Entries by Arlynn Revell

African and international civil society organizations mounted an advocacy campaign in Kampala, Uganda, a few days before the start of the 2010 African Union (AU) Summit. The main objective the campaign, which took place from 19–25 July, was to remind African leaders to keep their promises made in Abuja, Nigeria, at the 2001 AU Summit 2001 and reinforced in 2006. The campaign also urged world leaders to fully fund and replenish the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. At a meeting held early this year in Malawi by African ministers of finance, a proposal was made to drop the Abuja 15% budget commitment, arguing that it was arbitrary. The main issues on the agenda for the 2010 AU Summit are maternal, child and infant mortality; sexual and gender-based violence; and women and children in conflict areas. Continue reading "Campaign Urges AU Summit to Uphold Abuja 15% Pledge"

TrustAfrica provided support for nearly a dozen African civil society figures to attend the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. We asked them to share their thoughts and reflections as the week progresses.

Caroline Bowley, Gender DynamiX, South Africa:

Transgender Networking:
"A networking meeting for transgender people was held at the MSM networking zone in the Global Village. The meeting focused on how transgender people can ensure that their needs will not be overlooked by being included in MSM studies and programs and overshadowed by the focus on MSM. It was agreed that a network of transgender activists and researchers focusing on transgender issues should collaborate to ensure that transgender issues get greater visibility at the 2012 AIDS conference in Washington." Continue reading "AIDS 2010: Reflections from Africans"

News of the ground-breaking research to develop a microbicide in South Africa triggered applause at AIDS 2010, the XVIII International AIDS Conference, which is being held this week in Vienna, Austria. The microbicide reduces the risk of HIV infection by 39%, and up to a maximum of 54%, and provides a window of opportunity for further preventive tools. It is clear that delegates were very pleased—this is what people want to see and hear. Read the press release.

Today Harris and I interviewed Mary Ann Burris, the founding director of the Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH) in Kenya. The organisation was established in 2003 and seeks to understand and use the positive links between health and cultural beliefs, practices, expression and knowledge to improve health. TICAH has adopted its own definitions of heath and culture—culture meaning gender norms, which are very challenging and which can be redefined, and health meaning well-being, safety, respect, equity, intimacy and community and free from disease. The interview was very informative, and today we be interviewing Mary Akoth Elias, a community worker at TICAH. Continue reading "AIDS 2010: Reflections on Day 3"

TrustAfrica provided support for nearly a dozen African civil society figures to attend the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. We asked them to share their thoughts and reflections as the week progresses.

Nombasa Gxuluwe, World AIDS Campaign (WAC), South Africa:

18 July 2010
It was an opening of AIDS 2010 conference. What was outstanding for me was the message of support given by UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon, speeches delivered by young women representing youth and woman living with HIV, and researcher who was presenting on HIV cure. Continue reading "AIDS 2010: Reflections from Africans"

TrustAfrica provided support for nearly a dozen African civil society figures to attend the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. We asked them to share their thoughts and reflections as the week progresses. Here are some of their initial responses:

Allan Maleche, Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS:

"My day was great. I had a chance to present my poster and attend one session on human rights responses. I am looking forward to the march. I will send you more photos tomorrow. I will keep you updated." Continue reading "AIDS 2010: Reflections from Africans"

Today in Vienna, there will be a human rights march, rally and live performance by singer Annie Lennox in connection with the XVIII International AIDS Conference. The March will start at 18h30. The rally will commence at 20h00, followed by a live performance by Annie Lennox.

All conference paraticipants, activists, advocates, people living with HIV and the public are invited to join. Everybody is asked to wear the orange VIENNA AIDS 2010 T-shirt. This forms part of the Human Rights and HIV/AIDS "Now More Than Ever" campaign.

The XVIII International AIDS Conference opened last night in Vienna, Austria. Over the next five days, approximately 25,000 delegates from all over the world will attend the conference and partake in various conference sessions and satellite meetings under the theme “Rights Here, Right Now”.

HIV/AIDS activists and individuals living with HIV and AIDS marched through the Messe Wien conference center, the site of this year's conference. They blocked the entrance to the main hall and staged a mass “die-in”. They intended to delay the opening ceremony to illustrate how governments around the world are slowing and scaling back their commitments toward universal access to HIV care, treatment and prevention. Continue reading "AIDS 2010: The opening ceremony in Vienna "