Current state of global epidemic and response
among gay men and transgender people focus of full day event
On Saturday, July 21 in Washington, DC, the Global Forum on
MSM & HIV (MSMGF) held the fifth biennial pre-conference to the
International AIDS Conference to assess the current state of the global HIV
epidemic and response among gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and
transgender people. With over 800 delegates from more than 100 countries in
attendance, the pre-conference has become the world’s largest event focused on
the health and human rights of MSM and transgender people.
The pre-conference opened with powerful plenary speeches by the
Honorable Congresswoman Barbara Lee, former High Court Judge Michael Kirby, and
Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral
Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention.
MSM are on average more than 19 times more likely to be infected
with HIV than the general population in low- and middle-income countries,
according to Dr. Fenton. In middle-income countries alone, the rate is more
than 23 times higher.
“We must remember that this is an enemy to the whole human
family,” said the Honorable Michael Kirby, speaking of the HIV epidemic. “And
that it concerns two epidemics: the epidemic of HIV and AIDS, and the epidemic
of prejudice, discrimination, and hostility to sexual minorities in all parts
of our globe.”
Jamaican activist Maurice Tomlinson delivered the first annual
Robert Carr Memorial Lecture, named after the well-respected international AIDS
activist who died one year ago. The Robert Carr Memorial Lecture will be
delivered once biennially to coincide with the International AIDS Conference.
“It is easier to hate a concept than to hate a person,”
Tomlinson said. “We need to start telling our stories. If we don’t, we can be
assured the same stereotypes will continue.”
The plenary sessions also included a live video feed to Kolkata,
India, where the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) is holding its own
pre-conference event, as legal restrictions prevent sex workers from entering
the United States. NSWP’s Kemal Ordek addressed the delegates, emphasizing that
there is still much work to be done to ensure the global AIDS response includes
all key affected populations.
“How can we ‘turn the tide together’ when so many of us are
still unable to participate in events like the International AIDS Conference?”
Ordek asked.
The event featured more than 20 break-out sessions focused on a
wide range of topics concerning the global AIDS response among MSM, including
the latest developments in HIV preventions science, the shifting landscape of
global AIDS funding, and the criminalization of homosexuality. Program content
was determined by an online survey of MSM and transgender advocates and service
providers around the world to identify which topics would be most valuable to
their work.
"The people gathered here represent an unparalleled
collection of knowledge and experience at every level of the HIV response for
gay men and transgender people,” said Dr. George Ayala, Executive Director of
the MSMGF. “We will not miss this opportunity to harness the collected
excellence in this room to drive the global movement for MSM health and human
rights. What is discussed here today will be catalogued in an evolving global
action agenda, helping to guide our response to HIV among these populations in
an informed, inclusive way.”
“The tools are there for us to do it,” said the Honorable
Michael Kirby, referring to ending the dual epidemics of HIV and homophobia.
“But it is a complex and difficult task, and it won’t happen with certainty. We
are not released from our obligation to make a difference.”
The full program of the event is available at: http://www.msmgf.org/files/msmgf//documents/FSTS_2012_Program.pdf.
These issues will be discussed in further detail at a press
conference on Wednesday, July 25th. The press conference, entitled “MSM in the
Global Epidemic: Implications of the Changing Prevention and Treatment
Landscape,” will be taking place at the International AIDS Conference press
center from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM in Press Conference Room 1 (PCR1).
_______________________________________
The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is an expanding network
of AIDS organizations, MSM networks, and advocates committed to ensuring robust
coverage of and equitable access to effective HIV prevention, care, treatment,
and support services tailored to the needs of gay men and other MSM. For more
information, visit www.msmgf.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment