aidsfocus.ch Conference A FUTURE WITHOUT AIDS - APPROACHING A VISION 11 April 2013, Bern

This year’s conference of aidsfocus.ch will focus on the future and the ways to approach a future without AIDS.

A world without AIDS is feasible. This conviction is shared by many people and organisations in the Global North, South and East as well as multilateral organizations such as UNAIDS and the Global Fund. An end to the AIDS epidemic is in sight, mainly due to better access to drugs that can both treat and prevent HIV. Progress over the past decade has cut the death toll and helped stabilize the number of people infected with HIV.

Today we stand at a historic turning point. But this is no time to relax. In order to work approach the vision of a world without AIDS, it takes the commitment, dedication and cooperation of all: Political decision makers North, East and South, multilateral organizations, NGOs North, East and South, local communities and people living with HIV.

The “New investment framework for the Global HIV response”, developed by international experts from UNAIDS, the Global Fund, WHO and others (2011) provides a frame of reference for the discussion. The framework offers a realistic road map to decisively accelerate progress in the global HIV response. It priories the most effective program activities for prevention and treatment which need to be accompanied by ‘critical enablers’ that make these programs work, such as political commitment, advocacy and community mobilisation, and it build synergies with other development sectors. The framework takes “a human rights approach to the HIV response, to ensure that it is universal, equitable, inclusive, and fosters participation, informed consent and accountability.”

We are looking forward to meet you in Bern. Please register now.

Helena Zweifel Coordinator aidsfocus.ch Executive Director Medicus Mundi Switzerland Network

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

1. 00 Arrival, coffee and tea 9.15 Welcome and introduction
2. 30 A future without AIDS: Approaching a vision

Dr Marjorie Opuni, Senior Advisor, Evidence, Strategy and Results, UNAIDS Farai Mahaso, Coordinator, BHASO (Batanai HIV/AIDS Service Support Group, Zimbabwe (partner of fepa) Sanghamitra Iyengar, Director and Executive Trustee, Samrasksha, India Dr Jochen Ehmer, Head International Program, SolidarMed, Switzerland

1. 00 Lunch
2. 00 World-Café: Sharing of ideas, strategies, experiences
3. 30–16.45 Panel discussion with stakeholders from donor agencies, politics and NGOs from South and North:

Marjori Orpuni (UNAIDS), Gerhard Siegfried (SDC), Farai Mahaso (Batanai), Sanghamitra Iyengar (India), Jochen Ehmer (SolidarMed/ aidsfocus.ch), etc.

Moderation: Dr Kate Molesworth, Steering Committee aidsfocus.ch/ Swiss TPH

Venue: Hotel Kreuz, Zeughausgasse 41, Bern, www.hotelkreuz.ch

Conference fee: Partners of aidsfocus.ch: CHF 70.-. Others: CHF 150.-

Organisation and coordination: Helena Zweifel, aidsfocus.ch/ Medicus Mundi Switzerland, hzweifel@medicusmundi.ch

The conference is financially supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

http://www.aidsfocus.ch

Partner organisations: AIDS & Child, Caritas Switzerland, CO-OPERAID, Déclaration de Berne, FEPA, Fédération Genevoise de Coopération, Gemeinschaft St. Anna-Schwestern, IAMANEH Switzerland, Kindernothilfe Schweiz, Kwa Wazee, medico international Switzerland, mediCuba-Suisse, missio, mission21, SolidarMed, Swiss Aids Care International, Swiss Aids Federation, Swiss Catholic Lenten Fund, Swiss Catholic Women’s League, Swiss MIVA, Swiss Red Cross, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (SwissTPH), Tear Fund, Terre des hommes Foundation, terre des hommes schweiz, and World Vision Switzerland.

http://www.aidsfocus.ch