Joint Assembly of the Convention concluded between the African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) - Resolutions adopted on the international conference in Abidjan on transmissible sexual diseases and Aids in Africa (ACP-EU/2120/97/fin.)

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Brussels from 17 to 20 March 1997,

- referring to Chapter III of the revised Fourth Lomé Convention, and more particularly Articles 152 to 155 thereof,

- having regard to the resolution on the anti-Aids programme under Lomé IV adopted in May 1992 at the 54th ACP-EU Council meeting in Kingston,

- having regard to its resolution adopted in Windhoek on 22 March 1996 and the European Parliament's resolution of 15 November 1995 on Aids in the Third World,

A. whereas the world conference on Aids at Vancouver, Canada in July 1996 announced considerable progress in the fight against the disease, not only in research but also in the form of new treatments, and this progress has been confirmed by the decline in the death rate in some western countries,

B. regretting, however, that the conference was largely geared to western interests and that neither the scientific community nor the pharmaceutical industry took account of the epidemiological, socio-economic or financial criteria of the Third World countries, where, nevertheless, most of the contaminated people are concentrated and where the epidemic is continuing its inexorable progress,

C. repeating the appeal to political and economic circles by President Mandela at the Davos Summit to come to the aid of peoples which 'after bearing the burden of colonialism are now having to bear the burden of the Aids epidemic`,

D. alarmed at the fact that in addition to poverty, malnutrition, the absence of elementary hygiene and the precariousness of life sub-Saharan Africa is now facing the disastrous effects of armed conflicts and massive displacement of populations, and that these factors are making the poorest people still more vulnerable to epidemics and opportunist infections such as tuberculosis,

1. Welcomes the forthcoming international conference in Abidjan on Aids in Africa, geared to a specific approach in the African context, and calls on the Commission and Council to support the conference by all appropriate means, and to take account in their development policy and in the implementation of the Lomé Convention of the recommendations which the conference makes;

2. Appeals to research scientists and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure that their endeavours are concentrated on developing a vaccine or treatments applicable to the poorest populations throughout the world;

3. Wishes the new financial programme and the regional programmes to take account of the social and economic impact of Aids and to encourage real cooperation at regional and international level by all political, economic and financial operators;

4. Pays tribute to the solidarity shown by the African families and communities affected by this menace, emphasizes the particularly courageous role of women but points out that survival strategies inevitably work to the detriment of future generations: children, mainly girls, being deprived of education, teenage pregnancies, children living precariously in an urban environment, the flight from the land and the disruption of the social fabric, the abandonment of farming etc.;

5. Notes that there is an urgent need to improve the school systems by adding nutritional, health and medical programmes for young people, taking particular care to ensure that girls are kept in the education system;

6. Emphasizes that priority must be given to programmes encouraging economic activities by women so that they can support their families;

7. Wishes traditional and religious leaders to guide people towards practices compatible with an Aids prevention policy and cooperate with the authorities to adapt customs and law to the situation created by the epidemic, with the aim of providing protection and income to the children or surviving spouse;

8. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission and the organizers of the international conference on Aids in Africa.