18th International AIDS Conference begins

July 19, 2010

2010-07-19 08:10:00

An estimated 20,000 participants from over 185 countries are taking part in the

18th International AIDS Conference that began in Vienna Sunday.

The conference is a platform for those working in the field of HIV/AIDS as well

as policy makers and persons living with HIV to exchange their views on the

current situation of HIV prevention and treatment, new research in the field and

recent scientific developments.

With 'Rights Here, Right Now' as its slogan, the conference also emphasises the

protection of human rights for those living with or most vulnerable to HIV,

including right to healthcare and access to all scientific HIV prevention and

intervention methods.

Addressing the opening session through video conference, UN Secretary General

Ban Ki-moon welcomed the improvements made in the global HIV programme, but

stressed that many obstacles still remain.

Julio Montaner, chair of the conference and president of the International AIDS

Society (IAS), and Brigitte Schmied, president of the Austrian AIDS Society also

addressed the opening ceremony.

They both called on the international community to jointly fights against

HIV/AIDS, stressing that full protection of human rights represents a

fundamental first step to achieve the goal.

According to the latest figures of the UN, 33.4 million people have been found

living with HIV by the end of 2008.

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