In 2007 two-and-a-half million more people - women, men and children - contracted HIV. Altogether 33 million people live with HIV and AIDS and most of them live in Africa.

While the U.S. has made a strong commitment to stemming the global spread of HIV in the past, giving $15 billion over the last five years, it's time to renew and increase that funding. It's also time to abandon ineffective requirements like the "prostitution pledge" and to start targeting those most at risk, like gay men.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to ask that you vote to renew the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) with some improvements:

1. Increase PEPFAR funding to $59 billion, which would at least double the number of people on treatment worldwide from two million to four million.

2. In Asia one in three HIV transmissions occurs among sex workers. PEPFAR's requirement that groups receiving funds condemn prostitution interferes with the ability of groups to adequately reach and help sex workers. Remove this "prostitution pledge."

3. Encourage prevention programs and epidemiological research targeting men who have sex with men, including gay men. This is particularly important in Africa, where several countries receiving PEPFAR funds oppress homosexually active men. The U.S. should use its leverage to support vulnerable gay communities in Africa and oppose official homophobia, which helps drive homosexuality underground and fuel the epidemic.

I hope you will address the growing AIDS epidemic by making these changes to PEPFAR.

Campaign Launched:
January 07, 2008