VIRTUAL – 8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS
Opening sessions, July 3 & 5, 2020
+ additional online workshops in July
Online virtual conference
In consideration of the current global COVID-19 pandemic, the 8th International Indigenous Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS will become our very first virtual edition.
We will continue the theme for this year’s Pre-conference – “Weaving Indigenous Stories of Experience and Resilience: Our Vision for Indigenous Health”. We believe this theme remains appropriate as we face the global public health challenges ahead. It is also our intention to honour the unceded land of the Indigenous Peoples of Yelamu (San Francisco) and Huichin (Oakland) – the Ramaytush Ohlone and the Confederated Villages of the Lisjan Ohlone Peoples, neighboured by the Muwekma Ohlone, Costanoan-Esselen, Rumsen, Mutsun Ohlone.
The 8th International Indigenous VIRTUAL Pre-conference on HIV & AIDS will be an online forum where Indigenous and non-Indigenous delegates alike have the opportunity to share action and research that is transforming Indigenous health from local to global perspectives.
The Pre-conference will open on July 3 with an opening ceremony and keynote speakers and will continue as a series of weekly sessions throughout the month of July. With the Pre-conference Planning Committee (PPC), the International Indigenous Working Group on HIV & AIDS (IIWGHA), the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) and the International Indigenous HIV & AIDS Community (IIHAC) as partners, we worked together to determine the online format of the Pre-conference.
Pre-conference Webinar Schedule: Pacific time zone (UTC/GMT -8 hours)
I. Fri Jul 3: 9am to 1pm
II. Sun Jul 5: 9am to 11am
III. Sat Jul 11: 9am to 11am
IV. Tue Jul 14: 9am to 11am
V. Thu Jul 16: 9am to 11am
VI. Sat Jul 18: 9am to 11am
VII. Tue Jul 21: 9am to 11am
VIII. Thu Jul 23: 9am to 11am
IX. Sat Jul 25: 9am to 11am
X. Tue Jul 28: 9am to 11am
XI. Thu Jul 30: 9am to 11am
Our Pre-conference will provide time and space to consider Indigenous relationships and approaches to land, water, people, systems, and policies impacting our experience addressing HIV and AIDS. We intend to consider how the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and global targets for HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis, are implemented for Indigenous Peoples. Grounded in the experience of Indigenous Peoples, we will celebrate resilience and resistance necessary to improve holistic social and cultural determinants of health.
This decision was taken to protect the health and safety of our Indigenous communities and individuals. The World Health Organization, UNAIDS and governments and health authorities at various levels in the USA all advise physical distancing and the cancellation of large gatherings of people. We are also keen to protect and reduce any potential risk to the HIV community, especially since there is so much not known yet about COVID-19.
Registration
Registration will now be free for the online Pre-conference. Details to be shared in the coming weeks.
Download Pre-conference Poster
> Pre-conference Poster 3 MB PDF
8th IIPCHA Abstract Submissions
The call for abstracts is now closed. Thank you to all who submitted. We will be in contact soon.
For more information:
> International Indigenous Pre-conference
AIDS 2020
July 6-10, 2020
The health and safeguarding of our community is our highest priority. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020), to be held on 6-10 July 2020, will become the first virtual edition of the International AIDS Conference.
AIDS 2020: Virtual will enable delegates to access and engage with the latest HIV science, advocacy and knowledge traditionally presented at the conference. It will be a compelling combination of virtual sessions and community networking, including exhibitions, workshops, the Global Village, satellites and pre-conferences, that will reach audiences around the world.
Our decision was informed by advice from the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, leading global and local health authorities, and people living with HIV around the globe. In particular, we are acutely aware that there is not yet sufficient data on whether people living with HIV are more susceptible to COVID-19 or more likely to develop severe disease. Therefore, we have a special obligation to reduce any potential risk to the HIV community.
Furthermore, many of those who were planning to attend are now working on the front lines in the response to COVID-19 around the world. We have a responsibility to not put any of these individuals – or their home communities – at risk, nor redirect their efforts at a critical time in the response to the pandemic.
AIDS 2020: Virtual will continue to shine a spotlight on our host cities, San Francisco and Oakland, exploring the tale of these two cities through science, innovation and activism, while underscoring the Bay Area’s dedication to health equity in its “Ending the HIV Epidemic” initiatives.
Our commitment to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global health landscape and to persevere in the face of uncertainty is stronger than ever. The theme of this year’s conference is Resilience and there is no better word to describe the HIV community and our ability to come together in a shared commitment to the global HIV response.
Registered delegates will be contacted directly in due course with further information on the new, reduced pricing structure. Details about the virtual programme will be shared in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.