Mandela: Urgent AIDS action needed
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BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela has urged the international community to take "real and urgent action against AIDS" as a global conference closed in Bangkok.
Calling on world leaders to better fund the fight against AIDS, the elder statesman on Friday told nearly 20,000 delegates that a renewed commitment is needed.
"We know what needs to be done -- all that is missing is the will to do it," Mandela said in a challenge to the delegates on the final day of the 15th International AIDS Conference.
"History will surely judge us harshly if we do not respond with all the energy and resources that we can bring to bear in the fight against HIV/AIDS."
So far the virus has claimed 20 million lives and left another 38 million infected worldwide since 1986, most of them in Africa.
Mandela, who turns 86 Sunday, has long called the battle against AIDS a basic human right.
"There is a special place in my heart for all those that are denied access to their basic human rights," the former South African political prisoner said.
"We urge conference to make the ... changes that are necessary to protect the human rights of those that suffer from unfair discrimination."
In a conference high on activism, the United States came under fire.
Despite being the most generous donor nation, U.S. President George W. Bush's $15-billion dollar emergency AIDS initiative set forth last year was attacked on three fronts.
Critics say Washington should give more to the U.N.-sponsored global fund, which tries to help 128 nations, rather than the 14 nations that the U.S. program targets.
Also critics argued too much emphasis was being put on abstinence rather than condom distribution and sex education.
Fueling the fire, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni linked his country's success to going beyond that very pillar of the Bush plan.
"Abstinence, be faithful to each other, but if you can't, use a condom. It is a graduated process rather than an uni-solution approach," he said.
The third line of attack was directed at treatment methods and emerged when U.S. Global AIDS coordinator Randall Tobias spoke.
French President Jacques Chirac and Britain's International Development Minister Gareth Thomas called on the United States to put resources toward generic, rather than high-priced, name-brand drugs.
But the Bush plan aside, in a conference void of any major medical announcements, the political call to arms became a constant mantra.
"There must be no more sticking heads in the sand. No more embarrassment and no more hiding behind a veil of apathy," U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said.
But in one bit of good news, software magnate Bill Gates' foundation and the European Union announced new grants totaling $102 million.
CNN Correspondent Aneesh Raman contributed to this report
