Press ReleasesWorld Aids Day Statement from Joanne Carter, Executive Director of RESULTS/RESULTS Educational FundPresident Obama made a significant commitment to dramatically increase anti-retroviral treatment through U.S. programs by 2013. This is a crucial step towards ending AIDS. Read RESULTS Educational Fund Executive Director Joanne Carter’s statement on what this new target means for an “AIDS free generation” and why it is equally important to fully fund the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. REF Executive Director Joanne Carter Responds to Financial Crisis at the Global FundNovember 23, 2011 — As a consequence of unfulfilled commitments from donor governments, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is facing a massive financial crisis. In response, at the Global Fund’s 25th meeting of the Board on November 20, the Board cancelled all plans for new grant-making effective immediately until 2014. The Board also announced that it does not have enough funding to support some recently approved grants. The Global Fund is the largest international funder for tuberculosis and malaria programs, and the second-largest international funder for HIV/AIDS programs, providing life-saving services to millions of people around the world.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed wins world’s largest education prize in QatarIn recognition of his outstanding work in the field of education, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of BRAC, has won the $500,000 WISE Prize for Education in Doha, Qatar. The Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, awarded the prize to Abed, who in 1972 founded what has gone on to become the world’s largest development organization. Vaccines Against Major Diseases to Reach 37 More CountriesThe GAVI Alliance today announced it will provide funding for 16 more developing countries to introduce rotavirus vaccines and 18 more countries to introduce pneumococcal vaccines — a major step towards protecting children against severe diarrhoea and pneumonia — the two leading child killers. Millions of girls in poor countries have only a 50/50 chance of finishing primary educationNew report highlights countries failing to get female children into school Millions of girls are being forced out of school because of poverty, the threat of sexual violence and poor-quality schools — despite improved enrolment rates, according to a new report released today by the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and RESULTS. The report calls for governments and international financial institutions to redress the balance and give girls a fair deal. In the last decade more girls have been able to start school but they remain more likely than boys to be forced out again. In some parts of the world only one girl in ten will complete primary school. RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter Makes Statement In Response to Historic GAVI U.S. PledgeJoanne Carter, executive director of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund, released the following statement in response to the announcement that the United States will commit $450 million over the next three years to the GAVI Alliance: Film Chronicling Poverty and Efforts to Provide Credit to America’s Unbanked Opens TodayRESULTS groups in 35 cities and towns across the United States are hosting events for the release of Gayle Ferraro’s historic documentary To Catch A Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America. The film, which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, chronicles the inspiring, logic-defying, yet true story of RESULTS Board Member Muhammad Yunus’ idea to bring his model of microlending to the United States and depicts the millions of lives it has changed in the process. Groundbreaking Film on Efforts to Provide Credit to America’s Unbanked Screening in 250 CitiesRESULTS chapters in over 25 communities across the country are helping to host local screenings of the Sundance documentary To Catch a Dollar: Muhammad Yunus Banks on America on March 31. The film chronicles the inspiring, logic-defying, yet true story of RESULTS Board member Yunus’ idea to bring his model of microlending to the United States and depicts the millions of lives it has changed in the process. Along with partners like Operation Hope and Dress for Success, and more traditional microcredit networks like the Association for Enterprise Opportunity and Grameen America, RESULTS is bringing attention to the struggles of those living in poverty in America and highlighting innovative asset-building policies that can break the cycle of poverty. Congress Expresses Support for Yunus, Concern for Independence of Grameen BankWashington, DC (March 15, 2011) — Congressional leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives expressed concern over efforts by the government of Bangladesh to oust Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus from his position as managing director of Grameen Bank. Today the Bangladeshi Supreme Court opted for a two week delay on a decision whether to hear Professor Yunus’ appeal of the government’s action to remove him. Standing with Muhammad Yunus and Grameen BankToday the leadership of RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund and the Microcredit Summit Campaign expressed concern and alarm over reports that the government of Bangladesh had forced Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus to step down as managing director of Grameen Bank. Prof. Yunus has vowed to stay on as managing director, noting that only the board of Grameen Bank is empowered to remove him. Global Fund Replenishment Meeting Ends with Massive Funding Shortfall; Lives Hang in the BalanceAt the conclusion replenishment meeting of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today in New York, donors fell far short