Statement of Concern from the International AIDS Conference
On closing spaces in India for civil society & generic medicines

We call on the Indian government to reverse course on a series of actions that threaten to undermine the global AIDS response. We are increasingly concerned about the closing space both for the civil society groups that have been critical in the AIDS response nationally and internationally and for the public health-supporting policies that ensure quality, affordable generic drugs for the world. India’s recent policy reversals have serious implications for human rights and access to HIV treatment in India and around the world.

We call on the Indian government to:

• End attacks on the Lawyers Collective and other NGOs and ensure the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act and other laws are not misused for political purposes.

• Implement policies to ensure Indian generic companies cannot be taken over by multinational pharmaceutical companies, thereby eliminating the generic competition people living with HIV and others depend on for affordable medicines.

• Resist pressure from the United States and multinational pharmaceutical companies to eliminate, undermine or cease using the critical public health safeguards in India’s Intellectual Property Laws including strict patent standards, oppositions, and compulsory licensing, that allow India to provide 90% of the world’s antiretrovirals. This includes rejecting TRIPS-plus demands in free trade agreement and bilateral investment treaty negotiations with Europe and in RCEP.