Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02556 ADVOCATING FOR MICROBICIDES USING A SEXUAL RIGHTS FRAMEWORK: LESSONS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Cavanagh, Dawn
Madlala, N; Ndlovu, B
* Gender AIDS Forum

As Microbicides advocacy accelerates, debates are opened up and positions taken on issues related to culture and the implications of cultural practices on the process of decision making and access to microbicides. One such issue that is eliciting strong debate is that of the role of men in hereosexual relationships about whether a microbicide will be used or not.

The Gender AIDS Forum has been working on community mobilisation for microbicide advocacy since 1999 in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa and have now started working nationally on this issue. We are gender activists using a gender justice framework and in relation to Microbicides have found a sexual rights framework for planning, implementation, monitoing and evaluation critical to ensure that the culture debate – linked to patriarchy - does not lead to regression in relation to the gains made by activists on the rights of women to equality, dignity, freedom and erode the atonomy of women, especially in the South and in Africa in particular.

This paper shows how a sexual rights framework has been used to plan and implement a capacity building and an Advocacy campaign plan for Microbicides in South Africa and shows clearly how the cultural (patriarchy) barriers that are been stacked up against the vision of Microbicides can be dealt with.

Key lessons learnt are that when we show those who resist the notion of Microbicides as a women contolled technology that safety trials will ensure that male sex partners whose female partners are using Microbicides are safe, the only issue that remains is that of men’s control over womens sexuality or the flip side – the removal of womens right to autonomy. This can then be dealt with by looking at a set of International and national instruments where clear positions have been taken on these issues. By appealing to the sense of justice in people in South Africa in relation to racial inequality, the imperatives for gender equality can be emphasised and the links to sexual rights made and accepted. Furthermore, when a few men who are unthreatened by womens autonomy are mobilised to lead the way in Microbicides discussions, resistence is more likely to be reduced.

Dawn Cavanagh
Gender AIDS Forum, Room 108 Sangro House, 417 Smith Street, Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
(Telephone) + 27 31 3071253 (Fax) + 27 31 3071254 (E-mail) dcavanagh@mweb.co.za