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French president urges global tax in AIDS fight

    JOHANNESBURG

    French President Jacques Chirac called for an 'experimental' international tax to help tackle HIV/AIDS during his address to the World Economic Forum this week.

    He said the levy, which would be raised on international financial transactions, airline tickets and fuel, could generate at least US $10 billion a year.

    According to Reuters, Chirac said the money would not only help to make medicines available to many more HIV-positive people, but would also finance vaccine research and AIDS prevention campaigns.

    The French president's appeal for a rethink of HIV/AIDS funding comes at a time when the rollout of antiretroviral drugs in the developing world is finally gathering momentum.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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