Promoting Cooperation
Brining together UNCTAD, UNAIDS, WIPO,WTO and OHCHR
In November 2000, Rights and Humanity organised a workshop on Trade in Pharmaceuticals and Human Rights with UNCTAD at the UN, Geneva. The workshop brought together senior staff from, amongst others, UNCTAD, UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation), WTO (World Trade Organisation) and the OHCHR and concerned NGOs.
We chose the controversial issue of ensuring access to anti-retroviral drugs by people with HIV/AIDS as it presented a perceived conflict between trade law, intellectual property rights and human rights.
Despite the potential for heated disagreements on this controversial subject, by prompting dialogue on common concerns and objectives, our workshop helped to transcend the barriers that were impeding an effective response to the critical issue of access to drugs.
The following year six of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies agreed to make drugs to combat HIV/AIDS more widely available to developing countries. Although Rights and Humanity was not itself involved in these negotiations, our meetings had helped to create a climate of discussion that helped prepare the ground.