The campaign centres around a declaration that was developed primarily by Pr. Alan Whiteside (Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa); Veronique Collard, Bernard Taverne, and Alice Desclaux from IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, France); and Gorik Ooms of MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières, Belgium).

The developers selected the name “Free by Five” for the declaration as a play on words on the WHO's “3 by 5" goal of seeing ARVs made easily available to 3 million people in developing countries by the end of 2005. The declaration states that payment required for AIDS treatment excludes many patients, heightens people's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and decreases treatment adherence, which may lead to drug resistance.

Advocacy is a core campaign approach. The declaration will be presented to the World Bank, aid donors, WHO, and UNAIDS in an effort to spur a debate that will, it is hoped, lead to a clear commitment from international health institutions and governments to provide free treatment.

HIV/AIDS, Rights, Development Assistance.

The campaign is based on the belief in free HIV testing and hospital treatment, including ARVs, "because it's a complete set. If a bit doesn't work, the whole thing falls apart." According to the campaign, of 5.5 million HIV-positive people worldwide in need of treatment, only about 440,000 have access to it and in Africa, no more than 4% of those living with HIV/AIDS are getting ARV treatment. Click here for more information on the global campaign.