Fimba is from Burkina Faso. He is representing the Guttmacher Institute's Protecting the Next Generation Project at the conference.

Yesterday I sat in on a session where two of the five presenters really made me think. This "Hot Topics" session is important for me because I am the head of the human rights program for my organization, the African Youth Network for Health and Development in Burkina Faso (RAJS/BF). I really liked the presentation on advocacy to governments to support mother-to-child prevention programs and access to treatment for all, because this is a problem in my country.

In effect, the government in my country, specifically the minister of health, argues with civil society and development organizations over pregnant women's access to mother-to-child prevention programs. Currently, this program exists in 22 of the 45 health districts in Burkina Faso and soon will be at all 45. In Burkina Faso's proposal for the 6th round of the Global Fund, there is an important place reserved for mother-to-child prevention programs. But, there is still the problem of women agreeing to participate in these programs because they don't have the power of decision in the couple. Many women are afraid to participate because they don't know what the reaction of their husbands will be. Also, there is the problem of assumption of responsibility because this program only offers very limited assumption of responsibility. After their pregnancy, HIV-positive women are obligated to find other sources of treatment. The program only takes into account pregnant women and afterwards refers them to other systems. Therefore, this isn't reassuring for the women.

In terms of homosexuals, I was surprised by the fact that in Nepal, the government is very restrictive of their rights. This is very well demonstrated by the examples that Mr. Pang, one of the panelists, gave during his presentations. For example, a young homosexual man was killed by his father, but there was never any trial. Similarly, homosexuals don't have access to HIV/AIDS treatment at the same sites as others. There is therefore a very real discrimination of this population in Nepal.

It must be said that in my country, Burkina Faso, there are also homosexuals (according to a Population Council study), but this is still unofficial. This issue is very sensitive in my country as our culture doesn't allow us to talk about it publicly. Also, the government has not yet taken specific measures or made specific laws concerning this population.

In conclusion, I think the government of Burkina Faso is open to universal access for all without discrimination. This access is made possible by the creation of the "Fund for Solidarity with Orphans and the Ill", which has permitted about 9,000 of 27,000 persons living with HIV in Burkina to register on a treatment waiting list. I am therefore aware, and I think my government is also, that a lot of work remains to be done in this area. I hope that with the help of the international community, NGOS and also actors in the struggle, access to treatment for all will be increased.