Philippe Douste-Blazy (Aid Debate) - Oslo Freedom Forum 2011

Philippe Douste-Blazy--former foreign minister of France, chairman of UNITAID, and UN chief of innovative finance--shares his views on foreign aid in a world of increasing interconnectedness. He begins by clarifying that foreign aid should strive to provide global public goods, not economic assistance for struggling nations. To achieve this goal, innovative fund-raising must sometimes be implemented. As an example, he invokes the plane tax used by UNITAID in the face of the recent economic downturn. The prices of plane tickets in France were increased by an amount inconsequential to the traveler or the state, but the increases alltogether produced sizable revenues for the organization. Douste-Blazy encourages the establishment of similar taxes in other spheres, such as a Financial Transaction Tax. Finally, he brings attention to the need for developed countries to create regulations that work in the interests of the poor as well; in reality, he says, such a system is in the interest of all parties. The UNITAID Medicines Patent Pool is such a measure—it will allow generic producers to receive the license needed to manufacture generic HIV/AIDS medicenes exclusively for use in developing countries. As a result, all people suffering from this disease will be able to receive treatment, and international collaboration will provide a universal public good.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Oslo Freedom Forum
• human rights
• Philippe Douste-Blazy
• foreign aid
• international solidarity
• UNITAID
• HIV
• AIDS
• UNITAID Medicines Patent Pool
• taxes
• tax
• France
• united nations
• innovative finance