Bangkok Leadership Programme Press Release
A complete Leadership Program will for the first time complement the Scientific and Community Programs in the upcoming XV International AIDS Conference, to be held in Bangkok 11-16 July 2004. The Program will bring together leaders from all over the world to recognize the importance of leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to generate concrete commitments to mobilize resources for HIV/AIDS.
Bangkok 26 May 2004 – A complete Leadership Program will for the first time complement the Scientific and Community Programs in the upcoming XV International AIDS Conference, to be held in Bangkok 11-16 July 2004. The Program will bring together leaders from all over the world to recognize the importance of leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to generate concrete commitments to mobilize resources for HIV/AIDS.
The aim of the Leadership Program at this year’s International AIDS Conference (IAC) is to implement policies needed to support an effective response, increase the accountability of key sectors on HIV/AIDS, and accelerate the scaling-up of prevention, treatment and care strategies.
“The battle against the epidemic can be won but it will require unprecedented leadership,” said Maria-Jose? Vazquez, who represents the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) on the Leadership Program’s planning committee. “This year’s International Conference provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge the many faces of AIDS leadership and to generate stronger commitment to address the epidemic.”
Greater leadership in AIDS is a global imperative. In 2003, more people were infected with HIV and more people died of AIDS than in any previous year. Yet funding for HIV/AIDS programs in 2003 was less than one-half of what will be required for an effective response by 2005. Few people in most developing countries have access to essential prevention and treatment services, and many countries have yet to enact laws to combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Unless the response to HIV/AIDS is significantly strengthened, many countries risk falling short of the time-bound targets set forth in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, unanimously adopted by member states at the special 2001 session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, as well as the Millennium Development Goals.
“Despite the growth in global commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, a critical mass of leadership has yet to develop,” said Leadership Program Co-Chairs, Dr. Pakdee Pothisiri and Dr. Debrework Zewdie, in a joint statement. “Many concerned leaders attend meetings on HIV/AIDS, but follow-through is often lacking. The Leadership Program seeks to generate leadership that is stronger, sustained, more diverse, and more passionate.”
The 2004 Leadership Program seeks to address this leadership vacuum by bringing together people from diverse sectors who have demonstrated leadership and commitment on HIV/AIDS. Leaders within their own constituencies will share perspectives with each other, explore the meaning of AIDS leadership, and agree on clear commitments to generate stronger leadership on HIV/AIDS from their peers.
Key components of the Leadership Program include:
Four special sessions for leaders in different sectors, including affected communities, the private sector, Heads of State/Government, science, media, entertainment, religion, and people living with HIV;
More than 30 sessions on leadership in specific sectors or on particular aspects of the response to HIV/AIDS, such as the role of women as AIDS leaders, the response to the epidemic in Asia, and mobilization of young people on HIV/AIDS;
Interactive sessions where leaders discuss difficult challenges in the global response, such as the impact of intellectual property rights on treatment access, lack of coordination among international donors, and strategies to bring effective prevention strategies to scale; and
Leadership forums in more than a dozen sectors that will generate sector-specific statements of commitment and join together to forge the Bangkok Leadership Statement, which will be presented to the full conference at the closing ceremony.
The Bangkok Leadership Statement will serve as a key tool for monitoring and accountability for the global response until the 2006 International AIDS Conference, where a progress report will be provided on the commitments made in Bangkok. Beginning with the Bangkok conference, the Leadership Program will become a permanent feature of the International AIDS Conference.
Grassroots and community organizations, as well as people living with HIV, are playing a central role in all aspects of the Leadership Program, including planning of the Program itself and participation in Program sessions. The Planning Committee for the Leadership Program includes representatives from the Global Network of People Living with HIV, the International Community of Women Living with HIV, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, the UNAIDS family, the private sector, the International AIDS Society, the chairs of the Conference Scientific and Community Programs, and the Thai government.
-end-
For more information about the XV International AIDS Conference, please visit http://www.aids2004.org
For Media Enquiries:
Thai-based International Media
Soo Cheang Wee
Tel: (662) 257 0316 ext.103
Fax: (662) 257 0311
Email: scwee@webershandwick.com
International Media outside Thailand
Dorothy Yiu
Tel: (852) 2533 9910
Cell: (852) 9302 9059
Fax: (852) 2868 0224
Email: dyiu@webershandwick.com
Thai-language Media
Surasak Glahan
Tel: (662) 257 0316
Cell: (669) 992-3620
Fax: (662) 653 0676
Email: surasak@aidsthai2004.org
The XV International AIDS Conference 2004 Media Message Centre
Tel: (1 212) 445 8055
This press material was prepared by the Communications Department,
XV International AIDS Conference
FIRST-EVER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO BRING LEADERS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO XV INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE
LEADERS FROM COMMUNITY, GOVERNMENT, SCIENCE, PRIVATE SECTOR,
RELIGION, MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT TO JOIN WITH PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV TO PROMOTE AIDS LEADERSHIP
Bangkok 26 May 2004 – A complete Leadership Program will for the first time complement the Scientific and Community Programs in the upcoming XV International AIDS Conference, to be held in Bangkok 11-16 July 2004. The Program will bring together leaders from all over the world to recognize the importance of leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to generate concrete commitments to mobilize resources for HIV/AIDS.
