British parliamentarians this week called on the Government to use its presidency of the European Union in 2005 and leadership of the G8 to advocate for powerful new mechanisms that can mobilise emergency funds for AIDS relief.
In particular, say MPs, the United Kingdom should press for €10 billion lying unspent in the European Union’s European Development Fund to be dispersed rapidly to support efforts against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Averting Catastrophe: AIDS in 21st Century Africa, a report by the Africa All Parliamentary Group, also recommends that the UK should increase its support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to $216 million in 2005.
The UK government should also use its role as chair of the G8 in 2005 to push forward its proposal for an International Financial Facility – a cooperative mechanism that would allow the richest countries to raise money on the international bond markets to ramp up development aid immediately, whatever their domestic financial circumstances.
Part of this process should include a clear timetable from the British government to show when UK development assistance will increase to 0.7% of GDP, a target set in 1970 by the United Nations. According to Oxfam France, Ireland, Finland, and Belgium have now set a timetable to reach this target and Norway and the Netherlands achieved it long ago.
The report also strongly endorses UK support for antiretroviral treatment in resource-limited settings, and commends the UK Department for International Development’s efforts to achieve coordination amongst donors.
Copies of the report are available from Penny Jackson, Africa All Parliamentary Group (JACKSONPEN@parliament.uk)
British parliamentarians this week called on the Government to use its presidency of the European Union in 2005 and leadership of the G8 to advocate for powerful new mechanisms that can mobilise emergency funds for AIDS relief.
In particular, say MPs, the United Kingdom should press for €10 billion lying unspent in the European Union’s European Development Fund to be dispersed rapidly to support efforts against HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Averting Catastrophe: AIDS in 21st Century Africa, a report by the Africa All Parliamentary Group, also recommends that the UK should increase its support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to $216 million in 2005.
The UK government should also use its role as chair of the G8 in 2005 to push forward its proposal for an International Financial Facility – a cooperative mechanism that would allow the richest countries to raise money on the international bond markets to ramp up development aid immediately, whatever their domestic financial circumstances.
Part of this process should include a clear timetable from the British government to show when UK development assistance will increase to 0.7% of GDP, a target set in 1970 by the United Nations. According to Oxfam France, Ireland, Finland, and Belgium have now set a timetable to reach this target and Norway and the Netherlands achieved it long ago.
The report also strongly endorses UK support for antiretroviral treatment in resource-limited settings, and commends the UK Department for International Development’s efforts to achieve coordination amongst donors.
Copies of the report are available from Penny Jackson, Africa All Parliamentary Group (JACKSONPEN@parliament.uk)