Rights here, Right Now

Rights here, Right Now

International trade union movement adds its voice to the chorus.

In a message to the XVIII International AIDS Conference held in Vienna, Austria, the Global Union AIDS Programme (GUAP) said that a rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS action at the workplace was the core of the trade union strategy. Trade union delegates from across the world took part in the IAC and related events, expressed solidarity with the people living with HIV/AIDS and demanded more resources for the fight against the pandemic.

Workplace Partners Forum

The Workplace Partners' Forum held at the Reed Messe Centre on 17 July 2010 on the eve of the International AIDS Conference brought together representatives from the ILO, UNAIDS, ITUC, Global Union Federations, International Organisation of Employers (IOE), Global Fund and the World AIDS Campaign (WAC). The WPF provided the opportunity to discuss ways and means of strengthening the partnerships with all stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, in her address to the gathering, highlighted the important role of the workplace in promoting universal access to treatment, prevention, care and support and pointed out that HIV/AIDS affected the most economically active age range in every population and that the adoption of the ILO Recommendation on HIV/AIDS had brought the workplace into sharper focus. Dr Sophia Kisting, Director, ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work welcomed the opportunity to explore ways of optimizing the implementation of the ILO Recommendation and stressed that the effective workplace response to the pandemic was central to the development of national HIV strategies and that it formed part of a wider spectrum including health, education and social protection. She also said that workers should play a leading role in the design, implementation and evaluation of workplace programmes to be developed through consultation with governments, employers and people living with HIV/AIDS. Janice Eastman, Chairperson, Global Union AIDS Programme (GUAP), underscored the importance of trade union involvement in workplace programmes and the need for action on stigma and discrimination and called for more trade union participation in Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs). Svend Robinson, consultant to the Global Fund, advised the meeting that there were opportunities for trade unions to work with the GF through CCMs. Patrick Obath, Chairperson of the Federation of Kenya Employers and representative of the IOE also addressed the meeting. In the discussion on HIV/AIDS prevention, Bandula Kothalawala (TUC) told the meeting that while trade unions supported the VCT at workplace, the high cost of testing remained a serious impediment.

Three trade union delegates sponsored by the TUC - Esther Ogunfowora, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Stanley Kaggwa, National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) in Uganda and Mildred Mudzudzu, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) -, Alan Leather, former Chairperson of the GUAP and Zuzanna Muskat-Gorska, GUF HIV-AIDS Coordinator, also took part in the Forum.

Labour Forum

Representatives from the Global Union Federations and national trade union centres including the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the UK attended the Labour Forum held on 18 July in the Head Office of the OGB in Vienna in advance of the International AIDS Conference. Janice Eastman in her welcome address said that the Labour Forum had become a permanent feature of the events preceding the IAC, that the workplace could make a very significant contribution to the fight against the pandemic and that the recently adopted ILO Recommendation was a clear indication of its importance. Monika Kemperle, Executive Secretary, OGB, in her address, emphasized the need for universal access to treatment and for the respect of human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, pointed out that the role of the workplace in combating the disease had often been overlooked and that the governments and employers needed to take it into account in developing national strategies. Dr Sophia Kisting expressed her gratitude to the trade unions for their contribution to the adoption of the ILO Recommendation, praised the negotiating skills of trade union delegates and underscored the need for the effective implementation of the Recommendation. Josee Laporte (ILOAIDS), Claudia Achumada (World AIDS Campaign) and Svend Robinson (Global Fund) also addressed the gathering.

Human Rights March

Trade union delegates, after forming a human red ribbon, joined the thousands of HIVAIDS activists marching through the city centre in Vienna on Tuesday 20 July 2010 and called for more respect for human rights in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Erich Foglar, President of the OGB, Walter Sauer, Head of the International Department of the OGB and Janice Eastman, Chairperson, Global Union AIDS Programme (GUAP), took part in the demonstration. Trade union activists who have long campaigned for increased funding and more workplace involvement in combating the pandemic urged governments to provide more resources for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Special Sessions

There were a number of regional sessions including one on Sub-Saharan Africa which were of interest to trade union representatives. The countries in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to bear the brunt of the disease with Africa as a whole accounting for 67% of those living with HIV/AIDS. The session on testing and related issues provided an opportunity to share the TUC experience on the VCCT centres in the Ashanti region in Ghana. Trade union delegates emphasized the need for greater respect for human rights of PLWHA amidst warnings from some scientists that human rights activists should not stand in the way of prevention and treatment. There is still some controversy over whether the testing is really voluntary and/or confidential. Reports of compulsory pre-marital testing in some countries in the Middle-East raised many an eyebrow.

There was support from trade union delegates for increased funding for HIV/AIDS and for lobbying governments on the forthcoming replenishment of the Global Fund. Austria - host nation which had apparently made no contribution to the Fund - came in for criticism. The sessions on universal access were of particular interest to trade union delegates, for the international trade union movement has been a strong advocate of universal access to treatment. However, some delegates strongly argued that they were not convinced that universal access should be limited to AIDS alone and that universal access to health care was the top priority while most agreed on the need for substantial improvements in national health systems and nutrition.

Homophobia, sex work and drug use featured prominently in some sessions. There was general condemnation of homophobia in many countries in Africa including Uganda. Many spoke in favour of decriminalizing drug use and sex work.

Network Zone Events

The implications of Public Private Partnerships were debated in a panel discussion organized by the ILO in the Networking Zone. The event attended by most trade union delegates to the Conference and some employer representatives focused on the usefulness of partnerships in combating HIV/AIDS. Bandula Kothalawala, TUC International Officer, took part in the panel discussion on the PPP in French-speaking countries and raised the role of trade unions in workplace action in partnership with employers and civil society organisations.

GUAP Booth

The GUAP ran a booth in the Global Village which provided education and information material for visitors. Trade union videos depicting workplace action on HIV/AIDS were shown in the booth.