Global Citizens Summit 2009

The summit represented citizens from 32 nationals among them national aids control council representatives (commissioners) from seven countries in Africa.

Participants appreciated the meeting saying space for frontline citizens involved in the fight against Aids to articulate their concerns has constantly been reducing despite there being many conferences. The conferences, they said, were dominated by lobbyist without genuine concern and interest for PLWHA and NGOs that were formed to cash-in on HIV money.

Outcomes from the three days discussion emphasised the following:

• Aids is entering a phase where response must be driven by the citizens infected and affected by HIV and not according to the agenda set by donors and technocrats.
• Governments must take their stewardship role in HIV and AIDS response and aid or support from outside must only come to complement their efforts, strategy and plan and not to leave the bulk of the response dependent on donor funding
• More emphasis should be placed in accountability to and between citizens

RESULTS OF THE THREE-TRACK DISCUSSIONS ON:

FRONTLINE REALITIES FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS

APPROACHES FOR RIGHTS BASED SOCIAL MOBILISATION

SOCIAL MOBILISATION FOR EFFECTIVE FINANCING