4th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights (Ethiopia)

Location:
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contact info:
http://www.africasexuality.org/about/contact.html

The purpose of the 4th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights is to examine the interrelationship between sexuality and HIV & AIDS. In particular, to open up discourse on sexuality in Africa and how this might lead to new insights in reducing the spread of HIV & AIDS in Africa.

The conference will focus on critical issues like gender based violence including female genital mutilation, rape as a weapon of war etc, child marriages, masculinity, sexual orientation, gender equality and sexuality, sexuality of people living with HIV & AIDS.

It will provide a framework of how sexuality and the application of sexual rights would lead to openness, responsibility and choices for all people, and in particular for young people, on sex, sexuality and sexual behaviour.

The conference is also aiming to shift the focus of prevention of HIV & AIDS which has often being negative – presenting sexual relations and sexuality as negative experiences that must be discouraged, to a more positive messaging about sexuality. The emerging approach is to encourage looking at the positive side of sexuality, ensuring that sexual rights (right to privacy, right to choose, right to non discrimination, right to life/liberty and bodily integrity etc) are enshrined within SRH/HIV & AIDS interventions.

If you would like to find out more about the conference objectives, go here.

Latest news and registration info can be found here.

This conference has a very-important youth committee. There is also a Youth Corner blog on the conference website.

(all info taken from www.africasexuality.org)