Canadian Embassy officials in over 20 countries have been contacted by trade union organizations to discuss the G8’s commitment to Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support. They will also highlight the importance of Decent Work and the ILO Jobs Pact as essential elements in achieving Universal Access.

Similarly, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) has informed the Canadian G8/G20 Sherpa (a term used to describe those who prepare documents to be adopted by the Summits) that it expects the activities from its international partners to spill-over into other countries and regions, and asking for support in facilitating the occurrence of meetings at the national level with Canadian Embassies. The CLC has agreed to keep the Sherpa informed of the progress of the campaign.

So far, participating countries are concentrated in Africa and include trade unions from: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Core d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Togo.

“Week of Action” slips into month-long “Days of Action”

Initially, the Canadian-African partnership was meant to facilitate a “Week of Actions” (March 21 – 27, 2010) to highlight the importance of this year’s G8 in achieving past promises on Universal Access. However, the week now will serve as a “kick-off” for global activities and has been re-branded as the “Days of Action” leading up to the G8 Development Ministers meeting in Halifax, Canada scheduled April 27-29, 2010.

Since the Canadian and African unions issued their call to action the Global Union Aids Programme (GUAP) has chimed in to invite its network to join, making the campaign a truly global effort. The International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC) has further invigorated the campaign by asking their members throughout the world to also contact their Canadian Embassies.

The early explosion of activity surrounding the campaign has left the organizers pleasantly surprised. Next week unions and Civil Society groups in Canada are set to add their voices by announcing initiatives of their own, including an online petition and website.

UNAIDS & WHO give impetus to the Campaign

Coordinators are also excited by the recent announcements made by UNIAIDS and the World Health Organizations (WHO). UNAIDS Executive Michel Sidibé has called on the Canadian Prime Minister to ensure that the G8 delivers on its commitment to Universal Access. “As the host [of this year’s G8 Summit]. Prime Minister Stephen Harper can set a bold agenda for the summit”, Sidibé said. See:
http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2010/20100228_Vancouver.asp

In an email to the CLC, a representative from the WHO offered support and said the UN body would soon release a report demonstrating that improvements in the working conditions for health care workers is essential for universal access to HIV-AIDS prevention, treatment and care to be realized.

Unions in the Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, France, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania & Togo have already contacted Canadain Embassy

A sign that the campaign is striking positive resonance with the rank and file is that already unions in the Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, France, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Togo have already sent or delivered a letter to their Canadian embassy – before the actual launch of the campaign! Unions from Europe, Latin America and other continents have already pledged that, they too, will communicate with the Canadian Embassy in their country.

African trade unions encouraged by early support

Earlier this week ITUC-Africa affiliates from 15 countries, along with local media, met in Accra, Ghana to plan their actual meetings with the Embassies. They will meet Canadian Ambassadors and officials in the various countries and hold follow up news conferences.

CLC/ITUC-Africa Workshop

At the meeting General Secretary of the ITUC-Africa, Mr. Kwasi Adu-Amankwah stated that union partners took seriously the commitment made by the G8 in the 2005 when it committed to Universal Access to treatment, care and support. “We are all aware that the G8 countries have not delivered on their commitment and it is our responsibility to demand that they honour their commitment.”

For information on this campaign and to send your own letter to the Canadian Embassy in your country, please see our Information Backgrounder in the following languages:

English: http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/international/HIV-G8-Backgrounder-EN.pdf
Français: http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/international/HIV-G8-Backgrounder-FR.pdf
Español: http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/international/HIV-G8-Backgrounder-SP.pdf

For more information contact

For Global Coordination: Ms. Zuzanna Gorska (zuzanna.gorska@ituc-csi.org), Global Union AIDS Programme (GUAP)

For Global and Regional Coordination: Ms. Jennifer Slawich (jslawich@clc-ctc.ca), HIV/AIDS Campaign Coordinator – Canadian Labour Congress and/or Mr. Lucien Royer (lroyer@clc-ctc.ca), Director, International Department – Canadian Labour Congress

For African Coordination: Mr. Yahya Msangi (yahya.msangi@ituc-africa.ca), ITUC Africa in Togo and/or Mr. David Onyalo (donyalo@clc-ctc.ca), National Representative for Africa – Canadian Labour Congress

For more information contact

For Global Coordination: Ms. Zuzanna Gorska (zuzanna.gorska@ituc-csi.org), Global Union AIDS Programme (GUAP)

For Global and Regional Coordination: Ms. Jennifer Slawich (jslawich@clc-ctc.ca), HIV/AIDS Campaign Coordinator – Canadian Labour Congress and/or Mr. Lucien Royer (lroyer@clc-ctc.ca), Director, International Department – Canadian Labour Congress

