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Remarks of Dr. Elly Katabira
President-Elect, International AIDS Society and International Chair, XIX International AIDS Conference

November 30, 2009

I am honoured to join Secretaries Clinton and Sebelius, Ambassador Goosby, Valerie Jarrett, and Jeffrey Crowley today.

I´m delighted to be here for the announcement that Washington, DC, will be the site for the XIX (19th) International AIDS Conference. The International AIDS Society is the world’s leading independent association of HIV professionals, with over 14,000 members from 190 countries; our core role is to convene the biennial International AIDS Conference. The conference plays a vital role bringing together scientists, community actors and leaders from all over the world to evaluate recent scientific developments, to foster debate and dialogue, and to chart a course forward to end the AIDS pandemic.

AIDS 2012 will bring together more than 25,000 delegates from up to 200 countries in Washington, DC, a city that is itself deeply impacted by the epidemic. As President-Elect of the IAS, I will be very proud to serve as International Chair of AIDS 2012 alongside my colleague, Dr. Diane Havlir who will be the U.S. Co-Chair. Dr. Havlir is here along with other members of the IAS Governing Council, including our President Dr. Julio Montaner.

The IAS Governing Council decided to hold AIDS 2012 in Washington, DC, following President Obama’s announcement that the United States will end its entry restrictions on people living with HIV. This change is a significant victory for public health and human rights. The IAS now calls on all countries that still have similar policies that restrict free movement of people with HIV and AIDS through their borders to remove them immediately.

On behalf of the IAS, I express our sincere gratitude for the support that the U.S. Government, and our research and civil society partners, have already shown for the conference and its aims. The IAS looks forward to convening AIDS 2012 in Washington, DC, and developing ever stronger partnerships with all of those working to end the AIDS crisis in the United States and throughout the world.


 

  
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