HIV-AIDS Conference in Mexico

MEXICO -Migration and HIV at the International AIDS Conference - IOM and ILO will organize two sessions on Day One of the XVII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008), which begins in Mexico City on Sunday. "International Labour Migration and HIV: Emerging Issues" and "Sex by the Side of the Road: HIV Vulnerability along Road Transport Corridors in Africa" will take place on Sunday in the Centro Banamex, the main venue of AIDS 2008. The discussion on labour migration and HIV will begin at 9.00 am and will be co-chaired by Mrs. Ndioro Ndiaye, Deputy Director General of IOM, and Dr. Sophia Kisting, Director of the ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS in the World of Work.Ms. Ndiaye explains: "This event presents a key opportunity to bring together governments, international organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders to review best practices and the way forward in addressing the HIV service needs of international labour migrants."A joint policy brief developed by IOM, ILO and UNAIDS on HIV and international labour migration will be launched during the meeting. This document focuses on the HIV-related rights and needs of international labour migrants, irrespective of their legal status and whether their stay in the destination country is short or long term.The policy brief recommends specific actions to be carried out by each actor in the migration process in order to effectively address the HIV-related risks encountered by mobile populations, including poverty, gender inequality and human rights violations.The second session on HIV vulnerability along road transport corridors in Africa will take place at 3.45 pm. It will feature a presentation of outcomes and successful responses resulting from the workshop on the same subject held in Swaziland in 2007 organized by IOM, WFP and the North Star Foundation. Although the conclusions to be presented in this session stem from experiences gained in Southern and Eastern Africa, the methodologies in terms of policies, programmes and research are valid for HIV vulnerability patterns along many transport corridors elsewhere in the world. AIDS 2008 will take place at the Centro Banamex from August 3-8. The theme of the conference, Universal Action Now, emphasizes the need to accelerate the international response to HIV/AIDS and encourages the participation of all. For more information, please contact Jorge Andrés Gallo at IOM Mexico City. Email: jgallo@iom.int Tel. +57.311.561.9495 or Zoe Stopak-Behr at Email: zstopak-behr@iom.int Tel. +1.410.458.3621.