THE THIRD NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PEER EDUCATION, HIV AND AIDS, Nairobi

Theme: “Stigma: Let’s Act Now!”

Presented by the National Organization of Peer Educators (NOPE), a Kenyan organization established in 2000 within the IMPACT project of Family Health International. The goal of the 3rd National Conference on Peer Education, HIV and AIDS is to promote the role of peer educators and other stakeholders in the elimination of stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV and AIDS.

Specific objectives:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->i) To explore the extent and effects of stigma and discrimination against PLWHA in Kenya and the region<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ii) To create awareness on the Kenya HIV and AIDS Bill and other existing legislation on stigma and discrimination and the role of policy makers<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->iii) To provide a forum for peer educators from different target groups to share their experiences and lessons learnt from their programs in relation to stigma and discrimination<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->iv) To provide a forum for companies and insurance companies to highlight their progress and challenges to reducing stigma and discrimination in the workplace<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->v) To identify best practices on stigma reduction and promote them among delegates for replication<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->vi) To explore ways of improving existing networks and linkages for improved access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, care and support services.<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->vii) To draw recommendations, resolutions and the way forward for strengthening the role of peer educators in the elimination of stigma and discrimination.<!--[endif]-->

Structure, key sub- themes and topics of the conference

The conference secretariat will be set up in Nairobi to prepare for the conference. A conference write-up providing all the relevant details and inviting delegates to submit abstracts will be produced and widely circulated to different organizations. Information about the conference will be included in the local media, the NOPE website, the AIDS Portal and the websites of partner organizations.

The conference will be structured into plenary and parallel sessions. Plenary sessions will feature presentations and key- note addresses by experts and opinion leaders in the relevant areas. Presenters will be required to submit abstracts on the specified theme and topics. A technical committee will use specific criteria to select presenters for both parallel and plenary session. There will also be exhibitions, demonstrations, skills building workshops and performances based on the conference theme.

The key sub- themes and topics will include:

• Legal frameworks: the role of the Kenya HIV and AIDS Bill in reducing stigma and discrimination.
• The role of the family in eliminating stigma.
• HIV and AIDS and issues of succession and inheritance
• stigma and discrimination in relation to culture and tradition
• Positive living/ living positively with HIV and AIDS.
• The role of Insurance companies in enhancing or reducing stigma and discrimination
• The impact of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination on persons with physical and mental disabilities
• The impact of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination on other marginalized groups e.g. gay and lesbian groups, sex workers, etc
• HIV and AIDS in prisons and other areas of confinement
• Workplace HIV and AIDS policies on stigma and discrimination.
• Privacy and confidentiality
• The role of faith based organizations (FBO) in stigma reduction.
• Youth and stigma.
• Caring for widows, widowers and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
• HIV and AIDS and the rights of the child
• Stigma and discrimination in health institutions
• Equal access to anti- retroviral therapy (ART).
• Community challenges and efforts to eliminate stigma and discrimination.

Conference report

The secretariat shall at the end of the conference compile and disseminate a report on the conference with the recommendations and resolutions of the delegates. This will be made available in the form of a CD-ROM and hard copies. A conference DVD will also be produced.

Expected outputs

The following are the outputs expected from the conference:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->i) Improved understanding of the extent and effects of stigma and discrimination against PLWHA in Kenya and the region among delegates<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ii) Increased delegates’ awareness on the Kenya HIV and AIDS Bill and other existing legislation on stigma and discrimination and the role of policy makers<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->iii) New knowledge and experiences acquired by delegates for their programs on stigma and discrimination<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->iv) Insurance companies and employers challenged to play a more proactive role in reduction of stigma and discrimination against PLWHA<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->v) Best practices on stigma reduction identified and promoted among delegates for replication<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->vi) Improving existing networks and linkages for improved access to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, care and support services.<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->vii) Recommendations, resolutions and the tangible actions for strengthening the role of peer educators and other stakeholders in the elimination of stigma and discrimination drawn.<!--[endif]-->

Abstract submission

Abstracts on any of the above key sub-themes and topics are invited from peer educators, HIV and AIDS Program coordinators, program managers, experts, professionals, government officials and other interested individuals and/ or groups.

The abstract should include contact information and the main body should not exceed 300 words.

Please include the following information:

Title of the abstract:

Full name:

Organization:

Address:

Telephone contact:

Email address:

Preferred method of presentation:

Background information:

Description/ key finding:

Lesson learned:

Recommendations:

All abstracts must be submitted through email to abstracts@nope.or.ke / abrstracts@conference2008.com

The deadline for abstract submission is 11th April 2008. Abstracts will not be accepted after this date.

Summary of Conference Activities

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Fundraising<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Establish conference secretariat<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Book conference venue<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Design and print conference promotional materials and web pages<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Contact potential donors for responses on funding proposal<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Establish and formalize partnerships with interested organizations<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Form Conference Steering committee<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Hold bi-monthly committee meetings<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Receive and review abstracts<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Abstract submission deadline<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Registration of delegates<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Registration of exhibitors<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Print and purchase delegates’ conference materials<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Hold press conference<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Conference and exhibition<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o Opening and closing ceremonies<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o Plenary and parallel sessions<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o Exhibition<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o Special events (Youth Peer Education Network (YPEER) and Ambassadors of Change anniversaries), cocktails and delegates’ <!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o Skills building workshops and demonstrations, theatre performances<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->o Delegates’ closing reception<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Report writing and finalization of CD ROM<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Editing and production of conference DVD<!--[endif]-->

<!--[if !supportLists]-->ü Submission of conference report, CD ROM and DVD to donors and participating organizations<!--[endif]-->

-----------------------------------
Riverside Drive, Westlands, P.O. Box 10498 – 00100, Nairobi. Telephone: +254 20 44 51 201/2 or +254 720 989 209, +254 734 653 595, Email: info@nope.or.ke, Website: www.nope.or.ke
Contact: Philip Waweru Mbugua, Executive Director - pmbugua@nope.or.ke