The aim of the Leadership Program at this year’s International AIDS Conference (IAC) is to implement policies needed to support an effective response, increase the accountability of key sectors on HIV/AIDS, and accelerate the scaling-up of prevention, treatment and care strategies.
“The battle against the epidemic can be won but it will require unprecedented leadership,” said Maria-Jose? Vazquez, who represents the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) on the Leadership Program’s planning committee. “This year’s International Conference provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge the many faces of AIDS leadership and to generate stronger commitment to address the epidemic.”
Greater leadership in AIDS is a global imperative. In 2003, more people were infected with HIV and more people died of AIDS than in any previous year. Yet funding for HIV/AIDS programs in 2003 was less than one-half of what will be required for an effective response by 2005. Few people in most developing countries have access to essential prevention and treatment services, and many countries have yet to enact laws to combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Unless the response to HIV/AIDS is significantly strengthened, many countries risk falling short of the time-bound targets set forth in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, unanimously adopted by member states at the special 2001 session of the United Nations General Assembly on HIV/AIDS, as well as the Millennium Development Goals.
“Despite the growth in global commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, a critical mass of leadership has yet to develop,” said Leadership Program Co-Chairs, Dr. Pakdee Pothisiri and Dr. Debrework Zewdie, in a joint statement. “Many concerned leaders attend meetings on HIV/AIDS, but follow-through is often lacking. The Leadership Program seeks to generate leadership that is stronger, sustained, more diverse, and more passionate.”
The 2004 Leadership Program seeks to address this leadership vacuum by bringing together people from diverse sectors who have demonstrated leadership and commitment on HIV/AIDS. Leaders within their own constituencies will share perspectives with each other, explore the meaning of AIDS leadership, and agree on clear commitments to generate stronger leadership on HIV/AIDS from their peers.
Key components of the Leadership Program include:
Four special sessions for leaders in different sectors, including affected communities, the private sector, Heads of State/Government, science, media, entertainment, religion, and people living with HIV;
More than 30 sessions on leadership in specific sectors or on particular aspects of the response to HIV/AIDS, such as the role of women as AIDS leaders, the response to the epidemic in Asia, and mobilization of young people on HIV/AIDS;
Interactive sessions where leaders discuss difficult challenges in the global response, such as the impact of intellectual property rights on treatment access, lack of coordination among international donors, and strategies to bring effective prevention strategies to scale; and
Leadership forums in more than a dozen sectors that will generate sector-specific statements of commitment and join together to forge the Bangkok Leadership Statement, which will be presented to the full conference at the closing ceremony.
The Bangkok Leadership Statement will serve as a key tool for monitoring and accountability for the global response until the 2006 International AIDS Conference, where a progress report will be provided on the commitments made in Bangkok. Beginning with the Bangkok conference, the Leadership Program will become a permanent feature of the International AIDS Conference.
Grassroots and community organizations, as well as people living with HIV, are playing a central role in all aspects of the Leadership Program, including planning of the Program itself and participation in Program sessions. The Planning Committee for the Leadership Program includes representatives from the Global Network of People Living with HIV, the International Community of Women Living with HIV, the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations, the UNAIDS family, the private sector, the International AIDS Society, the chairs of the Conference Scientific and Community Programs, and the Thai government.
-end-
For more information about the XV International AIDS Conference, please visit http://www.aids2004.org
For Media Enquiries:
Thai-based International Media
Soo Cheang Wee
Tel: (662) 257 0316 ext.103
Fax: (662) 257 0311
Email: scwee@webershandwick.com
International Media outside Thailand
Dorothy Yiu
Tel: (852) 2533 9910
Cell: (852) 9302 9059
Fax: (852) 2868 0224
Email: dyiu@webershandwick.com
Thai-language Media
Surasak Glahan
Tel: (662) 257 0316
Cell: (669) 992-3620
Fax: (662) 653 0676
Email: surasak@aidsthai2004.org
The XV International AIDS Conference 2004 Media Message Centre
Tel: (1 212) 445 8055
This press material was prepared by the Communications Department,
XV International AIDS Conference