV/AIDS treatment by the end of two five-year grant periods. "Without dramatically increased funding to the Global Fund, the initial successes of Thailand will not be seen in other heavily-impacted countries," said Professor Praphan Phanuphak, Professor of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and the Director of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre. "Thailand does not need to be the anomaly. If the funds are available the trend should be toward rapid treatment implementation everywhere."

A coalition of Thai activist groups and people living with HIV/AIDS networks is to hold a rally and demonstration during the Global Fund board meeting at the Westin Hotel in Chiang Mai on October 15. Among their demands for additional funding from donors and participation of PLWHA in shaping national policies and country proposals, the activists demand countries scale-up AIDS treatment programs and provide treatment and prevention services to marginalized and vulnerable populations, such as the vast number of intravenous drug users in the country and the region. The coalition calls for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to cease its "war on drugs" campaign, which has left thousands dead and thousands more improperly jailed.

AUSTRALIA

"The Australian Government's failure to contribute to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is extremely disappointing. If the Global Fund is to succeed in its role of mobilising significant additional resources for tackling these epidemics, Australia must take swift action to stand alongside other donor countries to support it." - Andrew Hewett, Executive Director, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
Contact Carly Hammond, Media Coordinator
Phone: (61) 03 9289 9413, Mobile: (61) 409 181 454, Email: carlyh@caa.org.au

In the view of Australian Red Cross the Global Fund is by far the best investment in the struggle to overcome HIV/AIDS. Yet, despite commitments in words, there is still no real commitment in deeds by many governments around the world when it comes to financial support for the Fund. This attitude must change as a matter of urgency. - Mr Elden Chamberlain, Manager Asia Pacific HIV/AIDS Program for the Australian Red Cross
Contact Phone (66) 01 912 8815 (66) 2 254 1125 Email: arcsan@loxinfo.co.th

JAPAN

"It is simply incoherent and irresponsible of Japan to refuse to pay its fair share in a global fight against the pandemics. We know Japan gave a cold shoulder to the world's poor people in the WTO's TRIPS talks. GFATM is an opportunity it must take to make it up." - Takumo Yamada, Research Officer, Oxfam International Japan Office
Contact Tel: +81-3-3834-1556, E-mail: yamada.takumo@oxfaminternational.org

THAILAND

"Thailand is the first country in Asia to commit to free ARV therapy to all who need it. Without the fund, Thailand would not be the global leader in promoting treatment access that it is becoming. Without the subsidy of the Global Fund in round one, our Government would not have been inspired or be able to offer free ARV to all who need it. Thailand should be the rule, not the exception." - Mr Sudjai Tapa, a representative of the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+)

UNITED STATES

"President Bush put on a mantle of leadership in combating global AIDS by declaring the U.S. would commit up to US $1 billion to the Global Fund pending contributions from other countries. Now, both Bush and other world leaders need to make good on the promise to fully fund the Global Fund." - Sharonann Lynch, on behalf of Health GAP and the Fund the Fund
Campaign, Contact Phone: +1 646 645 5223, Email: salynch@healthgap.org

#030#