300 Leaders Living with HIV Gather for Change at LIVING 2016: Positive Leadership Summit
Largest Conference For and By People Living with HIV in Two Decades takes Place in Durban Ahead of International AIDS Conference
July 14, 2016 - “This gathering of people living with HIV is crucial to realize the ambitious goals of the international community,” says Jaime Luna, International Co-chair of LIVING 2016 and a Panamese national. “The HIV-epidemic is far from over. Less than half of people living with HIV are accessing treatment, incidence is rising in some regions and groups, adolescents are dying of AIDS faster than adults, and we continue to face serious human rights violations.”
People living with HIV from 78 countries – Argentina to Zimbabwe - are arriving in Durban to participate in the LIVING Summit. They come from all age groups and identities: some are transgender people, others are sex workers and people who use drugs, some are men who have sex with men, and many have children.
“We know the strength of unity in diversity. A strong movement of people living with HIV is essential for ensuring strong HIV responses. We have the knowledge and first-hand experience to ensure responses are grounded in the different realities of HIV-positive people,” says Prudence Mabele, Local Co-Chair and director of the South African Positive Women's Network.
LIVING 2016 is occurring at a critical juncture, with actions being laid out to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Already in 2020, UNAIDS want 90% of the people to know their HIV status, with 90% on treatment and 90% of them having an undetectable viral load. WHO guidelines recommend all people with HIV to start treatment as soon as possible, and people at higher risk of getting HIV should use HIV medication to avoid contracting it.
At the Summit, LIVING leaders will discuss how, despite these welcome changes, success will be out of reach if health systems remain weak, there is no end to rights violations and criminalisation that drives people away from services, and funding doesn't increase. The Leaders will also provide answers. LIVING 2016 sessions are designed to produce positions and actions to take forward so people living with HIV not only have a say in the HIV response, but continue to take charge.
About LIVING 2016
Since 1986, the international conferences of people living with HIV have been a core means for people living with HIV to build their movement and develop a collective advocacy agenda. The Positive Leadership Summit takes place every four years as a two-day pre-conference to the International AIDS Conference.
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Media contact
For media inquiries and to set up interviews please contact Martin Stolk of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) at mstolk@gnpplus.net and at +31-6-19912406 (phone, text and whatsapp).
Journalists living with HIV are welcome to cover LIVING 2016 on both days. Others are welcome during the plenaries. For the programme schedule, please visit the website of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+).
LIVING 2016 outcomes will be shared on an ongoing basis at the GNP+ Networking Zone at the AIDS2016 Global Village and at the Satellite session: What People Living with HIV Want on Thursday 21 July, at 7:00 am in Session Room 3. You can RSVP at http://bit.ly/29NSjs
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The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) is the global network for and by people living with HIV.
GNP+ advocates to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV. Driven by the needs of people living with HIV worldwide, GNP+
supports people living with HIV through their organisations and networks. GNP+ works to ensure equitable access to health and social
services, by focusing on social justice, rights and more meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in programme and policy
development - the GIPA principle. www.gnpplus.net
"Reproduced with permission - Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)"
Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)
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