August 8, 2008
PROTEST PILE-ON
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Abbott playing tug of war |
On Wednesday and Thursday, the final two days of this year’s International AIDS Conference, activists from around the globe took advantage of the fact that the world’s eyes were focused on the Mexico City confab. With conference liaisons looking on to make sure nobody got hurt, demonstrators staged myriad protests, some more genuine than others. (The Update was excited about a female condom protest, until, what do you know? It was sponsored by the makers of female condoms). Here’s a look at some of the IAC’s more notable demonstrations.
Sex work is work! Sex workers and their advocates were out in full force. A group of Mexican sex workers threw up balloons at the opening ceremony and protested when the Mexican health authorities denied them IAC scholarships. Another international coalition of sex workers protested UNAIDS guidelines on Wednesday, and criticized the lack of prevention programs by sex workers, for sex workers. "They're always coming up with programs to save us. They assume if you give sex workers sewing machines, they'll quit sex work. But women are not going to make as much money sewing as they will engaging in sex work," said Susan Lopez, a stripper in the U.S. who is a member of the Desiree Alliance.
1%. That's the percentage of people with HIV being screened for tuberculosis, even though TB is the number one killer of people with AIDS in Africa. On Thursday morning, the Treatment Action Campaign held a silent die-in and march to the booths of the biggest donors and highest burden countries. TB is unrepresented at the IAC, with only seven sessions devoted to the disease (out of hundreds of possible sessions throughout the week).
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Lopez demands rights for sex workers |
Tug of war in Colombia: Activists from Columbia and worldwide staged a "tug of war" outside the IAC press room between faux Abbott pharmaceuticals reps and the Colombian people. They called on Columbia to issue its compulsory license on a drug that can serve as a replacement to the expensive Kaletra. "My government must not let its people die when there exists a simple, affordable solution to helping people with HIV/AIDS live normal lives."
Find the French government!: The notoriously rowdy ACT UP Paris plastered "Wanted!" posters criticizing their health minister for being a no-show at the IAC, for cancelling a press conference with President Nicolas Sarkozy's prepared remarks, and for reneging on paying its fair share—one billion euros a year to the Global Fund. For more pictures and info about the lively demo go to actupparis.org.
Where is my nurse?Advocates for health care workers in Africa, led by Doctors without Borders, had a strong presence at the 2006 IAC in Toronto, but nurses remain grossly underpaid. In Malawi, for instance, they can make as little at $3 a day, according to Dr. Moses Massaquoi of Doctors Without Borders. "It is intolerable to then be told by governments and donor countries that it is unsustainable to raise her wages, even though she is responsible for $7,500 worth of drugs a month for her patients," Massaquoi said.To read more about protests and activist thoughts, check out CHAMP's blog aids2008.com