GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION: EU-INDIA FTA 6-10 February 2012

GLOBAL WEEK OF ACTION: EU-INDIA FTA 6-10 February 2012 In 2001, India’s generics brought prices down from $15000 per person per year to $350 for first line AIDS medicines. 80% of people living with HIV in developing countries are on Indian generic ARVs Over 90% of pediatric AIDS medicines are supplied by Indian generics. BUT ALL THIS COULD CHANGE IF INDIA DOES NOT SAY NO TO IP IN THE EU-INDIA FTA This January, another round of negotiations on intellectual property was held between Indian and EU negotiators as part of the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks. News reports in India quote the EU Ambassador as stating that discussions on Pharmaceuticals have progressed significantly. On the 10th of February 2012, at the EU-India Summit to be held in Delhi, the EU & India will agree on and finalize the political framework for the FTA. Groups in India are worried – how have the IP negotiations progressed? Are the EC and India progressing towards an agreement which includes provisions that will seriously hamper India’s ability to manufacture safe, effective and affordable generic medicines and export these to other developing countries? WHY THE CALL FOR ACTION? 6th – 10th FEBRUARY 2012!! Since 2007, people living with HIV in India and across the world have been resisting the pressure of the EC on India to sign an FTA with provisions on intellectual property that will endanger access to generic medicines from India. We must once more show the EC and the Indian government that our lives cannot be traded away! This is a Call for a week of Action across the globe from 6th – 10th February 2012 on the EU-INDIA FTA. The week of action is a run up to the EU-India Summit that will be held in Delhi on 10th February 2012. OUR DEMANDS REMOVE: § Investment Rules, as they enable foreign companies to take the Indian government to private courts over domestic health policies like measures to reduce prices of medicines. § Border Measures, as they will deny medicines to patients in other developing countries with custom officials seizing generic medicines in transit. § Injunctions, as they undermine the independence of the Indian judiciary to protect right to health of patients over the profits of drug companies. § Other Intellectual Property Enforcement Measures, as they put third parties like treatment providers at risk of police actions and court cases. DON’T BRING BACK: § Data Exclusivity, as it delays the registration of generic medicines and will not permit the placing of affordable versions of pediatric doses and combinations of “off-patent” medicines on the market. IT’S NOT REQUIRED UNDER THE TRIPS AGREEMENT! § Patent Term Extension, as it will extend patent life beyond 20 years. The EC states that these two provisions are off the table. It must keep its word! PLEASE JOIN US -YOUR COMRADES- IN INDIA! In the coming days, groups from around the world and in India will demonstrate against the EU-India FTA. We ask you to join us in sending a clear message to the European Commission: our lives cannot be traded away. 1. Organise your own rally: You can organize rallies or demonstrations in front of European Commission offices in your countries to voice your opposition to their aggressive negotiations on intellectual property in FTAs. Don't forget that the EU is also negotiating FTAs with many other developing countries and making the same demands. 2. Raise awareness/media action: Even though you might not be able to support our rally financially or physically you can help us by spreading the word about our concerns. Write an editorial in your local paper. Hold a press conference. Issue a press release or press statement. 3. Write to the Indian Government: You can also write to the Indian Government asking it to stay strong and not give in to the demands of the European Commission. India, as the pharmacy of the developing world, has an obligation to its citizens as well as patients across the world. Please try and meet the Indian ambassadors in your countries and convey to them how important it is that India reject ALL the demands of the EU. Millions of lives depend on this. 4. Write to your own government: Public health programmes around the world depend on generic medicines from India. Ask your government to tell the EU and the Indian government to keep IP out of the FTA negotiations. 5. Share your actions: PLEASE send us photos, articles, videos of all your actions immediately and FOLLOW the actions of other groups here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-the-EU-India-Free-Trade-Agreement/144687138908841 and here http://donttradeourlivesaway.wordpress.com/ 6. Donate: In order to organize these protests, we rely on funding. Any financial support is welcome. No amount is too small – or too big! If you know organizations, which are interested in funding, if you want donate to our protest, please contact us. We plan to meet the aggressiveness of the European Commission with our peaceful protests. There is too much at stake. Join us NOW! In Solidarity Delhi Network of Positive People & Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information on the EU-India FTA see: ITPC: http://www.itpcglobal.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=126&Itemid MSF’s Europe Hands Off Our Medicine Campaign: http://www.msfaccess.org/hands-off-our-medicine-campaign Oxfam: http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/trading-away-access-medicines