For African Coordination: Mr. Yahya Msangi (yahya.msangi@ituc-africa.ca), ITUC Africa in Togo and/or Mr. David Onyalo (donyalo@clc-ctc.ca), National Representative for Africa – Canadian Labour Congress

For the campaign Information Backgrounder see:
English: http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/international/HIV-G8-Backgrounder-EN.pdf
Français: http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/international/HIV-G8-Backgrounder-FR.pdf
Español: http://documents.clc-ctc.ca/international/HIV-G8-Backgrounder-SP.pdf

The three trade union centres in South Africa, along with their faith-based & civil society counterparts, have confirmed a meeting with the Canadian Embassy in Pretoria this Wednesday March 24 to discuss the G8/G20 Summits in Canada and Universal Access issues related to HIV and AIDS.

Representing over 3 million workers, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and the National Council of Unions (NACTU) will meet with Canadian embassy officials. They will be joined by representatives of a multi-faith civil society network, along with the World AIDS Campaign (WAC).

They will call for G8/G20 action on Universal Access for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support and will highlight the importance of the ILO Decent Work agenda and its Global Jobs Pact.

The meeting in Pretoria coincides with other Canadian Embassy meetings in at least 10 other African countries – all to kick-off the “Days of Action” campaign (March 21 – April 28, 2010) in advance of the G8 Development Ministers meet in Halifax, Canada April 26-28, 2010.

South Africa has one of the highest number of infections in the world. In 2007, an estimated 5.7 million adults were living with HIV (i.e., 18% prevalence rate among adults, aged 15-49). Although surveys show that infection rates are beginning to decline among certain populations, women remain disproportionately affected, accounting for close to 60% of the total number of infections in South Africa

Unions want their national governments to speak up too

In a recent development, unions involved in the Universal Access campaign are beginning to ask their national governments to take up the mantle on the issue. Mody Guiro of the La Nationale Des Travailleurs Du called on the Government of Senegal to inform the Canadian Prime Minister of the importance it places on Universal Access issues. Sénégal could become a model to other countries in delivering a “loud and clear message from African communities”, he said.

The four trade union centres have written a joint letter, requesting a meeting with their national government, and today, they and other unions in Ghana, Nigeria, Sénégal and Togo have confirmed requesting a meeting with their Canadian embassy.

The Universal Access campaign is derived from a two-year partnership between the Africa regional component of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) and the Canadian Labour Congress.

March 22, 2010

OTTAWA, Ontario – The Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development
(ICAD) and its 100 member organizations nationwide are joining forces with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and its global affiliate unions to call on the G8 and G20 leaders for the provision of Universal Access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support as an integral component of the G8 child and maternal health initiative.

ICAD supports the labour movement’s planned “Days of Action”, commencing March 21 and continuing through until the end of April, 2010. The campaign will combine an electronic petition, letter writing, meetings with MPs and rallies highlighting the G8’s failure to fulfill its promise to achieve Universal Access. The “Days of Actions” are timed to precede the G8 and G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Ottawa, March 29-30, 2010 and the G8 and G20 Development Ministers meeting in Halifax, April 26-28, 2010.

ICAD’s mission is to lessen the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS in resource-poor communities and countries by providing leadership and actively contributing to the Canadian and international response.

“AIDS is the leading cause of death amongst women of child bearing age globally. Although we have made great strides towards universal access to treatment and prevention, we cannot afford to risk reversing the progress we have made”, says ICAD Executive Director, Nicci Stein. “A strong commitment from the G8 and G20 to achieve Universal Access must include a clear timetable for implementation as well as adequate financial support for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.”

The Global Fund was created by G8 countries in 2005 to tackle the global AIDS crisis. Despite initial financial support for the fund there is serious concern that sustaining current levels of support will not be enough to meet the growing global demand for essential HIV services and programs.

G8 leaders need to deliver on their past commitments and not just focus on a new target. “The campaign by the Canadian Labour Congress and ITUC-Africa will demand accountability. Leaders will be hearing from those who are most affected by this disease”, says Evan Collins, ICAD’s Vice-President and North American delegate to the Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS, the United Nations body that addresses the global epidemic.

“The G8’s focus on the health of women and children is welcome. Many HIV positive women in resource-poor countries lack access to the means to prevent transmission of the virus to their children, something that has virtually been eliminated in the developed world. However, the success of the maternal and child health initiative will be compromised if the full spectrum of treatment and prevention needs of HIV positive women and those at risk of infection are not met,” Collins added.

