Objectives & Expected Outcomes

The Conference has three main objectives as follows:

Objective I

To identify new, emerging and existing vulnerabilities and vulnerable/marginalised people that are critical to sexual health and rights/HIV & AIDS interventions using a sexuality and rights approach.

This objective will be explored within the context of inequality, in all its forms, and in particular through the expression of sexuality, given that the context of sex and sexuality is one that can allow for the cultivation and perpetuation of many of these inequalities.

This objective would also examine the interconnectedness of the social, historical cultural, economic, legal and political barriers impeding women’s full enjoyment of their rights, including their sexual rights, and how this exacerbates HIV infection.

In recognition of Africa’s history of violent conflict, the links to sexual violence and violence against women and HIV & AIDS will be examined within this Objective. The continuing use of rape of women and girls as a weapon of war, and how the use of sexual health and rights framework can provide more insights into sexuality and conflict and impact on HIV & AIDS.

Presentations will be expected to present different levels of vulnerabilities rather than ‘High risk groups’ which further stigmatizes and marginalizes. The discourse on sexuality and HIV & AIDS is to show the possibility of multiple vulnerabilities in particular individuals and groups, and shift interventions away from morality to the application of rights in identifying vulnerable groups to reduce the spread of HIV & AIDS. Presentations would look at traditional ‘risk groups’ like commercial sex workers (CSWs) and long distance workers in Africa to show other levels of marginalization and inequality in sexual relations, for example, women engaging in transactional sex as a result of poverty, widowhood or to get economic access etc who remain outside mainstream discourse in dealing with HIV & AIDS.

There are still segments of the African populace not reached with sexuality education that might mitigate against HIV & AIDS, and discourse with these groups remain clouded by moral and religious issues. The most prominent of these groups are the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) people. The Objective would examine multiple sexualities and how they are manifested in different ways in Africa, and not just heterosexuality. It is anticipated that the dialogue in this conference will illustrate how ineffective this “selective blindness” towards LGBTQI is in the fight against the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Other groups whose sexuality and sexual rights have been ignored and often denied that would be highlighted include people, and in particular women living with HIV & AIDS and people living with disabilities.

Sub-Themes

Sexuality, Vulnerability and HIV & AIDS.
‘Achieving sexual rights’ – a mirage in the context of gender inequality and denial of women’s human rights?
Choice, Sexuality and HIV & AIDS.
Sexuality, Sexual Rights, HIV & AIDS and Young People – Exploring what young people know, believe and act on.
Multiple Sexualities, Sexual Diversity, Sexual Rights and HIV & AIDS.
Sexuality, people living with disabilities and HIV & AIDS.

Next: Objective II