Ottawa, Canada — For the first time ever, the issue of AIDS in Aboriginal populations will be discussed in the main conference program at next week’s international HIV and AIDS conference in Washington D.C. This is thanks in part to efforts of the Canadian Government and the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, who have worked together to advance this important issue.

“Including Aboriginal-focused sessions in the AIDS Conference program reinforces our commitment to reduce HIV and AIDS in a population where rates are still far too high,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “I want to congratulate conference organizers for taking this important step.”

“The conference provides a strong platform for HIV and AIDS dialogue and will enable global action and discussion on a range of Aboriginal-related issues,” said Ken Clement, CEO, Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network. “We appreciate the Minister’s support and leadership in helping raise awareness of these issues.”

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, applauds the organizers of the XIX International AIDS Conference, being held in Washington D.C. next week (July 22 – 27), for ensuring that Aboriginal-focused issues are more prominently featured in this year’s conference program.

The International AIDS Conference is the leading gathering for those working in the field of HIV and AIDS, bringing together over 20,000 delegates representing scientific research, civil society, community, and government from around the world. It provides the opportunity to focus on major issues facing the global response to HIV, to evaluate new scientific developments and knowledge gaps, and to collectively plan a path forward.

The Government of Canada has been an active player in these conferences since their inception in 1985, and will contribute financially to the International AIDS Society to help support the 2012 conference.

Image Courtesy of  Nikola Bilic / Shutterstock.com

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New York, U.S.A. – New research from six countries found that stop-and-search practices by the police are making sex workers less likely to carry condoms, said the Open Society Foundations.

The report, Criminalizing Condoms, surveyed sex workers in Kenya, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Zimbabwe and found that police practices made it more likely that sex workers would have unprotected sex with their clients.

The law enforcement practices documented in the report fly in the face of government programs aimed at preventing the spread of HIV.

“While one arm of government works to get condoms into people’s hands, another is taking them away,” said Heather Doyle, Director of the Sexual Health and Rights Project at the Open Society Foundations.

More than 40 percent of sex workers surveyed reported that police had taken condoms from them; in Russia, that figure rose to 80 percent. In some locations sex workers reported that police have destroyed condoms with scissors, set them on fire, and even ran over condoms with their vehicles.

These actions have dire consequences for sex workers’ health. In Namibia, 50 percent of sex workers surveyed said police destroyed their condoms and 75 percent of those who then did sex work had unprotected sex. Fifty-two percent of survey participants in the United States said they sometimes opted not to carry condoms because of stop-and-search practices.

Police also use condom possession to justify detaining or arresting people on charges related to sex work. The criminalization of sex work and use of condoms as evidence make sex workers particularly vulnerable to police abuse. The report found that police in all six countries harass and physically and sexually abuse sex workers who carry condoms. Arrest on the grounds of condom possession is used to extort and exploit sex workers.

“Again and again sex workers have told us that they are afraid to carry condoms because they worry it will mean being harassed or arrested by police,” said Doyle. “The police are punishing people for doing the right thing, for carrying condoms and trying to protect their health.”

At the 19th International AIDS Conference, held on July 22-27 in Washington, D.C., the Open Society Foundations, Human Rights Watch, and sex worker rights groups will raise the issue of condom confiscation with delegates and call on health professionals, scientists, and policymakers to support decriminalization of sex work and an end to confiscation of condoms by police.

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A Chinese proverb says: “A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.” The Austrian Gery Keszler took his first step in his fight against AIDS in 1993, by founding the Life Ball for the first time. In those days, public awareness and financial support for AIDS were still in their infancy. Now, 20 years later, Life Ball has become one of the most prominent and biggest AIDS charity events in the world. On May 19th, Life Ball is embracing its 20^th anniversary in Vienna, expecting international guest stars and politicians, such as Milla Jovovich and Bill Clinton.

Life Ball is organized by the non-profit organization AIDS LIFE, whose founders were Gery Keszler and Dr. Torgom Petrosian. Since 1993, the organization has been dedicated to supporting national and international non-profit organizations dealing with AIDS issues, such as the Clinton Foundation. Its chairman, Bill Clinton, is representing the Gala concert “Red Ribbon Celebration Concert – United in Difference” at the Vienna Burgtheater. With the collected funds, Clinton is hoping to reduce the number of HIV-infected babies in Uganda and Sambia.

Auctions, events and speeches are generated at Life Ball every year, hoping to reach a high amount of donations, and moreover, to emphasize social responsibility and raise awareness in the public for those who are affected by AIDS. Life Ball has already become a symbol of acceptance, solidarity and tolerance, and an important voice of and for the affected minority. “HIV and AIDS can affect everybody regardless of gender, age, social status or sexual orientation. This is the reason why it is of the utmost importance to continue fighting the virus.” – Life Ball’s vision and mission

Every year, before the official opening ceremony in front of the Vienna City Hall, the traditional event’s fashion show takes place, making room for famous fashion designers presenting their inspiration from topics of Life Ball. This year, the editor-in-chief of Italian Vogue, Franca Sozzani, will be the patron of “VOGUE Italia hosts the 20th Anniversary Life Ball Fashion Show presented by MINI.” A retrospective fashion show is being expected on the Red Ribbon catwalk in front of the Vienna City Hall, presenting the most remarkable looks from the last two decades.

Last year, Life Ball managed to collect around two million euros for AIDS projects around the world. With its combination of charming Viennese ball tradition and a  modern, extravagant and provocative brand, Life Ball is yet again on its way to realize its mission and vision.

Image Courtesy of   Life Ball

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A newly formed entity, The Business Leadership Council for a Generation Born HIV Free, met here January 9 with a delegation of six United States Senators, the US Ambassador to South Africa, a broad array of leading business executives, and South African Government leadership to highlight recent advances fighting AIDS and to pledge a collective determination to end mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the last day of 2015.

“We need the power of the private sector, working together with governments around the world, to get this done in 48 months,” said John Megrue, CEO of Apax Partners US, and Chairman of the Business Leadership Council, a newly-formed group of business leaders that will be launched during the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month. “It is unacceptable that 360,000 children were born with HIV last year around the world.”

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina led the congressional delegation, and was joined by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Sen. Kay Hagen of North Carolina, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska and Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina.

In South Africa, the efforts are being led by the Government of South Africa with support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and from UNAIDS and from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the world’s leading financing institution dedicated to supporting large-scale prevention, treatment and care for these three diseases, and other partners.

The Global Fund, which has already committed over US$22 billion worldwide, is a unique public-private partnership in global health that has proven highly effective. ”Thanks to strong government leadership, South Africa has made dramatic strides toward ending mother to child transmission of this virus,” said Mr. Megrue.

“In business, we take deadlines seriously, and work to ensure they are achieved,” said Natie Kirsh, CEO of Jetro. “This effort must be no different, and we as business leaders commit to bringing our expertise and resources to the table in this 48 month race.”

Mr. Kirsh was joined by several of South Africa’s most prominent figures and business leaders, including Executive Mayor Alderman Patricia de Lille, Deputy Minister of Health Gwendolyn Ramakgopa, former President F.W. De Klerk, singer-songwriter and HIV/AIDS-activist Annie Lennox, Bridgette Radebe, founder of Mmakau Mining, Andrea Kerzner, Founder of the Lalela Project, Brian Brink, Medical Director ofAnglo American and Christo Wiese, Chairman of Pepkor & Shoprite SA.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/khym54/

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