Heineken uses so-called beer girls to promote the sales of its beer in ten African countries. A number of them are harassed during their work, have to sleep with managers and prostitute themselves to customers. This is documented in a newly published book by the Dutch journalist Olivier van Beemen.

The Global Fund has suspended its partnership with the beer company Heineken. “It is based on recent reports of the company’s use of female beer promoters in ways that expose them to sexual exploitation and health risks”, explains the Fund in a brief press statement.

A new and updated version of the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention was launched during the CND session in Vienna in March. More than anything else this new version reconfirms the conclusions in the first edition of the document.

Norwegian board member, Jon Lomøy, in the Global Fund states that Norway cannot support the recently announced partnership between the Fund and Heineken. The statement follows a joint open letter to the Global Fund urging it to end the Heineken deal.

Concerned over a new partnership between the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and Heineken, three public health networks have recently sent an open joint letter to the Global Fund. They point out the dangers inherent in partnerships with the producers and marketers of hazardous products such as alcohol.

The newly established West African Alcohol Policy Alliance was officially launched with a ceremony in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Professor Isidore Obot welcomed the new branch of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance in his capacity as vice-chair of GAPA: “WAAPA is a strongly needed civil society voice”.