Major Events in 2008

The HIV/AIDS Implementers' Meeting will take place June 3-7, 2008, in Kampala, Uganda. This year's theme is "Scaling Up Through Partnerships: Overcoming Obstacles to Implementation." The meeting theme recognizes the rapid expansion of HIV programmes worldwide.

Together, implementers will exchange best practices and lessons learned during the implementation of AIDS programmes, with a focus on building the capacity of local prevention, treatment, and care programs; maintaining quality control; and coordination among partners.

The 2008 high-level meeting on AIDS will take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10 - 11 June. It will review progress made in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.

The high-level meeting will provide an important forum for stakeholders, including government representatives and accredited civil society participants. Discussions are expected to focus on the progress made, challenges remaining and sustainable ways to overcome them.

The International AIDS Conference will include discussion of scientific, programmatic and policy developments in the global AIDS response. The conference to be held in Mexico City brings together the movement of people responding to the epidemic to share lessons and together stake out the road ahead. An estimated 25,000 participants and 3,000 journalists are expected to attend.

The AIDS 2008 theme, Universal Action Now, emphasizes the need for continued urgency in the worldwide response to AIDS, and for action on the part of all stakeholders.

At ICASA 2008, which will take place from 3 - 7 December in Dakar (Senegal), International and African experts will evaluate the current state of the HIV and STI epidemics with regard to science, communities and leadership. In addition, the conference will broach topics concerning other, equally important infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and hepatitis.