INVITATION TO REGIONAL MEETING ON HIV/AIDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

RE: INVITATION TO REGIONAL MEETING ON HIV/AIDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS: WINDHOEK 25 AND 26 OCTOBER 2002

You are cordially invited to attend a meeting of organisations working on HIV/AIDS, human rights, law and policy in Africa on 25 and 26 October 2002 in Windhoek, Namibia. This meeting will be hosted by the AIDS Law Unit of the Legal Assistance Centre of Namibia, in partnership with the AIDS Law Project of South Africa. The purpose of this meeting is:

q to revisit the importance of a human rights based response to HIV/AIDS;
q to share the experiences of organisations working on these issues in Africa
q to explore the establishment of a network of organisations working on HIV/AIDS and human rights in Africa with a view to providing an ongoing forum for the sharing of ideas, experience, materials and expertise on human rights, law and policy in the context of HIV/AIDS.

On the first day we plan to have a keynote address by Mr Justice Edwin Cameron of South Africa followed by presentations from selected speakers on current topical rights issues in the context of HIV/AIDS and inputs from representatives of various organisations represented at the meeting on their work at a country level. The second day will be devoted to discussions on options for the establishment of a regional forum to facilitate ongoing communication, sharing of information, experience and expertise between the various organisations in the region as well as on strategies for the promotion of human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS in the region.

A more detailed programme will be forwarded to you shortly.
The meeting will be held at the Safari Hotel and Conference Centre in Windhoek. Please plan to arrive on Thursday, 24 October 2002 and to depart on Sunday, 27 October 2002.

We would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance by emailing Michaela Figueira at [email][email protected] by no later than 14 October 2002.