IATT on Education Events at the 2006 International AIDS Conference

From 13-08-2006 to 18-08-2006 (Canada) 

The UNAIDS IATT on Education has organised three sessions at the International AIDS Conference. These include: a session on Leadership in Girls’ Education: An Essential Component in HIV Prevention, Monday, 14 August 2006 ; a skills-building session on Using Evidence to Influence and Strengthen HIV and AIDS Policies and Practices on Tuesday, 15 August 2006 ; and an oral presentation on Assessing Global Readiness of the Education Sector to Manage and Mitigate HIV and AIDS Impact Wednesday, 16 August 2006.

The UNAIDS IATT on Education has launched at the event a CDrom, Review of the Evidence: Girls' Education and HIV Prevention, containing more than 100 recent resources produced by members of the IATT on Education and other leaders in the education, gender and HIV&AIDS; communities. ActionAid International has also released a paper, Girl Power: The Impact of Girls' Education on Sexual Behaviour and HIV. This systematic review examines research published between 1990 and 2006 in eastern, southern and central Africa to determine the impact of girls' education on sexual behaviour and HIV; the level of education required to reduce women's vulnerability to HIV; and the mechanisms underlying the relationship between HIV and girls' education. It concludes with a number of recommendations to influence future actions in the sector.

Tuesday, 15 August 2006
Session:Using Evidence to Influence and Strengthen HIV and AIDS Policies and Practices
Time: 2:15 pm – 5:45 pm (including a 30 minute break)

Abstract: This interactive workshop has sought to strengthen participants’ skills in identifying and using evidence to formulate effective HIV and AIDS policies and programmes. A hands-on exercise has demonstrated how to access, and assess the quality of information. A country case study has highlighted actual experiences in evidence-based decision-making. The various factors that impede evidence-based decision-making has been discussed, as will strategies to overcome them. Participants have then worked in groups, supported by facilitators, to develop an advocacy strategy focusing on a particular aspect of HIV and AIDS of their choice. Innovative approaches has been shared in plenary, with constructive feedback provided by key stakeholders.

The UNAIDS IATT on Education has launched at the session a multi-lingual CD-ROM, Education Sector Readiness to Respond to HIV and AIDS/L’état de preparation du secteur éducatif face au VIH et au SIDA/La capacidad de respuesta del sector de la educación para afrontar el VIH y el SIDA. This CD-ROM includes the findings of the three related publications: Education Sector Global HIV & AIDS Readiness Survey 2004: Policy Implications for Education and Development; Report on the Education Sector: Global HIV/AIDS Readiness Survey 2004; and Deadly Inertia: A cross-country study of educational responses to HIV/AIDS. Participants have also received copies of the IATT CDrom, Review of the Evidence: Girls' Education and HIV Prevention, containing more than 100 recent resources produced by members of the IATT on Education and other leaders in the education, gender and HIV&AIDS; communities.

Wednesday, 16 August 2006
Session: Education and AIDS: Challenges and Possibilities
Presentation: Assessing Global Readiness of the Education Sector to Manage and Mitigate HIV and AIDS Impact
Time: 10:45 am – 12:15 pm

Abstract:The Education Sector has an important role in arresting the spread, and mitigating the impact, of HIV and AIDS. To date, there has been little evidence on the extent to which the Sector has fulfilled this role nor what the challenges have been in terms of policy and implementation. The Education Sector Global HIV&AIDS; Readiness Survey is the first international assessment of the capacity of Ministries of Education in 71 countries and civil society organizations in 18 countries to manage and mitigate the impact of HIV&AIDS.; This presentation has explored the results and implications of this survey and provide recommendations to institutionalise comprehensive, inclusive education sector responses.

The UNAIDS IATT on Education have also launched at the session the multi-lingual CD-ROM mentioned above, Education Sector Readiness to Respond to HIV and AIDS/L’état de preparation du secteur éducatif face au VIH et au SIDA/La capacidad de respuesta del sector de la educación para afrontar el VIH y el SIDA.