News Archive (2008 - 2005)

The World YWCA AIDS 2008 delegation gathered in Mexico City for a strategy meeting to explore in depth the key messages of the World YWCA at AIDS 2008 to invest in women, ensure the safety and security of women and girls and end stigma and discrimination.

The voices of youth have not been forgotten at the AIDS 2008 Ecumenical Pre-Conference. The Youth Caucus held its first meeting on July 31 and 19 youth participants, including 15 young women, showed up for the first meeting and youth stream coordinators Dan Pieper and Marie-Claude Julsaint; World YWCA Programme Director for the Americas and Caribbean, are expecting many more at the second meeting on August 1.

"Imagine a world where you can walk into a room and say ‘ I am HIV positive’ and the response was ‘It’s ok, we love you and we are here for you, and we are all going to die one day anyway and how you got HIV is not important. The fact is that it is here, so let’s deal with this together’. Imagine a world with no stigma. More than half the challenge would be won."

Young people delivered a strong message at the end of the Ecumenical Pre-Conference AIDS 2008, leaving no doubt that youth AIDS advocates want to be involved in ending the pandemic.

YWCA women from Latin America and the Caribbean gathered in the Women’s Networking Zone at the AIDS 2008 conference in Mexico City on August 4 to share their innovative and creative approaches in HIV prevention throughout the region.

‘All Women, All Rights’ shouted women and girls in Mexico City who attended the Women and Girls Rally and March at AIDS 2008. Women and girls from all walks of life, faiths, ages, education, cultures and HIV status joined in solidarity to raise awareness of the gap between international commitments and the reality in the response to women and HIV.

The Nairobi 2007 Call to Action highlighted ten critical actions to create change in the lives of women and girls around the world, particularly those infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. Silvanna Ayaipoma, General Secretary of the YWCA of Peru who is attending AIDS 2008, signed the Call to Action and reflects on her commitment to the Call to Action.

The World YWCA took the opportunity at the worlds largest international AIDS conference in Mexico City to launch ‘Nothing About Us Without Us: a report from the HIV-Positive Women’s Forum’ on August 4.The report evaluates the Positive Women’s Forum – an unprecedented meeting held on July 4 2007 in Nairobi Kenya as part of the International Women’s Summit on HIV and AIDS.

Women are not just caretakers of the children and the family. They are also leading change in the AIDS response. A session at AIDS 2008 discussed the challenges and opportunities of women’s leadership roles in the face of HIV and AIDS.

‘It is wonderful that the feminist movement has caught up on the financing agenda,’ said World YWCA President Susan Brennan at the opening of a satellite session that focused on the architecture of funding for women’s organisations.