In early July, the world’s largest gathering on HIV/AIDS went virtual for the first time. AIDS 2020:Virtual, the 23rd edition of the International AIDS Conference, offered the latest scientific breakthroughs on HIV, opportunities for advocates to come together to sharpen their agenda and new to this year, a special day-long meeting devoted to COVID-19. Read on for our highlights of AIDS 2020 Virtual and be sure to check out our recent blog The View from AIDS 2020 Virtual – AVAC’s Take.
Program Highlights
- The Research Literacy Networking Zone (RLNZ) in the Global Village
- Ending the HIV Epidemic: Optimism, realism and disparities
- How did they do it? What successful communities can teach all of us about making dramatic progress against HIV epidemics and what this means in the age of COVID
- Bound But Not Gagged: Resilience in the era of the global gag rule
AVAC’s Research Literacy Zone
AVAC’s Research Literacy Zone (RLZN) featured resources on biomedical interventions, the clinical trial process, advocacy for the integration of sexual reproductive health with HIV prevention and treatment, and the impact of HIV and COVID-19 on each other. The RLZN also featured a series of virtual conversation and Q&As with leading researchers and advocates. Click to download the chat recordings below!
Research Literacy Networking Zone Pop-Up Chats
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A Look at the Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Pipeline: What happens after AMP results?
Led by Devin Sok & Olayinka Fagbayi, IAVI
- Do Africans Need COVID-19 Research? A Conversation with Advocates and Researchers
Moderated by Ntando Yola, APHA & Nandsile Luthuli, AVAC
Panelists: Dr. Kathy Mngadi, Aurum Institute, Dr. Sherman Padayachee, Setshabsa Research Centre, Xolani Mndaweni, Deputy Co-Chair of Klerksdrop CAB, Former Participant
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Advocates Reflect on the Latest UNAIDS Report: What does it mean for research and access?
Moderated by Micheal Ighodaro, AVAC
- A Conversation with Advocates on Preparing for AMP Trial Results
Led by Shelly Karuna, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center
On Demand-Only Sessions
Symposia and Bridging Session, On-Demand Channel
Ending the HIV Epidemic: Optimism, realism and disparities. Listen to hear four perspectives on where we are and where we should go as we aim to end the HIV epidemic around the world. Speakers presented four distinct perspectives, each speaking across geographies and populations.
Symposia and Bridging Session, On-Demand Channel
How did they do it? What successful communities can teach all of us about making dramatic progress against HIV epidemics and what this means in the age of COVID. Cities, regions and countries around the world have brought down HIV incidence and mortality. How did they do it? Last year, amfAR, AVAC and Friends of the Global Fight, in partnership with Kaiser Family Foundation, released a report, Translating Progress Into Success to End the AIDS Epidemic, looking at success stories. In this session, advocates and researchers from these case studies discussed how to apply the lessons they learned to advocacy and policy.
Symposia and Bridging Session, On-Demand Channel
Bound But Not Gagged: Resilience in the era of the global gag rule. Listen to learn about the impact of the global gag rule and the domestic (US) gag rule on women and girls around the world, including key populations and how they have responded.
On-Demand Posters
- How policy affects practice: policy barriers to provision of HIV biomedical prevention services in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Transnational activism for an effective, comprehensive HIV response: Lessons from the coalition to mobilize power activism, strategy, solidarity (COMPASS) Africa
- Advocates’ perspectives on next-generation HIV prevention trial design
- Understanding ‘silenced health experiences’ of young people accessing HIV services through Body-Map Storytelling