ICASO:The International AIDS Conference represents an opportunity for the community sector to take stock of progress in the AIDS response; as a place to network and build agendas for collaboration and advocacy.
In the year in which governments presented, at the UN in New York, their progress in implementing their commitments to the AIDS response, including efforts to reach universal access by 2010, the AIDS2008 Conference is the space for critical analysis. Away from the UN and inter-governmental protocol, honest and frank discussions need to happen to identify what further action is needed.
Universal Action Now is not just a slogan for a conference, but also a call for action by everyone to ensure that universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support becomes a reality by 2010. This includes ensuring that governments stop criminalizing the most marginalized, vulnerable, and at risk populations, such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, and people living with HIV. Without protecting their human rights, these populations will continue to be unable to access to the critical services they need to protect them from HIV and/or maintain good health.
For these reasons, a major part of ICASO’s agenda at AIDS2008 is to work with partners to provide platforms for this critical analysis of the AIDS response and on how the global AIDS architecture, including community representatives, is accountable to the communities living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. (See individual sessions listed below.)
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APCASO Press Release: August 5, 2008: People Living with HIV, health practitioners and social activists from across the globe particpated in an interactive satellite session that highlighted the importance and need for Positive Prevention, while enhancing the sexual and reproductive health of PLHIV. For more, click here ...
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Key AIDS 2008 activities organizaed by ICASO and partners. More ...
In addition, visit the online guide to community involvement in the conference. The guide aims to assists conference goers in getting the most out of the conference and information on community sessions.
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APCASO: Who should lead positive prevention. An invitation to a breakfast datelite discussion. More ...
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APCASO: Legislating HIV Epidemic in Asia Pacific Region: Invitation to an informal and interactive discussion.
More ...
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APCASO: ADVOCACY: Advocacy:
For Strengthened National and Regional Responses to HIV in Asia Pacific
Since 2005 Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations (APCASO) has worked in partnership with ICASO1 and AFAO2 to develop, implement and monitor projects aimed at developing advocacy capacity amongst community- based organizations in a number of Asia Pacific countries. This is to enable community organizations to actively participate in and influence domestic and regional HIV and AIDS related policy and program development, ensuring that they are informed by, and responsive to, issues faced by those most affected by HIV and AIDS. READ MORE IN EN | ESP
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