Southern Africa CSO Consultation on Trade and HIV/AIDs: Road to Hong Kong

SARPN Knowledge management Collecting and disseminating information Providing commentaries Building linkages Coordinating networks Linking stakeholders

SARPN Promoting debate Convening events to examine issues of policy and practice relevance

Background – 03 Stats 0-49 living with HIV/AIDs25,400,000 % of adults receiving VCT0,7 No of VCT sites3,195 Est. coverage of ARV therapy3% No of sites offering ARV therapy 374

Background HIV/AIDs has Household & community level impact HIV/AIDs-Poverty Link increases vulnerability Requirement for multi-sectoral & complex responses

Background Are HIV/AIDs & poverty central to Trade Issues? Evidence of integrating Trade, HIV/AIDs & poverty reduction? Is there evidence on the region’s ability to tap and benefit from growth in world trade?

Background Trade issues’ (Agriculture, TRIPS..) relevance to key concerns in the region (food security, incomes, public health) How Trade policies reflect and respond to the needs and interests of developing countries? How CSO diversity on trade can converge for impacting on HIV/AIDs and poverty?

THE CONSULTATION

Overall Goal Enhance the capacity of CSOs to engage with WTO issues in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDs.

Overall Objectives Development of trade policies that promote and protect the rights of HIV/AIDs affected communities. Create opportunities for CSO to deepen debate on the relationship between trade and HIV/Aids.

Overall Objectives Strengthening of a CSO agenda for engagement in Trade negotiations in Hong Kong. Strengthen the Southern Africa CSO voice in lobbying for fair Trade Rules in the December WTO Ministerial conference

Specific Objectives Build capacity of CSO to understand the power base, politics and workings of the WTO Raise awareness on how WTO policies impact on HIV/AIDs affected communities in the region.

Specific Objectives Strengthen the national lobby campaign groups on issues to be tabled at the next WTO in Hong Kong

Expected Outcomes CSOs knowledge on the nature and working system of WTO is increased. Raised CSOs awareness on the impact of WTO rules on poor people, esp. HIV/AIDs affected

Expected Outcomes CSO that can better engage with national governments on WTO issues. Preparation and production of consolidated regional positions on different thematic areas (HIV/AIDs and TRIPS/NAMAs/Agriculture/Services)

Lay Out of Programme – Day 1 Processes and issues to date (challenges, opportunities and actors) Background issues on Trade and HIV/AIDs The technical issues (TRIPS, NAMAs, Agriculture and Services) Relating the technical issues to HIV/AIDs and poverty

Lay Out of Programme – Day 2 Participant’s critical analysis and development of agendas/positions Production of position paper

Thanks for listening