Statement on PEPFAR funding

The Global Equality Caucus welcomes the emergency humanitarian waiver issued by the United States Secretary of State to allow the continuation of treatment for people living with HIV under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). However, support for prevention services and the future status of PEPFAR remains unclear, and we express grave concern about the impact this uncertainty will have on millions of people around the world.

Since its establishment in 2003, PEPFAR is estimated to have saved over 26 million lives by funding the expansion of HIV prevention options and treatment access across the Global South. Its role in strengthening global health infrastructure directly makes the world more secure and prosperous.

The United States review of existing aid funding and the uncertainty over future disbursements has already had a direct impact on implementing organisations. Numerous community-based groups across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America have been forced to suspend programming, meaning some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in the world cannot access life-saving HIV-related health services.

PEPFAR has commanded bipartisan support for two decades and has signalled a commitment by the United States to meet internationally-agreed development goals, including to end HIV as a public health threat by 2030. The progress we have made together will be rolled back by years if future funding cannot be guaranteed.

A retreat by the United States from the epidemic response will lead to millions of preventable deaths. We urge our legislative colleagues in the United States Congress to support continued funding for PEPFAR, make representations to the Secretary of State to secure its inclusion in future budget allocations, and ensure that the United States’ global leadership on this crucial issue is maintained.

SIGNED:

Nick Herbert, GEC Chair, House of Lords, United Kingdom

Tamara Adrián, GEC Deputy Chair, National Assembly, Venezuela

Hon. Ts’epang Ts’ita-Mosena, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly, Lesotho

Marc Angel MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament, Luxembourg

Dip. Esteban Paulón, Chamber of Deputies, Argentina

Dip. Maximiliano Ferraro, Chamber of Deputies, Argentina

Alex Greenwich MP, Legislative Assembly, New South Wales, Australia

Melissa McMahon MP, Legislative Assembly, Queensland, Australia

Senator Dr. Crystal Haynes, Senate, Barbados

Senator Janelle Chanona, Senate, Belize

Randall Garrison MP, House of Commons, Canada

Senator René Cormier, Senate, Canada

Senator Marnie McBean, Senate, Canada

Janis Irwin MLA, Legislative Assembly, Alberta, Canada

Rep. Andrés Cancimance, House of Representatives, Colombia

Rep. Carolina Giraldo Botero, House of Representatives, Colombia

Senator Lorraine Nxumalo, Senate, ESwatini

Lukas Sieper MEP, European Parliament, Germany

Jerry Buttimer TD, Dáil Eireann, Ireland

Hon. Mamello Phooko, National Assembly, Lesotho

Hon. Itumeleng Rantsho, National Assembly, Lesotho

Hon. Moima Briggs-Mensah, House of Representatives, Liberia

Dainius Žalimas MEP, European Parliament, Lithuania

Hon. Dr. Ephraim Kayembe, National Assembly, Malawi

Dip. Jaime López Vela, Chamber of Deputies, Mexico

Temístocles Villanueva, Mexico City Executive, Mexico

Kim van Sparrentak MEP, European Parliament, Netherlands

Dip. Susel Paredes, Congress of the Republic, Peru

Hon. Andy Labonte, National Assembly, Seychelles

Ulrika Westerlund MP, Riksdag, Sweden

Adam Price MS, Senedd, Wales, United Kingdom

Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis, House of Representatives, Massachusetts, United States