1987-2001: Activism

As the HIV epidemic continued to grow, battles were fought across several fronts to try to ensure that the people most affected and marginalised were kept at the heart of the HIV response and that their human rights were respected. Most notable was the fight for treatment options and access – a battle entrenched in stigma, corporate greed and political inaction.

The early AIDS movement was characterised by some successful campaigning and advocacy. In the 1980s this was led by groups of gay men in developed countries who lobbied for action from their governments to find ways to halt deaths in their communities.

In the late 1990s, the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) saw activists gain a new focus - pharmaceutical companies. Campaigners were now fighting to make treatment accessible for the world’s poorest people as well as those in rich nations.

TRIPS agreement and generics

The World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is signed making the production of generics more difficult.

AIDS a national disaster, says Kenya

“AIDS is not just a serious threat to our social and economic development, it is a real threat to our very existence, and every effort must be made to bring the problem under control.”
- Daniel Arap Moi, President of Kenya

HIV and the military

The Australian Federal Court upholds the right of the Australian Army to expel a soldier with HIV.

Treatment Action Campaign formed

Treatment Action Campaign launches in South Africa to campaign for greater access to HIV treatment for all South Africans.

Epidemic in Eastern Europe

Evidence increases of a major new HIV epidemic among injecting drug users in Eastern Europe

Brazil guarantees free treatment

Brazil passes a law guaranteeing the right to free, universal access to HIV treatment.

Protease inhibitors

A new type of drug-blocking HIV replication - protease inhibitors - are approved in the USA.

Viral load test

The first viral load tests are developed, measuring the level of HIV in the body.

Preventing mother-to-child transmission

AZT approved for prevention of mother-to-child transmission by USA Federal Drug Administration.

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