GIHHR Co-Sponsors HIV-AIDS Conference in Istanbul, Turkey

U Albany’s Global Institute of Health and Human Rights, in collaboration with the International AIDS Society, co-sponsored the Second High Level Consultation Meeting on HIV in Conservative Social Settings at Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey during January 30-31, 2016. Dr. Arash Alaei, Assoc. V. Provost for International Education and Dr. Kamiar Alaei, Assoc. Dean for Global and Interdisciplinary Research played key roles in organizing and presenting at the conference.

At this important juncture of the HIV response, the theme of the meeting is A Rights Based Approach to HIV: Inclusion and Support. Discussions focused on HIV and key populations from cultural, social, religious and governmental perspectives. The two day consultation will include a combination of key note presentations and dialogues. The goal is to build on the first consultation in Vienna, 2014 which addressed issues concerning HIV and stigma, testing and treatment (http://www.ofid.org/NewsEvents/ArticleId/3005/OFID-IAS-hold-AIDS-consultative-meeting), and spur new recommendations for improved HIV programs in conservative social settings. The recommendations will be presented at the 21st International AIDS Conference, July 18-22, 2016, Durban South Africa (www.aids2016.org).