WNZ at AIDS 2014

The Women’s Networking Zone (WNZ) at AIDS 2014 once again offered a community-focused forum running parallel to the International AIDS Conference, building on more than a decade of collaboration between HIV and gender groups. Since Women at Durban in 200o, the WNZ has provided an alternative, accessible and focused space for women’s organizing at the International AIDS Conference, creating an inclusive space for women to engage and open up new dialogues.

The WNZ@AIDS2014 was coordinated by Straight Arrows, ICW Global, WAP+, Positive Women’s Network South Africa, Positive Women Victoria, and ATHENA.

The Women’s Networking Zone (WNZ) served as a hub for women’s organizing and advocacy at the 2014 International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, and for women-led dialogue and discussion globally through the live-streaming of all sessions (available at https://www.youtube.com/user/womensnetworkingzone/playlists).

Read our report about WNZ 2014 here.

With a spotlight on the leadership, innovation, and vision of women living with HIV from around the world, the WNZ opened on the Sunday that the main conference opened and had a day-long calendar of panels, networking events, and workshops throughout the week. As a “conference alongside the conference” with women’s human rights and women-led initiatives front and center, highlights included:

Daily dialogues sessions featuring a panel of women living with HIV discussing key issues around the day’s theme
A ‘Welcome to Women’ party supported by the Victorian Government Department of Health and featuring speeches by women living with HIV, political representatives and more
An expert panel discussion on gender equality and the Global Fund
Presentations on research advances including ‘cure’ research and microbicides trials, alongside a debate on how to engage women living with HIV meaningfully in HIV research

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WNZ at AIDS 2014