Save a Million Lives in 2007!
Unity, Implementation and Accountability to End the AIDS Crisis!

On October 27th & 28th 2006, 350 delegates from civil society met to discuss and assess the national response to HIV prevention and treatment, to devise our own programmes and to share knowledge and experiences. The Congress took place at a critically important time, as government leads the process to review the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and develop a new National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS (2007-2011).

Importantly, the Congress heard presentations from the Deputy Minister of Health, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, and the Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. They affirmed that we must end the cycle of death, illness and new infection. They also called for the need for unity to overcome the HIV crisis in our country and end the more than 800 AIDS-related deaths that take place daily.

Both leaders made an unambiguous commitment to a genuine partnership to scaling up HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Government committed to bold and realistic targets. This seems to be further evidence of a growing will and new commitment by our government to tackle the crisis of HIV and end a long period of conflict, confusion and denial.

The Congress believes that the next month will be the real test of this commitment, as the detail of programmes and targets are finalized. A new Strategic Plan that is clear, bold, has targets and programmes is what the country needs most of all. In addition, the new commitment will be measured against the willingness of government to renew the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) so that is independent, led at the highest level and capacitated to play a key role in overseeing the implementation of the over all national response to HIV and AIDS.

Another test will be the willingness of government to lead the country in a visible and determined campaign to stop all forms of violence and abuse against women, girls and children.

The civil society conference believes we can save one million lives in 2007 if HIV prevention and treatment is effectively implemented. Targets for next year must reflect this.

All Congress participants were in agreement on the urgency of addressing the wide range of challenges in a comprehensive manner. Participants acknowledge the importance of cooperation amongst all organs of civil society and the responsibility of government to support civil society programmes.

To assist the development of the National Strategic Plan the Congress broke into six Commissions dealing with:

• HIV prevention
• Children and HIV
• Women and HIV
• Access to anti-retroviral treatment
• Social Support for HIV Prevention and Treatment
• Partnership and Governance.

The recommendations and resolutions of these Commissions were discussed by Congress as a whole. We have set clear targets for civil society organizations that are part of this process. We will be accountable. We also address clear targets for government and Business. All resolutions will be compiled and submitted to the Deputy President and the SA National AIDS Council (SANAC) and made available to the public on 31 October 2006

Civil Society hopes that we are approaching a new dawn for HIV prevention and treatment and care in South Africa. If the dawn does come it should take us into a period of genuine collaboration and partnership. But, whatever happens, the conference is a turning point for civil society and we ready to be tested and evaluated by our own ability to implement the bold programmes that were agreed.

A further civil society conference will take place in late 2007, to review progress on commitments made. But before then the co-hosts of the conference commit to working together and bringing as many other organizations as possible into the coalition.