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Opening addresses at the XV International AIDS Conference
HDN Key Correspondent. 12 July 2004. A posting from the Break-The-Silence e-listserve ([email protected]).
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?“Like Durban, Bangkok could be a watershed event,?” Dr Joep Lange, President of the International AIDS Society, told delegates at the Opening Ceremony of the XV International AIDS Conference last night.
The occasion held its fair share of promises, hopes and encouragement. The Thai Minister of Public Health, Ms Sudarat Keyuraphan, reminded delegates that the country had provided free antiretroviral therapy (ARV) since October 2003. She added that this conference would be the first Conference to offer a ?“leadership programme,?” although some sessions had been cancelled for security reasons.
The Thai Prime Minister, Dr Thaksin Shinawatra, went on to further boast of the country?’s progress in stemming the tide of HIV infection through its ?“100% Condom?” campaign. While describing a new national harm-reduction programme, he faced a barrage of placard-wielding demonstrators seated throughout the arena.
From the presentations, it would be easy to presume that real advances have been made, and that a new level of awareness had been reached. There is clear evidence of increased condom use by sex workers ?– from low percentages in the early 1990s, to a steady 95% today. There had also been a dramatic reduction ?– from 30% to 3% ?– in the number of Thai babies infected through transmission of HIV from an infected mother.
But problems still exist. Mr Paisan Sawannawong of the Thai Drug Users Network spoke of the continuing power of social stigma associated with drug use. Over the past few years, more than 50,000 drugs users have been convicted ?– often through confessions forced by police ?– only to face the additional stigma of being an ex-convict. Social isolation drove many to return to drug use. Mr Sawannawong challenged the seriousness of the government?’s commitment to harm reduction. He asked: ?“do they really mean harm reduction, or harm production??”
Stigma and discrimination featured in other ceremony presentations. Many speakers described the importance of holding, hugging or kissing a person infected with HIV. As the Prime Minister stated, people infected with HIV should have the opportunity to be members of society, ?“just like you and me?”.
Another theme that seemed to resonate with delegates was the importance of a gender focus. In a moving address supported by sustained applause, Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, was the only speaker to stress that women are an increasing proportion of people newly infected with HIV. He added that all countries needed to empower women and girls to develop the ability and confidence to negotiate sexual practices safely. He also stressed the importance of challenging men?’s behaviour, attitudes and stereotypes.
In certain aspects, this conference does promise to be as groundbreaking as the Vancouver Conference in 1996. At that conference, delegates questioned the success of medical treatment in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV. In Bangkok, the focus may be on a fresh commitment to address the social and cultural factors that contribute towards HIV. Given the momentum to focus on developing world realities instilled during the Durban conference in 2000, this is a possibility.
The most disappointing aspect of the ceremony was the number of delegates who left during the video about youth, two hours into the event. By the end of the ceremony, probably only a hundred delegates heard the final address.
Given its location in Asia, where in some countries drug use is the main route of HIV transmission, this conference seems set to witness the breakthrough of harm reduction approaches into the mainstream of the HIV/AIDS response. |
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