“This call to action is not just words on paper” Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, General Secretary of the World YWCA told press at the Kenyatta International Conference Center. “ It is a personal pledge each of us at this summit is making in our hearts and with our hands. And as the World YWCA, which is a movement of 25 million women worldwide, we know that these pledges will multiply. Where one woman acts, more will be inspired, more will be committed, more will take action until there is no power that can stop us. “

Actress Naomi Watts,UNAIDS special representative, speaking in a specially prepared video, said, ‘Leadership is critical and we need more of it and more people at all levels” to achieve universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment by 2010. Affirming the “courageous leadership” of women that has already been demonstrated in the Summit, she concluded, “ while the road ahead is tough, I do firmly believe that if we push the envelope, if we work together, and we stand strong, we can and we will turn the tide of AIDS.”

The “Nairobi 2007 Call to Action” affirms that recognition of the human rights of women and girls is essential for “an effective response to the global AIDS pandemic”. Through the course of the day, participants added their signature as a personal pledge of action on HIV and AIDS.

The text was officially presented in the closing session by Alice Welbourn, from the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS, with responses by leaders actively responding to the AIDS pandemic:

• Dr Musimbi Kanyoro, General Secretary of the World YWCA

• Ms Dorothy Onyango, incoming co-chair of the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS

• Ms. Deborah Landey, Deputy Executive Director, UNAIDS

• Naomi Watts, UNAIDS Special Representative (via video).

The Call to Action identifies specific strategies under ten “critical actions for change” that can be implemented through individuals, families, faith groups and communities “as part of the global women’s movement”.

The ten areas for action are:

1. Developing the leadership of women and girls to respond to HIV and AIDS
2. Ensuring the meaningful involvement of women infected and affected by HIV in relevant decision making,
3. Promoting gender equality and the human rights of women and girls
4. Ensuring the physical, sexual and psychological safety and security of women and girls
5. Promoting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women and girls
6. Ensuring education, economic security and access to resources for women and girls including the right to own and inherit property
7. Expanding access to services for women infected and affected by HIV, including safe testing, care, treatment and support
8. Promoting the human rights of young women and children by revising AIDS strategies to respond to the reality of their lives
9. Advocating for increased resources to support the capacity of women to lead change on HIV and AIDS
10. Promoting the participation, empowerment and leadership of women at all levels of society

The full text of the Nairobi 2007 Call to Action in English, Spanish and French can be found at: Call to Action

Background

Over 1800 participants attended the first International Women’s Summit on HIV and AIDS, organised by the World YWCA in partnership with the International Community of Women living with HIV and AIDS.

The summit opened on 5 July with presentations by His Excellency, the Hon. Mwai Kibaki, President of Kenya, United Nations’ Deputy Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Margaret Chan and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot. Fourteen women received “Women Leading Change” awards during the opening session. The summit was preceded by a one-day Positive Women’s Forum.

The conference sought to mobilize urgent responses to rising HIV infection rates among women and girls in every region. Key issues addressed include the growing impact of AIDS on women, gender inequality, health care and treatment, sexual and reproductive rights, women’s leadership and economic empowerment. The summit is hosted by the World YWCA as part of its World Council, its governing assembly held every four years.

More information is available on request and via www.worldywca.org. Webcasts of selected sessions will be available via www.kaisernetwork.org

The Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation is also providing video footage available free-of-charge from the following FTP site: FTP HOST: ftp://ftp2.mediaworks.co.nz
USERNAME: hivconftv3; PASSWORD: nairobi13; FOLDER: NAS_TEMP_HIVCONF

For more information

Kaburo Kobia, director of communication, World YWCA
T: +254 72 070 212, kaburo.kobia@worldywca.org
Sara Speicher, IWS press room coordination and interview requests
T: +254 72 070 5111, sara@communicationpoint.org