Platform2 returnee Elaine Wong takes a look back at the International AIDS Conference 2010 and how women are changing the world...

More than 20,000 people from 197 countries attended the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna last month (July 2010). Attendees included politicians, scientists, health workers, the media, and activists, as well as those living with HIV/AIDS.

‘Rights here, right now’ was the theme of the 2010 conference, emphasising the need to promote and protect human rights in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic that affects 33 million people across the globe.

“The discussions can’t happen without young people, we need a seat at the table and NOT making tea and photocopying... we’re not just the leaders of tomorrow, we’re the leaders of TODAY.”

The conference saw daily stirrings from activists from across the globe, who were campaigning on a range of issues, including: governments worldwide scaling back their funding for the care, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS; the call for a Robin Hood Tax on bankers' financial transactions; and the right for women to have access to contraception in order to protect themselves from infection.

The energy was there, expressed by people united in a cause, from the first night to the final speech being delivered. It was evident campaigners, scientists and politicians alike shared the hope and belief that all citizens of this world, regardless of age, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality and medical history, will one day live together in a world free of HIV/AIDS.

Vienna became a constructive place, where everyone was on equal ground and willing to engage in an open dialogue about ways to move forward to a future without HIV/AIDS. It was about people coming together to share their experiences; whether they were from communities in developing countries or high profile attendees such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who delivered a message via video link.

A key focus of the 2010 conference was the rights of women, and it was women leading the way - tackling issues such as the rights of sex workers and educating fellow women about the female condom. They also took to the main stage to inform us of their struggles and the changes they want to see in the world.

'Health centres discriminate against women and young people.'

I spoke to Samafilan in the Global Village, a public area of the conference where everyone was on equal ground. Samafilan, 24 from Nairobi, Kenya, is training to be doctor. She told me of the difficulties she has encountered and the problems with testing for HIV, describing instances where health centres discriminate against women and young people. This can lead to a higher rate of new infections, as people are not aware they are HIV positive and pass on the virus: “Why is that they think young people cannot be affected by AIDS?”

The voice of youth was Rachel Arinii Judhistari, 22, of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS from Indonesia. She spoke about how important it is that young people, and in particular young woman, have a voice during the opening session of the 2010 conference. She informed the audience that she knew full well about the issues that affect young women: rape, human trafficking, forced marriages and violence. Not only has she witnessed it happening to women she knows, but has been a victim herself.

"Vienna became a constructive place, where everyone was on equal ground and willing to engage in an open dialogue about ways to move forward to a future without HIV/AIDS. It was about people coming together to share their experiences."

Youth was on the agenda, as 40% of new HIV/AIDS infections are among young people - a shocking statistic that’s made it a priority for young people need to be included in the discussion. As Rachel put it:
“The discussions can’t happen without young people, we need a seat at the table and NOT making tea and photocopying... we’re not just the leaders of tomorrow, we’re the leaders of TODAY.”

The next International AIDS Conference will take place in 2012 in Washington DC, USA - the home of American politics. This is a milestone in the fight for the human rights of those living with HIV/AIDS; previously people with HIV/AIDS were discriminated against and faced a travel ban against entering the USA. President Obama lifted the ban in January 2010, making the 2012 conference the first one held in the USA in 23 years.

However, in 2010 the UN Millennium Development goal of universal access was not reached and there will be a lot of expectation in 2012 to ensure that we are one giant step closer to reaching this target.

Let's hope that the next two years will see the change that is so desperately needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Words: Elaine Wong
Photos: Samafilan

Video summary from the conference...

AIDS2010 from Pierre Peyrot on Vimeo.

More from the conference...
Read Christian Aid’s HIV mainstreaming coordinator Winnie Ssanyu Sseruma's blog.