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ALAN
DECLARATION ON HIV/AIDS: We, the Mayors and Municipal Leaders of local authorities of the Republic of Namibia, having taken cognisance of the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the significant impact on our cities, towns and villages, and local authorities in Namibia, under the auspices of the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) join our government and other Local Authorities in Africa and launch the Namibian Chapter of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa. Considering that local government, as an integral part of the national structure of governance, is the level of government closest to the people and, therefore, well placed to respond to the many challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. Honouring the resolution during the 52nd Annual Congress of the Association for Local Authorities in Namibia, calling for a commitment to address the implications of HIV/AIDS on our cities, towns and villages. Welcoming the commitments of African Heads of States or Governments, at the Organisation of African Unity Special Summit in April 2001, particularly their pledge to allocate at least 15 percent of their annual national budgets for the improvement of the health sector to help address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Recognising and supporting the commitment made by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nuyoma and the Namibian Government to promote multisectoral action on HIV/AIDS in Namibia. Recognising the ABIDJAN DECLARATION of Mayors and Municipal Leaders of Africa of 9th December 1997, proclaimed in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on the occasion of the 5th International Conference on STDs/AIDS in Africa. Recognising and Appreciating the commitments and actions taken by African local authorities, continental and Namibian NGOs and other organisations to promote awareness of the socio-economic effect of HIV/AIDS on our societies and support measures to minimise its impact. Recognising the establishment of the Alliance Continental Secretariat in Windhoek, Namibia and contributions made by both the Government of the Republic of Namibia and the City of Windhoek and our support to the Alliance Secretariat. Expressing deep concern about the increase in orphans, street children, widows/widowers in our Cities, Towns and Villages, acknowledge the impact on sustainable urban development. Acknowledging that poverty, in all of its manifestations, contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS; local authorities are deeply concerned that HIV/AIDS is compounding poverty, reversing development gains and compromising the future development of our country. Recognising that the full realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all is an essential element in an effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including in the areas of prevention, care, support and treatment, and that it reduces vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and prevents stigma and related discrimination against people living with or at risk of HIV/AIDS. Convinced of the need for all Local Councils in Namibia to develop and implement policies and strategies appropriate to the specific HIV/AIDS related social, economic, developmental, cultural, human rights and health dimensions in our communities. Taking into account all Global, Continental, National and Local initiatives, we thus affirm our commitment and resolve as the Namibian Chapter of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa to the Alliance of Mayors Initiative on Community Action on AIDS at the Local Level (AMICAALL) strategy and to the Abidjan Declaration. As local governments of the Republic of Namibia we hereby commit to the following actions: · Inclusion of strategies and resources to address the implications of HIV/AIDS for cities, towns and villages in our municipal management and service delivery agendas; · In particular, develop and implement strategies and financing plans for combating HIV/AIDS that address the epidemic in forthright terms; confront stigma, silence and denial; address gender and age-based dimensions of the epidemic; eliminate discrimination and marginalisation; involve partnerships with civil society and with the business sector and the full participation of people living with HIV/AIDS, those in vulnerable groups and people mostly at risk, particularly women and young people; fully promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to the highest attainable standard of health; integrate a gender perspective; and address risk, vulnerability, prevention, care, treatment and support and reduction of the impact of the epidemic; · Encourage all partners in the field of HIV/AIDS and development in our communities to collaborate with us in this initiative; · Develop appropriate strategies and programmes to raise awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on socio-economic development in our Cities, Towns and Villages and to promote prevention, care, treatment and support as the mainstay of our response; · Support the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS (Medium Plan II) and the activities and programmes of the National AIDS Committee, the National AIDS Coordination Programme and Regional and District AIDS Committees; · Encourage all stakeholders to work with us in partnership towards one purpose by harnessing both human and financial resources for effective implementation of our respective programmes and efforts; · Support the continental Secretariat of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa in the same spirit as that shown by our Government and the City of Windhoek; · Foster stronger collaboration and the development of innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors, and encourage United Nations Agencies to work closely with the Mayors and their local authorities, in order to establish an enabling environment and strengthen mechanisms that involve the private sector, civil society partners, people living with HIV/AIDS and communities in the fight against HIV/AIDS; · Call for action to protect young people; identify and mobilize local capacity for prevention, care and support; and provide leadership and commitment in establishing a supportive environment that makes prevention, care and support possible; · Commit to the establishment of municipal committees for HIV/AIDS, STD's (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and alcohol and drug abuse in order to raise awareness, build local capacity, disseminate information and encourage a multi-sectoral approach to this crisis; In endorsing the above we, the leaders of local governments of Namibia, hereby sign this declaration in Windhoek on 30 October 2001; Association
for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN)
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