Side event at the 14th Human Right Council

16th of June, 2010

Right to Health: Better Access to Testing and Treatment for HIV-positive Children

During the 14th session of Human Rights Council, the “Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII” organised a side event co-sponsored by Caritas Internationalis, permanent mission of Italy and the permanent mission of the Holy See on: “Right to Health:Better Access to Testing and Treatment for HIV-positive Children”

The goals and aims of the side event was to reinforce the advocacy carried out by both organizations to sensitize the United Nations Member States and other stakeholders on the above-mentioned urgent issue. In fact, there is the need to exercise pressure on pharmaceutical companies and laboratory manufactures to produce child-friendly fixed-dose antiretroviral drugs and new tools for early diagnosis of HIV.

Considering that access to medicines is a fundamental element of the child’s Right to Health under article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and considering the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 6, the workshop focused on enjoyment of the child’s Right to Health as made possible through greater access to paediatric HIV testing and treatment.

The aims of the workshop was also to make governments more aware of their obligations to promote the Right to Health as mandated under the CRC and to propose innovative ways to facilitate better access to treatment for HIV-positive children.

Speakers

• Ms. Alessandra Aula – Vice-Secretary General of the Bureau Internationale Catholique de l’Enfant – moderator;

• Dr. Maria Mercedes Rossi – Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII - (sum-up of the APG23’s activities and presentation of the goals of this Side Event)

• Video Caritas Internationalis – effect of HIV and TB on children and their families in Swaziland and South Africa

• Dr. Shaffiq Essajee – WHO Medical Officer - Paediatric and Family Care HIV/AIDS Unit - brief and direct simple presentation on the present state-of-the-art with regard to HIV treatment and access for children living with HIV

• Dr. Patrick Eba – UNAIDS - Human Rights Advisor - Speech

• Dr. Giulia Amerio – Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII (field-experience: Zambia), Presentation -Speech;

• Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo – Caritas Internationalis (HAART Campaign) - Speech

• Dr Luca Li Bassi – The Global Fund (Manager, Pharmaceutical Management Advisory Services Team) - Presentation.