Share

Delegates walk out of Aids conference opening

accreditation
Delegates walked out of the opening of the International AIDS Conference on 23 July 2018 in protest.
Delegates walked out of the opening of the International AIDS Conference on 23 July 2018 in protest.

Amsterdam – Hundreds of delegates walked out of the opening of the International AIDS Conference on 23 July 2018 in protest when UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé took the stage.

Before the walkout, a group of African women read out a statement describing Sidibé as an "aider and abettor of sexual harassment" for his handling of a sexual assault case against his former deputy Luiz Loures.

The women ended by calling for Sidibé to step down, then walked out, followed by a few hundred delegates.

More HIV education needed

Before Sidibé took to the stage, the celebrity-studded opening event had focused on young people and people marginalised and at particular risk of HIV, including sex workers and injecting drug users.

Dutch Princess Mabel warned that, unless the real needs of girls and young women were addressed, “we could lose an entire generation to HIV”.

Two 20-year-olds who were born with HIV, Mercy Ngulube and Ukranian Yana Panfilova, urged governments to do more to reach young people with sex education to protect them against HIV.

Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, AIDS 2018 International Chair and University of Cape Town scientist, said that HIV infections had increased by 30% in Eastern Europe and Central Asia since 2010.

“They are the only region in the world to show an increase in HIV, largely because of injecting drug use,” said Prof Bekker.

Equal rights

Actress Dame Elizabeth Taylor addressed the last Aids conference held in Amsterdam 26 years ago, and last night her grandson, Quinn Tivey, and granddaughters Naomi and Laela Wilding continued the family tradition.

Tivey described the fight against HIV as a fight for human rights and social justice, while his cousin Naomi called for lesbian and gay rights to be recognised.

Dinah, a transgender sex worker activist living with HIV welcomed the 15 000 delegates to Amsterdam with a sober message, “Trans sex workers face exclusion, discrimination and violence and we have the highest rates of murder and suicide.”

Tedros Adhanom Gebreheyesus, Director General, World Health Organization, warned that there are still too many people who cannot get HIV treatment as it is not available in their country, they can’t afford it or they can’t get access to it.

“We cannot be complacent about the end of HIV,” warned Tedros.

The conference, which lasts until 27 July 2018, will also be addressed by Prince Harry, Charlize Theron, Bill Clinton and Elton John.

– Health-e News

Image credit: iStock

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE