Universal Access Charter The Universal Access Charter is intended to be the voice of communities and civil societies around the world; The Charter is a clear statement of expectations, based on principles of human rights, immediate need, and developing sustainable societies by addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic The Charter acknowledges the critical role that communities play in developing and delivering a Universal Access Package on HIV/AIDS; and supports and complements the efforts of UN agencies

Process The communities working group in New York has convened to develop a strategy for UNGASS 2006 The concept of a Universal Access Charter was developed at one such meeting, to be vetted with representative community groups around the world Each representative group from each segment of civil society, would then define their rights, and needs that forms part of the universal package This could be consolidated into a formal document, distributed at the UN, and reproduced globally A version can be handed over to Anan/Piot at the UN

Universal Access Charter We, the communities of the world infected, affected and vulnerable to HIV/AIDS (and other preventable and treatable diseases,) believe that access to health care and health education is a basic human right (Check the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Health-related areas) We, the pregnant women of the world, believe that we have a right to protect our unborn children from contracting HIV, through access to services and treatment to prevent mother to child transmission

We, the women of the world, believe that the well-being and livelihood of our children depends on our health; and we need HIV care, support and treatment to continue caring for our children We, the girls and young women of the world, believe that we need support and services to reduce our vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, through education, empowerment, and gender-specific health and social benefits

We, the substance-using population, need programs that provide clean needles and syringes, methadone maintenance therapy, counseling, and social support We, the commercial sex workers of the world, want protection from trafficking and exploitation, and interventions such as education, peer counseling and condom distribution

We, the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals of the world, need safe equipment and facilities to protect ourselves and our patients from contracting HIV. We want mandatory access to post-exposure prophylaxis in all healthcare settings. We, the prisoners of the world, need safety from sexual exploitation, access to healthcare and condoms, and harm reduction interventions

We, the future generations of the world, have the right to be born healthy, and the opportunity to live free of HIV/AIDS; or live a healthy life on treatment We, the care-givers and community workers require resources to provide care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS

Global Citizens We, people at risk, require confidential access to reliable counseling and testing and immediate referral to follow-up services