Chicago, Johannesburg, Geneva, Paris -- The annual Summit of G8 leaders presents a unique opportunity for the world’s wealthiest nations to achieve consensus around key health, trade, environmental, and other socio-economic policies and priorities that have a bearing upon the development and well-being of populations in every corner of the world. With a view to demonstrating the priority that HIV/AIDS and associated issues of sustainable development have for communities and organizations across the globe, the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC) today conveyed to all G8 leaders a sign-on letter urging them to place HIV and international development at the fore of discussion at this year’s G8 Summit from June 1 to 3, in Evian, France.

The letter, conveyed on behalf of 42 organizations from 22 countries, expresses a collective appeal for swift response from all global leaders in addressing the confounding factors of disease, global debt, poverty, social inequity, and economic debilitation which currently shape the environment in which HIV/AIDS thrives. Delivered to the heads of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the European Union, the underlying message is clear and simple: "That we have harnessed the marvels of modern science, set foot into the cosmos, and designed treatments or cures for serious afflictions, enabling us to preserve and enhance human life, yet at the same time are variably unable or unwilling to put this knowledge and passion in service of those in greatest need worldwide, points to our greatest collective failure."

With particular regard to the fight against HIV/AIDS disease, the 42 organizations conveying the above message hope to ensure that HIV/AIDS is understood not only as a global threat that requires adequate support through vehicles such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, but one that cannot be effectively halted unless individuals, communities, and nations crippled by the disease are unleashed from international debt and balances of global trade which hinder efforts at sustainable health and human development. The letter, and list of supporting organizations may be seen by clicking here.