Statement from WNU on UNAIDS Ethics of Clinical trial workshop

Dear all,

From June 5th to 7th, we the members of Womyn's Network for Unity
(WNU)participated in a meeting about ethical guidelines in Pattya,
Thailand. During that meeting, representatives from Cambodia,
Thailand, and India gathered to discuss ethical drug trial
guidelines and to prepare for a presentation in Geneva.

At that time, we asked if we could send a translator to the meeting
in Geneva. They informed us that we could not because they would
prefer to find a translator in Europe. Our concern was to find a
translator who not only spoke Khmer and English but who also
understood the issues related to ethical drug trials. They informed
us that they would send the results of the meeting in Pattya to
their translator.

Today, June 17th, one day before the meeting, we have just received
information that they chose a translator from Family Health
International (FHI).

This poses a major conflict of interest seeing that FHI is funded by
USAID, which supported the unethical drug trials. Please imagine
the problems that will arise: can the translator possibly present
our representative's views? Is it fair that they can choose a
translator who is so obviously in conflict with our needs? We do
not believe they could not find anyone else.

We deserve a fair translator. They insured us that they would find
one and instead they have betrayed that guarantee.

In solidarity,
Secretariat of Womyn's Network for Unity (WNU)


Womyn's Agenda for Change
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