The African Commission on Human and People's Rights, meeting at its 29th Ordinary Session in Tripoli, the Great Socialist Peoples' Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 23rd April to 7th May 2001:
Noting the rampant escalation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa especially in sub-Saharan Africa where estimates show that some 9 million people have died and within the next decade some 25 million people will become infected;
Noting with satisfaction the convening of the Africa Summit on HIV/AIDS in Abuja, Nigeria, from 24th to 26th April 2001 where the crisis was declared and interventions of emergency proportions called for;
Welcoming the statement of the Abuja Summit and the emergency measures declared there especially the announcement by the Secretary General of the UN on the establishment of a US$10 billion war chest to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa;
Welcoming the forthcoming UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS to be held in June 2001 and trusting that it will increase awareness of the need for international action to fight the pandemic and devise strategies by international co-operation against HIV/AIDS;
Mindful of the mandate of the Commission in terms of the Charter to “promote human and peoples’ rights and ensure their protection in Africa” and especially in this regard allow the right of every individual to “enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health” (Article 16);
1. Declares that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a human rights issue which is a threat against humanity;
2. Calls upon African Governments, State Parties to the Charter to allocate national resources that reflect a determination to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, ensure human rights protection of those living with HIV/AIDS against discrimination, provide support to families for the care of those dying of AIDS, devise public health care programmes of education and carry out public awareness especially in view of free and voluntary HIV testing, as well as appropriate medical interventions;
3. Calls upon the international pharmaceutical industries to make affordable and comprehensive health care available to African governments for urgent action against HIV/AIDS and invites international aid agencies to provide vastly increased donor partnership programmes for Africa including funding of research and development projects.
Done in Tripoli, 7th May 2001.
