On the opening day of the Global Summit on Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines (GSIPA2M) in Marrakech, the room fell silent for a deeply moving tribute to one of the most respected figures in the fight for health justice in Morocco: Professor Hakima Himmich.
With emotion palpable in the air, Moroccan journalist Amine Boushaba opened the tribute by recalling his personal journey as an activist mentored by Professor Himmich. “We are not only celebrating a remarkable figure,” he said. “We are honoring a life guided by extraordinary courage, a radical love for justice, and unwavering commitment to human dignity.”
The tribute continued with heartfelt interventions from Othoman Mellouk and Nadia Rafif, Senior Leads at ITPC Global, and young Moroccan activist Othmane Marrakchi from ITPC-MENA. Each spoke to a different facet of Professor Himmich’s impact—as a fearless voice against repression, a pioneer in HIV care, a visionary who understood the lethal consequences of intellectual property rules long before it was mainstream, and a compassionate mentor to generations of activists.
Professor Himmich, an infectious disease specialist and founder of ALCS (the first HIV association in the Arab world), has played a defining role in the national, regional and global movement for access to HIV treatment. Her personal lecture, titled “Remembering to Resist”, offered a rare and powerful reflection on decades of struggle—from the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic in Morocco to battles against trade agreements that prioritized patents over lives.
In her speech, she recounted the pain of seeing her patients die without access to treatment, the early grassroots campaigns for antiretroviral therapy, and the groundbreaking efforts to eliminate taxes on HIV medicines in Morocco. She spoke of the coalitions built across sectors—from health to culture—to resist harmful trade deals, and the international mobilization that ultimately led to free treatment for all people living with HIV in Morocco, including migrants.
But beyond the policy wins and strategic victories, what resonated most was the profound humanity of her words. “Hakima’s love,” said Rafif, “is a political act. An act of resistance.”
Professor Himmich concluded her address with a passionate call to the next generation:
“Do not let anyone tell you that you are too young, too idealistic, or too radical. Stay angry. Stay hopeful. Stay true to what outrages you. That is what will guide you.”
The standing ovation that followed was not just an acknowledgment of a lifetime of achievements, but a collective promise to carry forward her legacy.
At ITPC Global and Make Medicines Affordable Campaign, we are proud to count Professor Hakima Himmich among our fiercest allies and inspirations. Her life’s work embodies everything we believe in: that access to treatment is a matter of justice, and that resistance is not only possible—but necessary.