of investing the $20 billion needed to fully fund the fight against the three pandemics. Instead of the doubling of funding commitments needed to accelerate HIV, TB and malaria program scal-up, countries announced initial increases averaging approximately 25 percent — or, in the case of some donors, did not pledge at all. This shortfall, unless corrected, will mean that the Global Fund will have to reject high quality country proposals, and dramatically slow down the pace of scaling up. World Bank Corrects Course with $750 Million to EducationOn the heels of RESULTS Educational Fund’s latest report, World Bank Financing for Education: Less or More for the Poor in IDA 16?, the World Bank today announced $750 million in additional investments in education. While a definite step in the right direction, we’re still pushing for these funds to be frontloaded — spent over the next three years as opposed to five — and also given as grants rather than loans. The announcement was made during an event at the Millennium Development Goal Summit in New York City, where it is hoped that other donors will follow suit and increase their investments toward achieving universal primary education by 2015. Dr. Joanne Carter, executive director of RESULTS, testifies before House Foreign Affairs CommitteeWashington (March 11, 2010) — Dr. Joanne Carter, executive director of RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund, made the following statement before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health about the need to increase Global AIDS funding over President Obama’s budget request. Mary Robinson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Professor Muhammad Yunus Call on Leaders of G8 CountriesWASHINGTON, DC (June 30, 2009) — In an open letter sent today to the leaders of all G8 countries, Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town; Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland; and Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, called on G8 heads of state to renew their commitment to the world’s children. The authors of the letter specifically asked the leaders to announce an agreement on the creation of a Global Fund for Education (GFE) at the G8 Summit, which will be held July 8–10 in L’Aquila, Italy. Evaluation Shows World Bank Is Failing on HealthWashington, DC (May 6, 2009) — The Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank today released a report on the last decade of the Bank's programming on health, nutrition, and population that shows a vast majority of the Bank's health programs in Africa are failing to deliver. RESULTS Commends Reauthorization of Children’s Health BillWashington, DC (February 4, 2009) — RESULTS Educational Fund today commended the United States Congress and President Barack Obama for reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): legislation that provides healthcare for millions of the nation's uninsured children. More Than 100 Million of World’s Poorest Benefit from MicrocreditNew York, NY (January 26, 2009) — More than 106 million of the world’s poorest families received a microloan in 2007, surpassing a goal set ten years earlier, according to a report released today by the Microcredit Summit Campaign. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus Makes Major Announcement about Microcredit Summit GoalWashington, DC (January 12, 2009) — Media Advisory: On January 26, 2009, the Microcredit Summit Campaign will release the State of the Microcredit Summit Campaign Report 2009, with a major announcement. Presidential candidates pledge to fight tuberculosisWashington, DC (October 7, 2008) — Both major presidential candidates issued statements last week pledging to fight tuberculosis globally by funding treatment and prevention efforts. Presidential candidates urged to tackle global TBWashington, DC (October 3, 2008) — Global health experts and activists have joined together to call on the next U.S. president to develop a global initiative to fight tuberculosis (TB). Clinton Global Initiative Highlights RESULTS/REF Commitment on Universal Basic EducationWashington, DC (September 26, 2008) — The RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund (REF) is very pleased to announce the selection of our Accelerating Universal Basic Education commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Presidential candidates call for new efforts to fight global povertyWashington, DC (September 25, 2008) — Both major presidential candidates voiced their support for development initiatives critical to tackling poverty worldwide in their separate addresses to the Clinton Global Initiative. Press Briefing Via Conference Call on Adapting U.S. Foreign Policy to Meet Global Poverty GoalsWashington, DC (September 17, 2008) — Media Advisory: On September 25, world leaders will gather at the United Nations for a high-level event convened by the Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly to re-commit to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. U.S. Census: More Americans Below Poverty Line in 2007 Than in 2001Washington, DC (August 26, 2008) — The latest data released by the Census Bureau today show that more Americans are likely to be living in poverty in 2007 than they were at the bottom of the last recession in 2001. People Living with HIV Not Being Tested for TuberculosisWashington, DC (August 7, 2008) — A mere 1 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are reported to have been screened for TB, according to the most recent global data available from the World Health Organization. President to Sign Historic Global Health BillWashington, DC (July 30, 2008) — President George Bush today will sign into law an historic measure to fight global disease. New Study Reveals Link Between IMF Loans and Increased TB RatesWashington, DC (July 21, 2008) — A new study conducted by researchers at