Kaisernetwork.org Editor Jill Braden Balderas reports on the daily highlights from the XV International AIDS Conference, July 11 - 16, in Bangkok, Thailand.  

Friday, July 16, 2004 ( video ) ( transcript )

Thai children directly affected by AIDS performed at the closing ceremonies of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, emphasizing to delegates the importance of their work to stop HIV and AIDS.  Everyone who spoke challenged conference participants to appreciate the urgency of their task and to strive towards unity.

Thursday, July 15, 2004 ( video ) ( transcript )

At an evening musical event hosted by former South African President Nelson Mandela, a $50 million pledge was announced from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Mandela called for others to do the same. "It is going to take much more than the resources of the Gates Foundation to achieve the scale-up required to fund the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria," he said. "We need to build the public-private partnership that is the vision of the Global Fund. We challenge everyone to help fund the Fund now."

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 ( video ) ( transcript )

As U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Randall Tobias prepared to address the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, protests overtook applause. After several minutes, activists quieted down, and Tobias defended U.S. HIV/AIDS policy. "It is time – in fact, it is past time – to move forward from this point," he said. "Too much time has been lost already."

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 ( video ) ( transcript )

Access to AIDS medications continues to elude millions around the world.   Delegates and speakers at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, called for broader accessibility to antiretroviral treatment. Jim Kim, who heads the World Health Organization project tasked with scaling up treatment, The 3 by 5 Initiative, expressed shame over the six million people who have died of AIDS since the Conference last met two years ago.  “By these measures of human life, the ones that really matter, we have failed and we have failed miserably to do enough in the precious time that has passed since Barcelona,” he said.

Monday, July 12, 2004 ( video ) ( transcript )

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni stirred up controversy at today’s XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, for his strong stance that abstinence and faithfulness in marriage are the first line of defense against HIV.  “I look at the condom as an improvisation -- not a solution -- an improvisation,” he said.

Sunday, July 11, 2004 ( video ) ( transcript )

Seventeen thousand delegates from 160 countries attended the opening ceremonies of the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.  The theme this year is “Access for All.”  The Bangkok conference marks the first time a secretary general of the United Nations has attended. 

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