7th ICAAP at Kobe- Where are we going?

May 26, 2005

The 7th ICAAP is raising thousands of questions in respect to defining the role

of such meetings, conferences and their benefits. It is true that when the

burden of the disease is on the developing countries, the conferences are

organized in developed countries. - and naturally to organize such conferences

in the developed countries becomes very expensive. This comes as an impediment

for the participants who would like to join - learn and share experiences.

Unfortunately they have to remain 'outside' such conferencesas they cannot

afford to come- especially the NGOs.

The 7th International Conference on AIDS at the Asia Pacific at Kobe, this year

is debarring such activists to share their academic interests as well, as the

organizers at Kobe have issued the order that no abstract will be printed in the

abstract book/CD, if the person does not remit their registration fee.

This is a bit too much of a 'business' and it amounts to - " If you want to

publish your abstract - you pay for it. "

I think this restricts the academic freedom, where people even without attending

the conferences could have access to knowledge through the abstract books.

Eventually, this helps in assaying present knolwedge and information status of

the situation in various countries, at various levels - and helps people learn

and keep themselves updated, through reading !

Four of our abstracts have been accepted but the work has no merit if the

organization has no money to pay the registration fee. Therefore, the abstact

will not appear in the abstract book.I am sure many more are going to face the

same situation.

Here are the contents of the letter, received by our organization from the 7th

ICAAP Secretariat.

" 19th May 2005, Thank you for your inquiry. We've announced to remit your

registration fee, or we cannot include your abstract without remittance. Because

we're afraid that the applicant without remittance may not come nor present

their abstract. Your understanding and cooperation will be appreciated " .

GAP-ISRCDE

E-mail: <gapad1@...>

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