Cambridge and Yale Universities shows that tuberculosis incidence and mortality rates in Eastern European and former Soviet countries rose significantly after countries accepted loans from the International Monetary Fund, and dropped after those programs were discontinued. RESULTS Applauds Senate Passage of Historic Global Health BillWashington, DC (July 17, 2008) — Last evening the Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve an historic global health bill, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008. U.S. AIDS program is transforming the world; now is not the time to pull backPEPFAR Op-Ed by Joanne Carter Bush, Other G8 Leaders Poised to Break AIDS and Health PromisesWashington, DC (July 2, 2008) — One week before the start of the G8 summit in Hokkaido, Japan, a leaked copy of the latest version of the G8 communiqué contains no reference to the G8's 2010 deadline for reaching universal access to AIDS treatment, prevention and care — a dramatic step backwards according to U.S. advocacy organizations. U.S. leadership on AIDS, TB and malaria at stake as impasse continues on landmark billWashington, DC (July 1, 2008) — The Senate's failure to pass legislation to continue the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is a great disappointment for a world struggling to thwart these diseases, said RESULTS, a citizens lobby focused on global health and poverty. Presidential Hopefuls Add Support To Landmark Global AIDS BillWashington, DC (June 20, 2008) — In the last few days, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain both added their names to the U.S. Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (S. 2731). Crucial AIDS and Global Health Legislation Stalled in SenateWashington, DC (June 17, 2008) — Press Briefing via Conference Call June 18, 1:00 pm ET Leaders and Activists Call for Action to Stop Global TBWashington, DC (June 12, 2008) — In the first major meeting of its kind, world leaders and global health activists came together on June 9 at the UN headquarters in New York to spur action on the increasingly dangerous connection between the global tuberculosis and the HIV/AIDS pandemics. Open Letter to the Governments of the WorldAs leaders gather in New York for the Global Leaders Forum on TB/HIV, we write as civil society groups, advocates, researchers, and groups of people living with TB and HIV from 65 countries around the world to demand concrete action on TB and HIV. Press Briefing Via Conference Call on Breakthrough UN Forum on Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDSWashington, DC (June 2, 2008) — On June 9, world leaders and members of the global health community will meet for the first time at the United Nations for a Global Leaders Forum on both TB and HIV/AIDS. Gordon Brown, Robert Zoellick, Shakira to Kick Off Global Campaign for Education Action WeekWashington, DC (April 15, 2008) — On April 21, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, and Grammy award-winning artist Shakira will participate in a media conference call to kick off the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) Action Week that will take place April 21-27, 2008. Stopping TB: Everyone’s ResponsibilityMarch 24, 2008 — TB Op-ed by Patient-Activist Rachel C. Orduno Stalled Progress on TB Worldwide Calls for Urgent ActionWashington, DC (March 18, 2008) — The WHO’s annual report, Global Tuberculosis Control 2008, reports that although progress is being made in detecting and treating tuberculosis, the level of progress has slowed or stalled in high-burden countries, and the absolute number of deaths has risen. Press Briefing/Conference Call on State of Global Tuberculosis Epidemic in Advance of World TB DayWashington, DC (March 11, 2008) — On March 17, the World Health Organization will release its annual report with the latest data on the global tuberculosis epidemic, in advance of World TB Day (March 24). New Global Drug-Resistant TB Data Demand Action from CongressWashington, DC (February 27, 2008) — A new survey of global drug-resistant tuberculosis, Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World, strengthens the case for a major new U.S. initiative on global tuberculosis control. Press Briefing/Conference Call on New Data on Global Threat of Drug-Resistant TB with WHO ExpertsWashington, DC (February 25, 2008) — On February 26, the World Health Organization will release a new surveillance report on drug-resistant tuberculosis titled "Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World." RESULTS Mourns the Passing of Rep. Tom LantosWashington, DC (February 14, 2008) — It is with great sadness that RESULTS learned of the passing of Representative Tom Lantos of California. Members of Congress Call on World Bank to Support Microfinance for the Very PoorWashington, DC (February 8, 2008) — Thirty senators have signed on to a letter to World Bank President Robert Zoellick urging him to ensure that the Bank invests more in microfinance and, most important, ensures that at least half of all microfinance resources benefit the very poor. President Bush Proposes Flat Funding for Global AIDS InitiativeWashington, DC (January 28, 2008) — In his final State of the Union address, President Bush missed an opportunity to secure his legacy on fighting HIV/AIDS, instead proposing flat funding for his signature global AIDS initiative. Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Helps Local Activists Launch 2008 Campaign Against Global PovertyWashington, DC (January 8, 2008) — 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus will speak with volunteers of RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund (REF), a nationwide grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty worldwide and here at home, on the first of the organization's monthly national grassroots conference calls of the year, this Saturday, January 12. |