Leading scientists, community leaders and policy makers to come together to discuss challenges and new developments at the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in Washington, D.C.
Conference Theme, Turning the Tide Together, highlights the importance of collective and decisive action to change the course of HIV
27 January 2012 (Washington, D.C., - United States) - Organizers of
the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012)- to be held in Washington, D.C.,
Unites States from 22 to 27 July 2012 - today announced 15 major plenary presentations, focusing on the primary issues facing the global
response to HIV and AIDS. Plenary speakers will open each day of the conference, which is expected to convene more than 20,000 participants
from over 200 countries.
More than 25,000 participants and 2,000 journalists from approximately 200 countries are expected to convene at the conference,
which is predicted to be a landmark event in the history of HIV and AIDS both in the United States and globally.
Years of advocacy to end the nation's entry restrictions on people living with HIV (PLHIV) allowed the conference to return to the
United States after 22 years of absence. This return represents a huge success for human rights and will have a positive impact on
the response to HIV and AIDS both at a national and international level. The conference will also highlight the state of the
epidemic in the United States, with a focus on Washington, D.C., where the impact of the disease is particularly high (in
Washington, D.C., an estimated 3% of the population is living with HIV versus a U.S. percentage of 0.35%) especially
within the African-American and other minority communities.
The theme of AIDS 2012, Turning the Tide Together, has been selected to emphasize how a global and decisive commitment is crucial to
change the course of the epidemic now that science is presenting promising results in HIV treatment and biomedical prevention.
"In the last few years various trials, including HPTN 052, TDF2, Partners PrEP, and iPrEx have demonstrated with solid evidence the
efficacy of treatment as prevention, while other studies are currently investigating the possibility of a cure for HIV," said Elly
Katabira, International Chair of AIDS 2012 and President of the International AIDS Society (IAS). "Thanks to these scientific
advances, for the first time we have a real opportunity to put a major dent on the epidemic".
"AIDS 2012 represents a unique occasion to mobilize policy makers, governments, NGOs, scientists, people living with HIV and civil
society to join forces," said AIDS 2012 US Co-Chair Dr. Diane Havlir. "Even though we are currently going through a global
turbulent economic climate we cannot miss this historic moment, and it is vital to continue to attract funding and promote
programmes based on effectiveness and efficiency in order to optimize the use of resources".
Conference Programme
The following plenary themes and topics will set the tone for the conference programme (presentation titles are subject to change).
Monday, 23 July: Ending the Epidemic: Turning the Tide
Ending the HIV Epidemic: From Scientific Advances to Public Health Implementation
Anthony S. Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), United States
The US Epidemic
Phill Wilson, Black AIDS Institute, United States
Turning the Tide in Affected Countries: Leadership, Accountability and Targets
Sheila Tlou, UNAIDS
Tuesday, 24 July: Challenges and Solutions
Viral Eradication - the Cure Agenda
Javier Martinez-Picado, AIDS Research Institute - IrsiCaixa, University Hospital "Germans Trias i Pujol", Spain
Implementation Science: Making the New Prevention Revolution Real
Nelly Mugo, University of Nairobi and Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
What Will It Take to Turn the Tide?
Bernhard Schwartländer, UNAIDS
Wednesday, 25 July: Turning the Tide on Transmission
Vaccines
Bart Haynes, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, United States
Turning the Tide for Women and Girls
Geeta Rao Gupta, UNICEF
Turning the Tide for Children and Youth
Chewe Luo, UNICEF
Thursday, 26 July: Dynamics of the Epidemic in Context
Turning the Tide for MSM and HIV
Paul Semugoma, Global Forum on MSM and HIV, Uganda
The Tide Cannot Be Turned without Us: HIV Epidemics amongst Key Affected Populations (Public Health, Human Rights and Harm Reduction)
Cheryl Overs, Monash University, Australia
Expanding Testing and Treatment
Gottfried Hirnschall, WHO
Friday, 27 July: HIV in the Larger Global Health Context
TB and HIV - Science and Implementation to Turn the Tide on TB
Anthony Harries, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, France
Intersection of Non-Communicable Diseases and Ageing in HIV
Judith Currier, University of California, Los Angeles, United States
Optimization, Effectiveness and Efficiency of Service Delivery - Integration of HIV and Health Services
Yogan Pillay, National Department of Health, South Africa
Other Sessions to Highlight Key Topics
The selected plenary topics and speakers will set the tone for a wide range of other sessions organized around three
components: Science, Community, and Leadership and Accountability. The full programme is now under development, including
the selection of scientific abstracts from and selection of workshops and other programme activities. Full programme
details will be available on the conference website, www.aids2012.org in
the coming weeks, with the full programme, including all confirmed speakers, available in June.
