5 List of recommendations
1. We
are concerned that DFID's indicators of success are linked primarily
to funding targets rather than to outcomes. We recommend that
in the interim and final evaluations of Taking Action,
success is measured against transparent 'outcome indicators' as
well as 'funding indicators'. Outcome indicators should set out
DFID's contribution to achieving the international targets on
HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care. (Paragraph 4)
2. We see a clear
contradiction between a policy of routinely charging those failed
asylum seekers who want to start a course of treatment after their
application has been rejected and Government advocacy of the universal
access goal. We believe that undermining the needs of minority
groups in this way is a denial of their human rights and weakens
DFID's international leadership on this issue. We believe that
DFID should play a role in ensuring that asylum seekers living
with HIV are not returned to countries where access to ARVs is
not practical. We regret that more progress has not been made
on these matters since our last report. (Paragraph 7)
3. We are concerned
that Taking Action, although billed as the UK strategy
on HIV/AIDS in the developing world, is in reality only the strategy
of DFID. We recommend that DFID work closely with other Departments,
particularly the FCO and the Home Office, to develop a truly integrated
strategy for the UK's action on HIV/AIDS internationally. This
should draw the FCO fully into the governance and human rights
aspects of HIV/AIDS and the Home Office into broader UK advocacy
of the international goals on HIV/AIDS, such as universal access
to treatment. (Paragraph 8)
4. As emerging epidemics
become more generalised, we recommend that DFID ensure that its
experience of best practice in Africa is put at the disposal of
governments elsewhere, including in Asia and Eastern Europe. (Paragraph
11)
5. We believe that
programmes which address the drivers of epidemics, rather than
generalised programmes, will be most successful in combating the
spread of HIV/AIDS. Social and legal barriers to effective prevention
and treatment programmes for key groups need to be addressed in
some countries to ensure successful implementation of national
HIV/AIDS strategies. We support such a rights-based approach and
recommend that DFID ensure that all national programmes it supports
address stigma and discrimination to prevent further marginalisation
of those at highest risk of infection. We recommend that, as well
as continuing to make these points bilaterally and internationally,
DFID make specific efforts to encourage the repeal of restrictive
policies, at both domestic and international level, that impede
effective services. (Paragraph 18)
6. A series of initiatives
will be necessary to maintain momentum towards achieving the challenging
targets for tackling HIV/AIDS. DFID should remain open-minded
about this and should keep under review the case for further bilateral
and multilateral representatives to push for progress in neglected
areas of HIV/AIDS advocacy. (Paragraph 20)
7. We recommend that
DFID ensure that key populations are involved in policy formulation
consistently across the range of programmes that DFID designs,
implements and funds. We also recommend that DFID ensure that
its partners, whether NGOs or national governments, support the
involvement of people living with HIV and AIDS and marginalised
groups in guiding governments and NGOs in their policy-making
and in providing the right services. (Paragraph 22)
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