ICAD’s support for the labour movement campaign comes from a history of collaboration with CLC and is rooted in the organization’s values of equity and human rights in the field of HIV and international development. Campaign materials can be accessed on the ICAD website www.icad-cisd.com

For additional information contact:

Nicci Stein, nstein@icad-cisd.com (613) 233-2770 ext 10

La CISD demande que la riposte au VIH/sida fasse partie de l’initiative du G8 pour
la santé infantile et maternelle
Les activités de sa campagne cibleront les député-es canadien-nes et le premier ministre

22 mars 2010

OTTAWA, Ontario – La Coalition interagence sida et développement et ses 100 organismes membres, aux quatre coins du pays, joignent leur voix à celle du Congrès du travail du Canada (CTC) et à ses syndicats affiliés dans le monde, pour exhorter les dirigeants des pays du G8 et du G20 à réaliser l’accès universel à la prévention, aux traitements, aux soins et au soutien en matière du VIH – un élément qui doit faire partie intégrante de l’initiative du G8 pour la santé infantile et maternelle.

La CISD appuie les « Journées d’action » prévues par le mouvement syndical du 21 mars à la fin d’avril 2010. La campagne inclura une pétition électronique, des lettres, des rencontres avec les député-es et des manifestations pour souligner l’échec du G8 à tenir sa promesse de réaliser l’accès universel. Les jours d’action sont planifiés de manière à précéder la réunion des ministres des Affaires étrangères des pays membres du G8 et du G20, à Ottawa les 29 et 30 mars, et celle des ministres du Développement international, à Halifax du 26 au 28 avril.

La mission de la CISD est de réduire la propagation du VIH et d’atténuer les répercussion du VIH et du sida dans les pays et communautés pauvres en ressources; elle l’accomplit en offrant du leadership et en contribuant activement à la riposte canadienne et internationale.

« Le sida est la principale cause mondiale de décès parmi les femmes en âge de procréer. De grands pas vers l’accès universel aux traitements et à la prévention ont été faits, mais on ne peut pas risquer que ce progrès recule », résume Nicci Stein, directrice générale de la CISD. « Un solide engagement du G8 et du G20 à atteindre le but de l’accès universel doit inclure un échéancier clair de mise en œuvre ainsi que d’un soutien financier adéquat au Fonds mondial de lutte contre le sida, la tuberculose et le paludisme. »

Le Fonds mondial a été créé par les pays du G8, en 2005, pour répondre à la crise mondiale du sida. En dépit des appuis financiers initiaux de ces pays, de vives préoccupations s’expriment à présent : les niveaux actuels du financement versé au Fonds mondial ne parviendront pas à satisfaire la demande mondiale croissante de services essentiels et de programmes de lutte contre le VIH/sida.

Les dirigeants des pays du G8 doivent concrétiser les engagements qu’ils ont exprimés, plutôt que de limiter leur attention à une nouvelle cible. « La campagne du Congrès du travail du Canada et de la CSI Afrique revendique l’imputabilité. Les leaders entendront parler des personnes qui sont les plus affectées par cette maladie », explique Evan Collins, vice-président de la CISD et représentant nord-américain auprès du Conseil de coordination de programme de l’ONUSIDA (Programme commun des Nations Unies sur le VIH/sida).

« Le point de mire du G8 sur la santé des femmes et des enfants est bienvenu. Plusieurs femmes qui vivent avec le VIH dans des pays en développement n’ont pas accès aux moyens de prévenir la transmission du VIH au fœtus qu’elles portent ou à leur nourrisson – une réalité qui a été pratiquement éradiquée dans les pays industrialisés. Cependant, la réussite de l’initiative pour la santé maternelle et infantile sera compromise si elle n’englobe pas la gamme complète des besoins des femmes séropositives au VIH et de celles qui ont des risques d’infection », précise M. Collins.

L’appui de la CISD à la campagne du mouvement syndical découle de ses liens de collaboration avec le CLC et s’enracine dans les valeurs d’équité et le respect des droits de la personne dans le contexte du VIH et du développement international, qu’elle prône. Le matériel pour participer à la campagne est accessible sur le site Internet de la CISD, à www.icad-cisd.com.

Pour de plus amples renseignements :
Nicci Stein, nstein@icad-cisd.com (613) 233-2770 (poste 10)

I have witnessed far too much hardship on members going through difficulties when they suffer prolonged periods of illness. Most often the trouble is caused either by negligence or incompetence on the part of the employer or the member not understanding or knowing what they have to do to ensure their needs and rights are respected.

Please refer to the documents in the links below and if you have questions you can always email us at info@opseu520.org.

STSP

LTIP

• January 2008
• February 2008
• March 2008