This is an archive of the Treatment Action Campaign's public documents from December 1998 until October 2008. I created this website because the TAC's website appears unmaintained and people were concerned that it
was becoming increasingly hard to find important documents.

The menu items have been slightly edited and a new stylesheet applied to the site. But none of the documents have been edited, not even for minor errors. The text appears on this site as obtained from the Internet Archive.

The period covered by the archive encompassed the campaign for HIV medicines, the civil disobedience campaigns, the Competition Commission complaints, the 2008 xenophobic violence and the PMTCT, Khayelitsha health workers and Matthias Rath court cases.

Campaigning for the rights of people with HIV/AIDS!
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Equal Treatment November 2006 (Issue 21)

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Civil Society Statement on partnership to save lives!

World AIDS Day Rally, Kwanyamanzane, Mpumalamga

December 1st, 2006

This day represented a very significant step for South Africa's response to HIV and AIDS. Much progress has been made to formulate a renewed response to the epidemic. A Framework for the National Strategic Plan (NSP) and a renewed SANAC will be announced by the Deputy President. We commit ourselves to contributing fully in the process of finalizing the NSP 2007-2011 and the structure of a new SANAC, which will take place in the first months of 2007.

Through the process of reviewing our country's response we have begun to bridge the gap between civil society and government and to build a genuine partnership.

As organizations of civil society, we commit to partnership with Government, business and all sectors of society in tackling HIV & AIDS like never before.

Through this partnership, we want to ensure:

  • That overcoming poverty, inequality, building women's equality and tackling violence against women is foremost in the national agenda;

  • That everyone is motivated and equipped with tools to prevent new infections;

  • That every one living with HIV can enjoy their right to dignity, respect, access to effective social services, health care and access to food.

  • That every one who needs antiretroviral treatment receives it in time

  • That every one who needs care and support receives it.

  • That children in particular, do not become victimized through institutional indifference.

In this partnership:

  • We will seek to change those factors in society that drive new infection or marginalize people living with HIV

  • We will ensure that as many people as possible know their HIV status; that those who are HIV positive receive services and those who are negative remain so.

  • We will seek to support and assist those who do not have access to the services they need.

  • We will work with Government in making our country’s strategies as effective as possible; and

  • We will point out gaps and inefficiencies - and demand an effective response;

Despite the severity of the epidemic, we still have a massive opportunity to build a real future for the next generation. We have the immediate responsibility to change the plight of thousands of HIV positive people in our country who struggle to attain dignity, care, treatment and support. The HIV epidemic can be stopped. In the next five years, we can reverse its course and reshape the future of our people. Thousands of lives depend on the promises we make today and the extent to which we deliver on them everyday. For that reason, we cannot fail.

This statement was drafted by Civil Society groups and delivered at the National World AIDS Day rally in Mpumalanga, KaNyamazane.

TAC's five demands

  1. Convene a national meeting and plan for the HIV/AIDS crisis now.

  2. End deaths in prisons - provide nutrition, treatment and prevention.

  3. Dismiss Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.

  4. Respect the rule of law and the Constitution.

  5. Health for all - End health Apartheid, Build a People's Health Service.

How can you help?

  2. Donate to TAC. We need to build the resources we need to fund our mobilizations and campaigning. We need at least R4 million for the current mobilisation. We need your help. Donate now at tac.org.za/donatenow.

  3. Sign onto our five demands for President Mbeki and Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka.
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