Noticias

Simon Cazal, representing SOMOSGAY participates in the 20th International AIDS Conference, held in Melbourne, Australia, from 20 to 25 July, which this time brings together more than 12,000 participants from around the world. On Sunday July 20, to open the event a tribute consisting of a minute of silence for the victims of the tragic incident on July 17 in which more than 100 activists and researchers on HIV / AIDS were killed. They passed away as they were heading to the Conference on airline tickets from Malaysia (Malaysia Airlines) which crashed in the Ukrainian region of Donetsk because of an attack.

 

During the Conference, under the theme "Accelerating steps" progress is made in the global response to HIV / AIDS by scientists, doctors, researchers, activists and people living with HIV as it is being discussed, as well as the barriers hindering HIV control.

 

Moderated by Benjamin Clapham, representative of amfAR The Foundation for AIDS Research: On the first day of the Conference Panel "Creating evidence-based gay men, men who have sex with men and transgender programs Evidence in Action" was held. For the panel, the representative of SOMOSGAY presented findings obtained through a survey on sexual health and HIV in gay men in Paraguay. The qualitative survey was applied only to gay men, primarily in nightclubs to measure the amount and level of information on the VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing), HIV, sexual health and human rights in general. The survey focused on 4 main areas: voluntary counseling and testing; health care; antiretroviral therapy; discrimination and stigma.

 

During the opening presentation of the "Melbourne Declaration" launched at the AIDS 2014, which reaffirms the importance of non-discrimination and enables an effective response to HIV and public health programs are also conducted. It is affirmed that all women, men, transgender and intersex people, adults and children are entitled to equal opportunities and access to prevention, care and information and the treatment and care services.

 

On July 21, hundreds of people attended the candlelight vigil in Melbourne to commemorate the victims who died in the crash of Flight MH17, and also persons who have died from HIV. It is tradition in all editions of the International AIDS Conference conducting this vigil, which takes place every two years, and whose objective is to highlight and remember more than 35 million people who have lost their lives to HIV and also to celebrate the scientific and medical advances in the fight against HIV / AIDS.

The end of the epidemic is only possible if we overcome the barriers of criminalization, stigma and discrimination that remain as key factors.

From SOMOSGAY we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to equality, universal access to health care and treatment services to support the inherent dignity and rights of all human beings. All persons are entitled to the protections afforded by international human rights frameworks, many of them made and ratified by the Paraguayan State towards the advancement of human rights in our country.