With the final meeting of our Week of Action to #FightForWhatCounts in the books, Results Canada is proud to say that we along with our partners have made loud and clear the need for an ambitious investment in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Individuals from across Canada came together virtually and in person (mostly May 30 - June 3) to call on Canada to invest in the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment. The exact amount needed, CAD$1.2 billion, will support the world’s recovery from the devastating impacts that COVID-19 has had on the three longstanding epidemics, plus strengthen health systems to build a healthier, more equitable, pandemic-proof world. Take a look at our latest call-to-action to #FightForWhatCounts for more details on the ask.
The Global Fund is an international partnership, created in an act of global solidarity and leadership, to fight what were then the deadliest pandemics confronting humanity: HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria. Through its innovative partnership between governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector, and people affected by the diseases, it has made tremendous progress towards this goal. Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has saved 44 million lives by supporting a people-centred, localized approach to care.
We are especially thankful that this Week of Action was brought to life by a coalition of diverse advocates with a common goal. We couldn’t have made the impact we did without the efforts of volunteer and staff advocates from these organizations to meet with parliamentarians and put forward our collective ask:
We truly are stronger together. When we raise our voices together, we successfully bring to light what matters to people across Canada as we work toward an equitable global pandemic recovery and preparedness for the future.
To kick off the week, the Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands joined participants virtually to discuss why an ambitious pledge from Canada to the Global Fund matters so much. Having Sands speak with us directly added an extra boost of motivation to fully grasp the meaning behind our collective actions over the week.
From day 1, volunteer and staff advocates stepped up to meet with Members of Parliament (MP) and Senators to drive home the necessity for Canada to be a big part of the Seventh Replenishment. We are impressed at how well we rallied together:
participants in the Week of Action
meetings with parliamentarians (MPs and Senators)
participants representing Results (staff included)
The goal of each meeting was to encourage parliamentarians to support the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment and to sign a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Advocates shared key details about the Global Fund’s work before introducing the letter, which highlights the impact of the Global Fund on fighting existing and future pandemics and asks for Canada to respond to the Seventh Replenishment with an ambitious pledge. We met a good number of supportive parliamentarians during the week and 15 have signed on to the letter as of the time this blog was published! This advocacy is continuing for the rest of our #FightForWhatCounts campaign that extends to the end of July. You can join us by checking if your parliamentarian has signed on at the bottom of the letter. If they haven’t, ask your parliamentarian to sign on!
Another way our volunteer advocates took action over the week was by submitting statements about why they want to see Canada make an ambitious pledge to the Global Fund. To keep the ball rolling after the Week, Results Canada is using these statements on social media to engage parliamentarians in a stunt to support our multi-month #FightForWhatCounts campaign. You can see all the advocates’ powerful perspectives on our Twitter @ResultsCda throughout the coming weeks. We would love it if you followed along and voiced your support with us.
Here’s a taste of what advocates hoped to share with key decision makers:
Results Canada will reach out to volunteers in July ahead of the Montreal AIDS Conference, who will be asked to follow up with their parliamentarian again to reinforce our message for a final advocacy push to secure an ambitious pledge from the Government of Canada for the Global Fund. Even sooner, we will be raising awareness at the Pride Toronto parade on June 26 – come march with us! To keep informed on all of our #FightForWhatCounts advocacy, follow the hashtag: #1Point2Billion.
As one of the goals for the Week of Action to #FightForWhatCounts, May 30-June 3, we want to ensure Members of Parliament (MPs) sign a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, encouraging Canada to continue its support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria (the Global Fund) with an announcement of an investment to its Seventh Replenishment at the International AIDS Conference at the end of July. Learn more about the action.