Programme Activities for Delegates and the General Public
AIDS 2012 will feature a variety of activities, including many planned by and for young people as part of the official Youth
Programme. Open with free admission to general public and conference delegates, the AIDS 2012 Global Village will be a space for
community to meet, share lesson learned and build coalitions. It is also a space that invites conference participants to see
how science translates into community action and intervention.
About AIDS 2012
The International AIDS Conference is the largest gathering of professionals working in the field of HIV, including people living
with HIV and other leaders in the HIV response. It plays a fundamental role in shaping the global response to HIV and in keeping
HIV and AIDS on the international political agenda.
Conference Organization
AIDS 2012 is convened by the International AIDS Society and the conference's international partners: the Global Network of People Living
with HIV (GNP+); the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO); the International Community of Women with HIV/AIDS (ICW)
and the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS): the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC); Sidaction.
The U.S.-based Black AIDS Institute; the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH); the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA)
of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA); the National Institutes of Health (NIH); the Office of National AIDS Policy
(ONAP) at the White House; and the U.S. Positive Women's Network (USPWN) are serving as local partners.
AIDS 2012: Join the conversation
Get the latest conference updates and share your thoughts and ideas through the Conference Facebook and Twitter. We are
tweeting - @aids2012 - and hope many of you will tweet along with us, using #AIDS2012 to keep the conversation going. Become a
fan of AIDS 2012 on Facebook and stay in touch with the latest conference updates and developments. Please
visit www.facebook.com/aids2012 to become a fan. If
your group or organization is participating in AIDS 2012, we welcome posts of photos and videos of
your work on this page. Tell us why you are coming to Washington and what you hope to gain from AIDS 2012.
About the IAS
The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's leading independent association of HIV professionals, with over
16,000 members from more than 196 countries working at all levels of the global response to AIDS. Our members include
researchers from all disciplines, clinicians, public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the
epidemic, as well as policy and programme planners. The IAS is the custodian of the biennial International
AIDS Conference and lead organizer of the IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention,
which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 30 June- 3 July 2013.www.iasociety.org | www.ias2013.org
About AIDS 2012
The International AIDS Conference is the largest gathering of professionals working in the field of HIV, including people living with
HIV and other leaders in the HIV response. It plays a fundamental role in shaping the global response to HIV and in keeping HIV and
AIDS on the international political agenda.
Conference Organization
AIDS 2012 is convened by the International AIDS Society and the conference's permanent partners are the Global Network of People Living
with HIV (GNP+); the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO); the International Community of Women with HIV/AIDS (ICW)
and the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The U.S.-based Black AIDS Institute; the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH); the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) of the
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA); the National Institutes of Health (NIH); the Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP) at
the White House; and the U.S. Positive Women's Network (USPWN) are serving as local partners.
AIDS 2012: Join the conversation
Get the latest conference updates and share your thoughts and ideas through the Conference Facebook and Twitter. We are
tweeting - @aids2012 - and hope many of you will tweet along with us, using #AIDS2012
to keep the conversation going. Become a fan of AIDS 2012 on Facebook and stay in touch with the latest conference
updates and developments. Please visit www.facebook.com/aids2012 to
become a fan. If your group or organization is participating in AIDS 2012, we welcome posts of photos and videos of your work on
this page. Tell us why you are coming to Washington and what you hope to gain from AIDS 2012.
About the IAS
The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's leading independent association of HIV professionals, with over 16,000 members from
more than 196 countries working at all levels of the global response to AIDS. Our members include researchers from all disciplines,
clinicians, public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic, as well as policy and programme
planners. The IAS is the custodian of the biennial International AIDS Conference and lead organizer of the IAS
Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from
30 June- 3 July 2013. www.iasociety.org | www.ias2011.org
For more information about this release:
Adina Ellis (Washington, D.C.)
U.S. Communications and Public Affairs
Email: adina.ellis@aids2012.org
Tel: +1 (202) 442-8391
Sian Bowen (Geneva, Switzerland)&
Senior Manager, AIDS 2012 Senior Communications Manager
Email: Sian.Bowen@iasociety.org
Tel: +41 22 710 0864
Lindsey Rodger (Geneva, Switzerland)
AIDS 2012 Communications and Media Officer
Email: Lindsey.Rodger@iasociety.org
Tel: +41 22 710 0822
"Reproduced with permission - International AIDS Society"
International AIDS Society
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