AIDS : A promise is an IOU

It has been said that we are the AIDS generation. We are the first generation to grow up with this disease. This makes us responsible. This leads us to take action today. This is the purpose of this letter.

40 million men, women and children live with the HIV/AIDS virus. In 2003, 3 million men, women and children died from it.

Efficient drugs exist today to retard or even stop the course of the disease. According to the WHO, 15 billion dollars are all it would take to lastingly curtail the spread of the epidemic.

To this end the UN has created a global fund to fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It should gather from 7 to 10 billion dollars per year to pay for access to antiviral drugs for the populations of the South.

But this funding is not forthcoming. You are not giving this money despite your generous speaches, strong words and benevolent promises. The number of dead is forever increasing, for lack of care, lack of money, because you don’t keep your word.

More than ever, a promise is an IOU. Every procrastination, every million dollar you write of your state budgets, more men, women and children die.

Your savings are like bullets. 98% of those infected still don’t have access to antivriral drigs because they are not lucky enough to live in Europe or the USA.

As young people from all countries we ask you to act now. We demand of the northern countries that they abide by their promises immediatly.

The AIDS generation ? You bet ! Your promises bind us. Keep them !