Invitation to become International Civil Society Partner

Invitation to become International Civil Society Partner for the International AIDS Conference 2008 in Mexico City.
During 2005, the International AIDS Society undertook a series of consultations regarding the International AIDS Conference, called “Future Directions”. One outcome of that process is that the governance of the conference should be more inclusive and give opportunities for different organizations to play a role on the Conference Coordinating Committee (for the whole report, see the IAS website.

The highest governing body for the International AIDS Conferences in 2008 is the Conference Coordinating Committee (CCC), being ultimately responsible for the theme, vision, policies and programme of the Conference.
Two new seats on the CCC for the planning of AIDS 2008 (the XVII International AIDS Conference) will be filled by Civil Society:
• one global NGO with HIV/AIDS as a major activity
• one NGO based in a resource-limited country working in several countries or on a whole continent

We IAS are now inviting organizations to apply for one of those seats.
The selected organizations will need to commit to sending one person to the CCC meetings in the 22 months preceding the 2008 Conference, normally 5-6 meetings in person, usually 1-2 days each time. All costs will be covered by the Conference. A committee comprised of IAS, ICASO, ICW, GNP+ and UNAIDS will make the final selection of the two new organizations.

We ask that any civil society organizations who are interested to please fill in the attached form and send it to susanne.renbergiasociety.org, before June 15. The first meeting is planned for the end of October 2006.

Craig McClure
Executive Director
International AIDS Society