The Road to Toronto – New Caucus Puts the “Evidence” Back in HIV Prevention

In anticipation of the XVI International AIDS Conference being held in Toronto, Canada (August 13-18), PAI will begin a series of viewpoints entitled “The Road to Toronto.”  These viewpoints will appear frequently in the upcoming months; the first highlights the Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention, a collaborative effort of Population Action International (PAI) with our colleague organizations: amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research; and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

PAI, amfAR, and SIECUS are pleased to announce the launch of an Evidence-Based Prevention Caucus to help advance a strong, evidence-based HIV prevention agenda that reflects scientific consensus, rather than ideological or political positions.  The Caucus seeks to help the global community coalesce around the promotion of sound, evidence-based HIV prevention efforts – crucial to the conversation at the XVI International AIDS Conference this August in Toronto.  

As organizers of the Caucus, PAI, amfAR, and SIECUS will convene U.S.-based NGOs to coordinate and strategize throughout the conference.  One of the key Caucus activities will be a daily morning meeting to review highlights from the previous day’s presentations, share important information about upcoming activities, and help to craft and disseminate unified messages and talking points about key HIV prevention research, program, and policy matters.

• If your U.S. NGO will be in Toronto and is interested in joining the Caucus, please contact Katie Porter, kporter@popact.org. 
• If you are a member of the media and would like to be kept abreast of Caucus and conference news please contact Tamar Abrams at tabrams@popact.org or 202-557-3400.
• If you are interested in the activities of the Caucus, either as an international NGO or as an organization not planning to be in Toronto, we will add your email to our listserve in order to share with you any relevant information developed and distributed by the Caucus in Toronto.  Please send your name, organization name, and email address to kporter@popact.org.

Through a strong, unified voice, we hope this Caucus will help to elevate the need for scientifically accurate HIV prevention efforts.

In anticipation of the XVI International AIDS Conference being held in Toronto, Canada (August 13-18), PAI will begin a series of viewpoints entitled “The Road to Toronto.”  These viewpoints will appear frequently in the upcoming months; the first highlights the Caucus for Evidence-Based Prevention, a collaborative effort of Population Action International (PAI) with our colleague organizations: amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research; and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

Population Action International (PAI) works to improve individual well-being and preserve global resources by mobilizing political and financial support for population, family planning and reproductive health policies and programs.