*Stop AIDS - Accept people living with HIV/AIDS* * * ** *Rainbow Planet, Sangama, * *Samara and Suraksha*
*(No. 9 'ABABIL', Patel Chaluvappa Street, JC Nagar (M R Palya), Bangalore - 6, Ph: 9945090302) * invite you for the observation of *World AIDS Day *and *International Human Rights Day * in Bangalore City *on 6th December, 2006, Wednesday* *PUBLIC MEETING at 5 PM at Town Hall, Bangalore * *MOTOR RALLIES starting at 11 AM in 5 diferent locations **and * *culminating at The Town Hall at 5 PM and * *holding public meetings at the following locations:* ** *Route 1:* Jalahalli Cross (Near BSNL Cross) - Peenya 2nd Stage Bus Stop - Sunkadakatte (Opp. Petrol Bunk) - Kurubarahalli (Chalukya Circle) - Rajajinagar 1st Block Bus Stand - Majestic (Opp. Amar Hotel) - Mysore Bank Circle) - Town Hall *Route 2:* Pulkesinagar Bus Stop (Near St. Anthony's Church) - Hennur Cross (Opp. Lawrence College) - KR Puram Market (Opp. SUb Registrar's Office), Tin Factory Bus Stop (Opp. Temple), Marathahalli Bridge Bus Stand - HAL Market (Opp. Punjab National Bank, 1st Cross) - Ulsoor Bus Stop (Opp. Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple) - Russel Market (Opp. Main Entrance) - Town Hall *Route 3:* Kengeri Bus Stand (Near Old Bus Stand) - Nayandahalli Bus Stand - Moodalapalya Circle - Vijayanagar Bus Stand - Toll Gate Bus Stop - Gaali Anjaneya Temple (Bapuji Nagar Bridge) - Hudson Circle (Near Bus Stop towards Kasturba Road) - Town Hall *Route 4:* Bommanahalli Bus Stand - Madivala Police Station - Banashankari Bus Stand - Jayanagar 4th Block (near Jain Temple), Kalasipalya - Victoria Hospital (Opp. BTS Bus Stop) - KR Market (Under the Bridge) - Town Hall *Route 5:* Yelahanka New Town (Near NES Bus Stop) - Yelahanka Circle (Opp. Ramaiah Complex) -Kogigehalli Cross - Ganganagar Bus Stop (Opp IETE) - Yeshwantpur Bus Stand - Malleswaram Ground - MG Road (in front of Mahatma Gandhi Statue) - Town Hall *DEMANDING: - Government to provide free access to ART to all PLWHA. - Stigma and discrimination against PLHA be immediately stopped. - Children affected by or infected with HIV have access to their basic needs including pediatric formulations of ART, care and support services, education and survival support. - Repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. - Repeal Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. - Government to protect the human rights of PLHA, sexworkers and sexuality minorities.* Worldwide every year, December 1st and December 10th are observed as "World Aids Day" and "International Human Rights Day" respectively. Indian constitution guarantees 'right to health' and 'right to life' to all its citizens as fundamental rights. India is home to more than 50 lakh People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) at present. At least 5 lakh of them are in immediate need of ART (Anti-Retroviral Therapy, which can prolong their life). Indian Government is providing ART to only 35 thousand persons at present. Others are turned away by the Government ART centres. Most of them are dying as they can't afford to buy ART in the market. The ART drugs are very expensive as pharmaceutical MNCs are making huge profits using unfair patent regimes. Who is responsible for this mass murder? MNCs who are killing people for their profits? or our Governments which pursue pro-globalization, pro-liberalization and pro-privatization policies that increase corporate profits at the cost of our people? Should people die because they are poor? Don't poor people qualify as 'citizens' of this country? PLHA face wide spread stigma, discrimination, violence and abuse at home, workplace, in hospitals and on the street. Many women who are widowed due to AIDS are thrown out on to the streets. Most PLHA live by hiding their HIV status fearing rejection by the family, friends and society. Children are worst affected by HIV/AIDS in India. Many children are orphaned due to AIDS and many children are living with HIV infection. They are forced to take ART formulations meant for adults in small doses as pediatric formulations of the ART drugs are not available. Measuring pediatric doses is a difficult task and prone to error, affecting the ART intake of children. These children face severe stigma and discrimination and their survival is a huge struggle. Sexworkers and sexuality minorities are disproportionately affected and bear the burden of HIV/AIDS. Indian laws criminalizing sexuality minorities (Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code) and sexworkers (Immoral Traffic [Prevention] Act) make them vulnerable to police harassment. Accessing condoms and negotiating safer sex with partners is very difficult when they are running all the time from street to street to escape from police and goondas. Stigma, discrimination, harassment, violence, extortion, blackmail, brutality and blatant human rights violations are common against sexworkers and sexuality minorities, increasing their possibility of getting infected with HIV. Fighting HIV/AIDS just cannot be the responsibility of a few NGOs and the government. This crisis needs to be addressed by everyone alike including the social movements, trade unions, mass organizations, social justice groups, you and me. Let's join hands to respond to this human crisis. Let's build a response that is compassionate, humane and respecting people's rights and dignity.
