Issued by Department of Health
20 April 2006
The Department of Health received a letter from the General Secretary of the Treatment Action Campaign, Ms Sipho Mthathi today declining the invitation to be part of the country-delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS.
The Department accepts her decision. We understand that her participation was conditional to the inclusion of her organisation's ally, the AIDS Law Project in the country delegation.
However, we would like to correct some of the wrong assertions made in Mthathi's letter to the Department. The invitation sent to Mthathi was addressed to her as TAC office-bearer and does not make any reference to her participation at the UNGASS as being on personal capacity.
Mthathi is also incorrect in concluding that the inability to include the Wits University-based, AIDS Law Project undermines the integrity of the country delegation.
The United Nations resolution (Resolution A/RES/60/224) states that civil society that may be invited include "associations of people living with HIV and AIDS, non-governmental organisations including organisations of women and young people, girls and boys and men, faith-based organisations, private sector and representatives labour."
All the sectors listed in the UN resolution have representation in the current delegation.
Contact: Sibani Mngadi @ 0827720161