Non-abstract driven session for the Toronto AIDS conference

[Guest guest]

Dear All

This is a reminder email that the deadline for submission on non-

abstract driven session for the Toronto conference is 31st

December. As mentioned before, you can submit these directly and do

not need to go through any committee member. Unfortunately, as has

been raised many many times, the IAS has not provided this in any

other lanuguage than English.

The online submission form is at:

http://www.aids2006.org/subpage.aspx?pageId=351

You can submit something under the Scientific, Community or

Leadership programmes. However, I am also providing below some

additional guidance infromation related to the Leadership programme

that is not easily accessible on the website.

The overall conference theme is Time to Deliver .

Within this the Leadership Programme Committee (LPC) adopted three

objectives:

1. Building Commitment and Accountability: engaging established

leaders. This objective will focus on shifting those who have

influence into a place of action, by engaging political and

community leaders on their past commitments and by generating new

commitment and action from established leaders.

2. Building Power and Influence: empowering committed HIV/AIDS

leaders. This objective will focus on identifying committed leaders

who have little or no influence and help to shift them from

commitment to a place of greater influence. This will be done by

empowering successful community leadership, highlighting best

practices, and supporting the next generation of leaders.

3. Celebrating Champions. This objective serves to highlight and

sustain leaders with commitment and influence. It will celebrate

global, national and local champions, highlight successful community

leadership and share best practices.

Most of the following can be found on the online form, but I have

layed it out below with additional information:

A. Title

B. Type - four session types have been agreed upon:

i. Bridging Sessions

These sessions will connect the three conference programme areas of

science, community and leadership to provide an opportunity for

multi-disciplinary, multi-perspective dialogues on topics of common

interest. Through moderated panel discussions, speakers will share

knowledge and perspectives on the issue at hand. Together with

contributions and ideas from delegates, panel members will be

encouraged to find linkages and synergies between their different

areas of expertise and look for practical ways forward. Speakers

will be drawn from a diverse set of stakeholders involved in the

response to AIDS, including representatives of community, science,

leadership, research, human rights, people living with HIV/AIDS,

youth, government, policy-makers, pharmaceutical, faith, medicine

and others.

ii. Learning from Practice

Sessions in this stream will identify lessons from the field and

explore how they can be shared, adapted and implemented in different

contexts. Sessions will review examples of innovative and successful

practices in policy and programme work, examine potential

applications of new knowledge gained from research, and identify

useful lessons from less successful approaches. In addition,

sessions may consider how new programmes can be planned to generate

lessons and evidence to inform future practice.

iii. Controversy and Common Ground

These sessions will explore some of the major controversies in the

response to HIV/AIDS. Activists, policy makers and others with a

keen interest in a specific issue will take part in a facilitated

dialogue with a frank and open exchange of views. The discussion

will do more than simply present the arguments ?for and against.?

Rather, those taking part will be encouraged by the moderator to get

beneath the surface of the issue to uncover the needs and interests

behind different positions. These sessions will aim for deeper

understanding of contentious issues, the discovery of common ground,

and strategies for moving forward. Sessions may be preceded by pre-

Conference dialogues with invited speakers, and will be conducted in

a spirit of mutual respect.

iv. Symposia

These sessions will deal with critical issues that defy simple

solutions. Focusing on a single, clearly defined topic or issue,

speakers and delegates will share experiences, contribute relevant

research findings and brainstorm ideas to identify possible ways

forward. Sessions will also report new findings and announce

forthcoming research and new initiatives.

C. Key Challenge - there are four for the conference:

1. Accelerating Research to End the Epidemic

2. Expanding and Sustaining Human Resources to Scale Up

Treatment and Prevention

3. Intensifying Involvement of Affected Communities

4. Building New Leadership to Advance the Response*

D. Session Description (max 150 words)

E. Outline of purpose and outcomes (max 100 words)

F. Session process (methods - max 150 words)

G. Facilitator/moderators (with contacts)

H. Details of speaker topics (up to five)

I. Logistical details (documentation, room layout, number of

participants)

J. Submitter contact details.

Kind regards

Kieran

----------------

Kieran Daly

Director, Policy & Communications

International Council of AIDS Service Organisations - ICASO

International Secretariat

65 Wellesley Street E., Suite 403

Toronto, Ontario

Canada M4Y 1G7

Tel: (1-416) 921-0018 Ext. 21

Fax: (1-416) 921-9979

Work Mobile: (1-416) 275-8413

Email: kierand@...

Website: www.icaso.org