The IPU and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 23 March to increase efforts to engage parliamentarians in the fight against those three diseases. The MOU highlights knowledge exchange, advocacy, awareness raising and human rights as areas for future cooperation.
The MOU was signed by Ambassador Anda Filip, Director of IPU’s Division for Member Parliaments and External Relations and Dr. Christoph Benn, Director of External Relations at the Global Fund.
The IPU will involve technical experts from the Global Fund to help build parliamentary capacity in the global response to HIV/AIDS. The two organizations will also work together on advocacy to build resilient and sustainable systems for health and strengthen community systems, and country-level advocacy by parliamentarians to increase national financing for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. They will also engage parliamentarians in proposing and supporting legislation to remove barriers to health service, particularly concerning vulnerable populations and to fund measures that reduce stigma and prevent discrimination.
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong said that the IPU was looking forward to cooperating with the Global Fund and building a bridge between political leaders and the technical community. “Every life that can be saved or protected from the ravages of HIV/AIDS is worth the effort.”
Norbert Hauser, the Chair of the Board of the Global Fund, spoke about the “paramount role of parliamentarians” in the fight against the three diseases, emphasizing their ability to obtain information on the needs of the people.
The IPU promotes parliamentary action in support of the UN General Assembly Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS and UN Security Council resolution 1983. It also leads the global parliamentary dialogue through its Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
