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The conference is organized by the Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa (RAISA), a programme of Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), a UK-based international development organization. VSO, which works in 40 developing countries, developed RAISA for Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe in view of their high HIV prevalence rates and the harsh impact of the epidemic on society.
The rejection of people living with HIV – by their families, communities and colleagues -- is a barrier to effective anti-AIDS responses.
“Fear of discrimination prevents people from getting tested for HIV, seeking treatment and accepting and disclosing their HIV+ status,” said Bongai Mundeta, VSO-RAISA Regional director. “Fighting stigma and discrimination is as important as developing medical cures for HIV/AIDS.”
The conference features a mix of activists, researchers, managers and staff of AIDS programmes. Among them are well-know activists like Lynde Francis, of Zimbabwe, and Augustine Chela, of Zambia, who were among the first courageous Africans to disclose publicly that they were HIV positive in the early 1990s.
The Human Sciences Research Council, Nelson Mandela Foundation, AIDS and Social Research Unit at University of Cape Town, and Engenderhealth (South Africa), Zambia Aidslaw Research and Advocacy Network and the regional think-tank Safaids, among others, will present the results of studies on stigma and discrimination.
The First Lady of Zambia, Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa, will be the keynote speaker. Mrs. Mwanawasa chairs the Southern African Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS, which launched a campaign to protect the young from infection and stigma last September.Dr Kenneth Kaunda,the U.N. special Envoy will also be officiating at the conference.
The conference will analyze the sources and forms of stigma and discrimination, review programmes to reduce it, and build linkages among organizations and countries.
Topics include the involvement of people living with HIV in the response against AIDS; laws and policies; gender issues; the role of culture and religion in perpetuating or reducing stigma; the problems of children affected by AIDS, and the invisibility of people with disabilities in the Anti-AIDS campaigns.
This is RAISA’s fourth regional conference. Previous conferences in 2003 and 2004 addressed masculinity and HIV/AIDS, and children affected by AIDS.
The conference will take place in Roode Vallei Country Lodge near Pretoria. Journalists interested in attending the opening on Monday 24 October at 2 pm, other sessions between 25-27, or interviewing Mrs. Mwanawasa, and or Dr. Kenneth Kaunda please contact:
Mrs. Naseem Noormohamed
Tel. + 27 12 320 3885 - cell:27832594876
Email:
naseem-vso@idasa.org.za
www.vso.org.uk/raisa
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