IHRD to Co-Host "Human Rights at the Margins: HIV/AIDS, Prisoners, Drug Users and the Law"

In many region of the world, both prison settings and injecting drug use raise critical and often over-looked legal and policy issues in relation to HIV/AIDS. In an effort to increase awareness of these issues, OSI’s International Harm Reduction Development Program is co-hosting a meeting titled "Human Rights at the Margins: HIV/AIDS, Prisoners, Drug Users and the Law" on June 9, 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand. The gathering is intended to give participants from both developing and developed countries a unique opportunity to discuss and collaborate on these important issues in substantial depth.

The meeting is considered a satellite conference to the XV International AIDS Conference, which will open two days later in Bangkok. Co-hosted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the one-day satellite meeting is sponsored by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, the Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit (India), and the Thai Network of Drug Users, in addition to IHRD.

Those interested in attending are urged to register early because space is limited. Scholarships for travel or accommodation will not be provided; however, the registration fee of US$75 (Can$100 for Canadian registrants) can be waived, on request, for people with HIV/AIDS and for participants from developing countries. Registration information is available at www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/events/bangkok2004_registration.htm or by contacting Elana Wright by email (ewright@aidslaw.ca) or telephone (1-514-397-6828, ext 259).