PartnersGF - 2005-02-09 

OPEN LETTER FROM 55 LATIN AMERICAN PLWA (AND ACTIVISTS) TO THE CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE GLOBAL FUND BOARD

Lima, Perú
January 28, 2005



Ms. Rita Arauz
Ms. Anandi Yuvaraj
Civil Society Representatives to the Global Fund Board

Geneva, Switzerland



Dear Ms. Arauz and Ms. Yuvaraj,



As members of civil society in Latin America and the Caribbean, we would like to bring to your attention some observations that we consider as priorities to be included in the agenda of the Global Fund Board.





1) The Vision expressed in the HIV/AIDS Declaration of Commitment made by the government representatives and heads of states in the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York in 2001 (UNGASS), and the original philosophy of the Global Fund to give prioritized attention to People Living with HIV/AIDS, is something we would like to see supported and ratified.



2) We are concerned about the position taken by the Global Fund to be only a funding agency, thus distorting the philosophy under which it was originally created.



3) We are also concerned about the lack of priority given in the Latin American and Caribbean region in regard to purchase of antiretroviral treatment.





4) We are aware that our region, via community representation, has developed important political incidence to achieve changes, but we also are concerned about the effect of the Global Fund on the community movement in general, as the funding resources it provides have more often created divisions rather than strengthening the community. We feel that the principles for which the Global Fund was created have been abandoned, these principals did not include the creation of divisions in the civil society, a phenomenon which has resulted partly as a result of Global Fund policies.



5) Another issue which we observe is the misappropriation of the Fund's resources, as significant amount of funding is spent on unnecessary activities such as payment of hotels and high salaries. In regards to the strengthening of civil society, there have been only a few basic aspects covered, such as equipment and minimum salaries.





6) We also observe that the political representation of Civil Society on the Country Coordination Mechanisms (CCM) has been weak so far, which is due to the fact that some representatives, including governments, act as if the Fund was their own property, but the Global Fund Board does not intervene in these situations.



7) We are very concerned with the second phase of project continuation in the various countries, as many projects are apparently in jeopardy for items such as lack of completion of some indicators This concern is also reflected in the possibility of losing the funds which are assigned to treatment access, if projects are eliminated, and thus affecting the vision of the Global Fund as a mechanism to save lives





8) In regards to point 7) above, we would like to request that the Global Fund provide more technical support to the preparation, implementation and evaluation of country programs, in terms of these indicators.



9) We observe that some technical points related to bureaucracy have resulted in the delay in the disbursement of funds which have affected the timely purchase of treatments, resulting in many deaths.





10) We are also concerned that the sustainability mechanisms have not increased in the countries to ensure continuity of the implementation of the funds when the subvention period ends. This concern can be expressed as a proposal for the Global Fund to become a body that prioritizes political incidence with the government to guarantee a counterpart on the National level when projects terminate.



11) Lastly, we urgently request that the representatives of the Delegation of Southern NGOs and the Delegation of Affected Communities to the Global Fund, Ms. Rita Arauz and Ms. Anandi Yuvaraj respectively, inform periodically and directly to the CCMs and Civil Society on the processes and decisions being taken by the Fund. As representatives of the civil society you are obliged to keep us informed of the process. If you are not able to fulfill this mandate, please let us know so we can take the necessary decisions and actions.

Sincerely,



Participants of the Conference; "Advances and Obstacles to Universal Treatment access in Latin America." Lima, Peru, 26-28, January, 2005




Note: Some people who signed this letter mention their NGO affiliation, however, this does not imply that the NGO itself has endorsed the letter.





Name Country Organization



1) Oscar Franco Sanchez, Bolivia, Vivo en Positivo - REDBOL



2) Julio C. Aguilera Hurtado, Bolivia, REDVIHDA, REDBOL



3) Pablo Anamaria Perú Coordinador PVVS, REDLA+



4) Berta Chete Guatemala ACSLCS



5) Juan Cristobal Moscoso Ecuador Coordinadora SIDA el Oro



6) Bienka Domo Ecuador Una Luz de la Vida



7) Freddy Cahuina Ramos Perú GAM Amigos para Siempre



8) Roger Revollar Perú Boletin Animo y Aliento



9) Pedro Pablo Prada Perú



10) Tomas Sinchi Contreras Perú GAM Amistad



11) Federico Parodi Argentina Red de PVVS



12) Jaime Ernesto Argueta El Salvador Asocacion Vidanueva



13) Monica Negrete Perú



14) Oswaldo Rada Colombia



15) Luis Lopez Guatemala Solidaridad Positiva



16) Fredy Triminio Honduras Imagenes Positivas



17) Liliana Briceña Hilares Peru Alianza en Accion+



18) Elvira Gonzales Perú GAM Agradecido Siempre



19) Audelio Ramirez L. Guatemala Asocacion Gente Nueva



20) Elizabeth Aquino Arias Perú Voces Amigas



21) Yrene Aquiño Capcha Perú GAM Transciendo AID For AIDS



22) Jorge Lamilla Reategui Perú GAM Hermanos de Sangre



23) Francisco Carillo El Salvador



24) Rosa Gonzales Honduras Fundacion Llaves



25) Allan Dunaway Honduras Fundacion Llaves



26) Edith Tristan Panamá



27) Ramon Acevedo Republica Dominicana



28) Ernesto Gozzer Perú



29) Isabel Arizaga Perú



30) Samuel Nuñez Nicaragua



31) Mabel Martinez Arriaga Honduras Agua Buena



31) Julia Ysenia Dolmo Honduras Asonapvsidah



32) Javier E. Rosette Panamá Grupo Genesis



33) Jesus Culis Arias Perú PROSA



34) Guillermo Murillo Costa Rica Agua Buena



35) Estrelia Nizamp Perú Colectivo por la Vida



36) Felipa Carcamo Perú GAM Hossana



37) Silvia Barbarán Perú Lazos de Vida



38) Jorge A. Herrera Bolivia Mas Vida



39) Javier L. Varon Colombia



40) Rodel Beltran Perera Belize Alliance Against AIDS



41) Bruce Menzies Nicaragua



42) Alfredo Laona Paraguay Fundacion Vencer



43) Felix Cabrera Guatemala Red Nacional de PVVS



44) Nilson Gonzalez Paraguay Fundacion Vencer



45 Mirta Ruiz Paraguay Fundacion Vencer



46) Juan Osorio Perú VIHDARTE



47) Maria Soro Calderon Perú Coordinadora Peruana



48) Sonia Borja Velazco Perú Solas y Unidas



49) Fernando Cisneros Perú Colectiva por la Vida



50) Jhon Gutierrez Perú Colectivo por la Vida



51) Miluska Vinegas Perú Via Libre



52) Alfonso Lescano Perú Via Libre



53) Richard Stern Costa Rica Agua Buena



54) Eugene Schiff Costa Rica Agua Buena



55) Miguel Ariza Panamá



(Translation from Spanish to English by Agua Buena)

Sent By Richard Stern, Agua Buena (rastern@racsa.co.cr)