“Put People First” is Theme of 25th International AIDS Conference

Attendees at the 25th International AIDS Conference received a Bavarian welcome. Credit: International AIDS Society

The theme of the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany, is “Put People First,” and all eyes are on ending the epidemic globally by 2030.

I was impressed with the lineup of speakers at the opening event of the world’s largest gathering of people living, affected by and working on HIV. I particularly liked what my friend and colleague, Dr. Sharon Lewin of Australia, conference co-chair said about challenges. She was accompanied by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Listening to Lewin, Scholz and others, it was very moving to see and validate not only my feelings, but the work of hundreds of thousands of others who have been part of the AIDS movement.

The conference draws nearly 20,000 people from around world, and the opening session saw a protest. Right after Scholz called for equality, several dozen members of the trans community interrupted the even with their own call to action.

Members of the trans community interrupted the opening session of the conference to push for what they said should be a more trans and gender-diverse and inclusive world. Credit: International AIDS Society.

“We have long faced hate and violence due to a stereotype and stigma associated with our identities,” they read. “Legal restriction and attacks on our human rights perpetuated by the antitrans movement are causing global fear and uncertainty. … Dignity and equality for all our communities continue to be oppressed by patriarchy, misogyny, heteronormative, transphobia, racism, classism and xenophobia. Stop limiting our potential and ridiculing us as second class citizens.”

“Trans rights now,” they chanted.

The host of the event did not seem phased by the four-minute speech.

“We welcome activists at AIDS 2024,” she said. The conference is a place where “activists, politicians and science come together.”

Dr. Lewin had opened the conference by listing challenges to the global AIDS movement.

One of those is money.

 “International co-operation and multilateralism are under threat without fully funded global players,” she said. Funding has dropped by nearly 8% between 2020 and 2023.

Dr. Sharon Lewin in her opening remarks at the conference. Credit: International AIDS Society.

Other challenges Lewin talked about are the rise of populist governments that endanger civil rights and further marginalize people already on the edges.

And she also addressed a challenge I’ve talked about: a disrespect for science.

“We must always be guided by the science,” Lewin said. “When science becomes a matter of opinion that maybe be disregarded or if it doesn't align with one's personal politics and when alternative facts shape the debate, people and health suffer.”

We saw this with COVID, but it also was a problem in the early years of HIV.

“Misinformation can play no part in the HIV response,” she said.

Lewin said that each of these trends threatens the movement to end HIV by the end of the decade. “We must improve access to services and care. We must move away from siloed services and address people's diverse and multilayered needs. We must vigorously defend human rights and put people first. This is not just a moral imperative, but essential for progress. ... Finally, we must stay united in the HIV response because progress happens when science activism and policy come together.”

Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, listed four strategies that could help end the epidemic. Credit: International AIDS Society

Olaf Scholz, chancellor of Germany, said that one person every minute dies of AIDS. “That is something we must change.”

He listed four strategies: research, better prevention, people-centered information and thorough testing.

“Research and prevention are the two most important measures to lower the number of infections and improved treatment,” he said. But information and language also matter.

“Language changes how we perceive reality. A person labelled AIDS infected is perceived differently from a person living with HIV. That is why it is key to communicate in a people-centered way instead of putting the disease first.

“But what we really have to keep working on is the fight against discrimination and stigma,” he said, vowing that the German constitution would live up to its mandate to respect and protect human dignity.

“Every single person must be protected no matter where they come from, no matter how healthy they are, no matter who they love.”