For a variety of reasons, the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) was a radically different event this year. In addition to being an entirely virtual gathering, there was controversy around the conference from the moment it was announced at AIDS 2018. Community members protested it being held in the San Francisco Bay Area, on U.S. soil, during a repressive U.S. administration that posed clear danger to numerous members of our global community – among other issues. These concerns gave rise to an entirely separate conference organized by global community advocates, HIV2020, which is ongoing online through October and free to participants.
Of course, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on both conferences, rendering them virtual and digital. Participants and speakers logged into the global conferences across time zones from their homes or near-empty offices instead of gathering together in person.
The Well Project is pleased to offer highlights on topics of interest and importance to our community from both conferences compiled by members of The Well Project team and Community Advisory Board. We will continue to add content to this page, so please check back often!
AIDS 2020: Virtual
- Visibility Matters: HIV Community Experts on the Presence of Trans and Cis Women at AIDS 2020 – The Well Project asked community members who participated in the conference: "When it comes to cis and trans women, what did you find most important, compelling, and/or interesting at AIDS 2020?"
- Gender, Pleasure, Advocacy, and More: Recaps from AIDS 2020 – Members of The Well Project's team and Community Advisory Board compiled summaries of presentations on topics that may be of interest to our community, including stigma; mental health; youth; sexual health, rights and pleasure; and more.
- AIDS 2020: Virtual Global Village & Youth Programme (YouTube)
- AIDS 2020 Global Village (free, but sign-in required) – includes networking zones, on-demand presentations, art exhibits, film, cultural performances
More coming soon!
HIV2020 Online: Community Reclaiming the Global Response
- Register for HIV2020 Online – free and ongoing through October 2020 – and view past sessions from HIV2020 on YouTube (all sessions are available in English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish)
- An HIV Journey - A Story of Hope – "As a woman living with HIV since 2003, I dream of a world that is free from HIV stigma, where people with HIV can express themselves with confidence." Watch this short film and read the words of artist and A Girl Like Me blogger Eliane Becks Nininahazwe.
- Check out more of the HIV2020 Online Gallery
- Advocates Demand Structural Changes to All Future International AIDS Conferences – Recommendations from community advocates and experts worldwide to the International AIDS Society.
- Social Determinants of Health, HIV, and Activism – Global HIV advocates discuss strategies to hold responsible the policymakers mandated to address social and structural determinants of HIV health outcomes.
More coming soon!
