2. United Nations
founded in 1945, after World War II
intergovernmental organization that
functions to maintain international peace
and security, protect human rights, deliver
humanitarian aid, promote sustainable
development, and uphold international law
3. United Nations
6 principal organs:
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council
4. Trusteeship Council
5. International Court of Justice
6. UN Secretariat
UN system agencies include:
1. World Bank Group
2. World Health Organization
3. World Food Programme
4. UNESCO
5. UNICEF
6. UN Development Group
consortium of 32 UN agencies and groups, including
UNAIDS
4. UNAIDSJoint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS; founded 1996
Goal
- support an expanded response to HIV/AIDS
- advocacy, information, monitoring, engagement, and resources
Partnerships
- government + civil society + private sector
- IAS
5. IASInternational AIDS Society; founded 1988
members include:
- researchers from all disciplines
- clinicians
- public health and community practitioners
on the frontlines of the epidemic
- policy makers
- programme implementers
organizes two events (w/ UNAIDS):
- International AIDS
Conference
- IAS Conference on HIV
Science
association of HIV professionals working at all levels of the global HIV response
- 11,035 members from more than 160 countries
7. International AIDS Conference 2018 (AIDS 2018)
• Biannual
• Largest conference on any global health issue in the world
• Organized by UNAIDS and the IAS
• Forum for the intersection of science, advocacy, and human rights.
• Hosted in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 23-27 July
• Theme: “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges”
8. International AIDS Conference Highlights
- New evidence shows
far-reaching impact
of expanded US
“global gag rule”
- 20 of the world’s
leading researchers
say scientific evidence
does not support HIV
criminalization laws
9. The international AIDS Conference
& How it relates to The Pediatric AIDS Coalition
Global leaders open AIDS 2018 with a focus on people left behind:
“We need to talk about HIV and AIDS the way we talk about any other
illness in order to end the cruel stigma and discrimination that comes with
this specific disease.”
10. “It always seems impossible
until it is done.”
~Nelson Mandela
10
Objective of this presentation: To understand what the AIDS Conference is, and who plans it.
1. New evidence shows far-reaching impact of expanded US “global gag rule”
Officially called the “Mexico City Policy”
First put in place by President Ronald Reagan, reinstated by President Donald Trump in 2017
The policy denies US aid to organizations that provide information, referrals or services related to legal abortion or advocate for abortion, even with their own money.
Past iterations of the policy applied solely to US family planning assistance.
Now, under the Trump Administration, it applies to almost all US global health bilateral assistance, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
This makes it harder for people to access healthcare, meaning that there is less integration of sexual and reproductive health and HIV services.
Impacts: THIS MEANS that its likely that integrated sexual and reproductive health/HIV services will no longer be offered. i.e.Regression of progress (Seen in studies in both Zimbabwe and Ethiopia)
NOTE: There is an exception to US policy when local laws affirmatively require healthcare providers to provide counselling and referrals for abortion. This compels healthcare providers, including PEPFAR partners
Context
At least 68 countries criminalize HIV non-disclosure, exposure or transmission
33 countries have applied criminal law provisions in similar cases
In many cases, these laws exacerbate the spread of HIV by driving people living with/at risk of infection into hiding from treatment services
Issued by an Expert Consensus Statement: Nobel Laureates, Columbia University, John Hopkins etc.
Notable findings
There is no possibility of HIV transmission via contact with the saliva of an HIV-positive person, including through kissing, biting or spitting.
The risk of transmission from a single act of unprotected sex is very low, and there is no possibility of HIV transmission during vaginal or anal sex when the
HIV-positive partner has an undetectable viral load. It is not possible to establish proof of HIV transmission from one individual to another, even with the most advanced scientific tools.
These laws also ignore advances of modern medicine.
Though 21.7 million are on treatment, an IAS Commission report stated: the HIV epidemic is not on track to end by 2030
Young women in particular remain at risk of HIV. Four in 10 adolescent girls in Africa have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner, which increases the likelihood of acquiring HIV.
This statistic ignores a lot of nuances, i.e. Africa is an entire continent made of 54 countries
Imperialism throughout Africa has shaped a lot of this problem, both the fact that Africa is viewed as homogenous by Western peoples and that there is a disproportionate lack of access to healthcare compared to Western countries.
PAC provides non-restricted funds to EGPAF, meaning that the money can go where it’s needed, and might not be funded otherwise. Also, a lot of our funds go to services in Sub-Saharan Africa
“We all want to live in a world of inclusive and healthy societies. But, in reality, our world is struggling with growing inequalities and intolerance for diversity. As Nelson Mandela said, it always seems impossible until it is done. The AIDS movement—in all its diversity—knows this. We have defied our critics over and over. We have shown compassion for the most vulnerable among us. We have embraced innovation. As a result, many countries have made huge gains. So, let us not be distracted from our urgency. Because we all know that our work is not done. AIDS is not over.”
Many politicians fear providing support and credibility to civil society organizations that might then build upon their success to question and challenge development failures; and the threat perceived by national and international bureaucrats to their own assumed expertise and solutions to the pandemic.
In some cases, civil society organizations have been co-opted to fill gaps that governments themselves can not or will not address
The AIDS Conference is about interaction of more grassroots or NGO operations and policy.
