Brussels, 1 December 2008: On World AIDS Day, the ITUC has issued a call on governments to step up action to combat the HIV-AIDS pandemic and ensure access to treatment for all HIV-positive people.
“Tackling the pandemic must be a central objective of governments, and the global economic crisis must not be allowed to detract from this effort. There must be no let-up on international funding for treatment; already hard-pressed health systems in many of the most affected countries must receive adequate funding to ensure delivery,” said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.
The ITUC and its Global Unions partners are supporting action by affiliates around the world to promote awareness and action on HIV-AIDS, especially in workplaces, as well as to protect the rights at work and in society of people living with HIV and AIDS.
The Global Unions organisations are working closely with the World AIDS Campaign and the ILO-AIDS programme. The ITUC, through its agreement on HIV-AIDS with the International Organisation of Employers, is promoting dialogue and cooperation between trade unions and employers as part of overall efforts to reduce infection rates and ensure access to treatment.
For more information, see:
www.global-unions.org
www.ilo.org
www.worldaidscampaign.org
The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates.
For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on the following numbers: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.
