XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010)

The biennial International AIDS Conference brings together some 25 000 scientists, government representatives, health workers, activists, business leaders, and people with HIV and AIDS.

The theme of AIDS 2010, "Rights here, right now" emphasizes that promoting and protecting human rights is needed for a successful response to HIV.

Conference topics include the status of the epidemic in southern Africa and other regions, combination prevention strategy, advances in antiretroviral therapy, expansion of policies and programmes for people who inject drugs, and political accountability for universal access and human rights.

AIDS 2010 coincides with a major effort to achieve universal access to HIV prevention and treatment by the end of this year. As the global economic crisis threatens to reduce public investment, the conference affirms the value of HIV financing in achieving broader health and development goals.