The 18th IAC hopes to drive home the message that the protection of human rights is a fundamental prerequisite to an effective response to HIV. It follows that this conference represents an opportunity for synergy, for collaboration and for powerful alliances to be formed between sometimes disparate movements.
The 18th IAC hopes to drive home the message that the protection of human rights is a fundamental prerequisite to an effective response to HIV. It follows that this conference represents an opportunity for synergy, for collaboration and for powerful alliances to be formed between sometimes disparate movements.
Why is the 18th IAC important for sex workers?
Human rights and health service NGOs, including sex worker health and rights organizations, have long been saying that the only way to deal with key populations most affected by HIV is to deal with the socio-cultural and institutional factors that make prevention and access to health resources difficult. Policy-makes, government representatives, UN officials, activists, scientists and media present, this is an excellent opportunity not only for sex workers and sex worker health and rights organizations to advocate for a rights-based approach to sex work, which directly affects the success or failure of national AIDS strategies.
How is the conference organized?
The conference has several major parts: the academic or science part, the Global Village and the arts and culture program.
There are usually some sex workers presenting in each part of these programs. The Global Village is an area where there are NGO booths, market-place booths where people sell things, networking zones and a positive lounge where HIV+ people can relax or nap.
This year, the 18th IAC Global Village contains the following items. Check here (http://www.aids2010.org/Default.aspx?pageId=164) for more details:
- Global Village Sessions
- Networking Zones – Sex workers also have their own networking zone thanks to NSWP!
- The Main Stage is a space for live performances of music, dance and theatre.
- The Video and ICT (Information Communication Technology) Lounge.
- The Literary Lounge
- The Youth Pavilion
- NGO and Marketplace Booths
- Art Exhibits
- The Community Dialogue Space
A full schedule of conference sessions is now available through “Programme-at-a-glance” here (http://pag.aids2010.org/ ) and a PDF version can be downloaded here (http://www.aids2010.org/Default.aspx?pageId=280)