The following statement was drafted by a range of civil society groups, including the South African Council of Churches. It was delivered at the National World AIDS Day rally in Mpumalanga, KaNyamazane.

Today represents a very significant step for South Africa's response to HIV and AIDS. Much progress has been made to formulate a renewed response to the epidemic. A Framework for the National Strategic Plan (NSP) and a renewed SANAC will be announced by the Deputy President. We commit ourselves to contributing fully in the process of finalizing the NSP 2007-2011 and the structure of a new SANAC, which will take place in the first months of 2007.

Through the process of reviewing our country's response we have begun to bridge the gap between civil society and government and to build a genuine partnership.

As organizations of civil society, we commit to partnership with Government, business and all sectors of society in tackling HIV & AIDS like never before. Through this partnership, we want to ensure:

• That overcoming poverty, inequality, building women's equality and tackling violence against women is foremost in the national agenda;
• That everyone is motivated and equipped with tools to prevent new infections;
• That every one living with HIV can enjoy their right to dignity, respect, access to effective social services, health care and food access to food;
• That every one who needs antiretroviral treatment receives it in time;
• That every one who needs care and support receives it; and
• That children in particular, do not become victimized through institutional indifference.

In this partnership:

• We will seek to change those factors in society that drive new infection or marginalize people living with HIV;
• We will ensure that as many people as possible know their HIV status, that those who are HIV positive receive services and those who are negative remain so;
• We will seek to support and assist those who do not have access to the services they need;
• We will work with Government in making our country's strategies as effective as possible; and
• We will point out gaps and inefficiencies - and demand an effective response.

Despite the severity of the epidemic, we still have a massive opportunity to build a real future for the next generation. We have the immediate responsibility to change the plight of thousands of HIV positive people in our country who struggle to attain dignity, care, treatment and support. The HIV epidemic can be stopped. In the next five years, we can reverse its course and reshape the future of our people. Thousands of lives depend on the promises we make today and the extent to which we deliver on them everyday. For that reason, we cannot fail.

For more information, contact: Rev. Teboho Klaas, 082 412 2960