Microbicides 2012  

The 2012 International Microbicides Conference (M2012) is planned for April 15-18 2012 in Sydney, Australia with state of the art plenary lectures on microbicides and other aspects of HIV prevention research, cross-disciplinary symposia, oral abstracts, and poster sessions. For registration, program agenda and other information about the conference, visit the M2012 website at www.microbicides2012.org/.

Also available: Roadmap to Advocacy- and Communication-related Sessions at the 2012 International Microbicides Conference (M2012) — This roadmap provides a list of advocacy and communications-related that may be interesting for advocates to participate in.

Please see below for several activities being planned specially for advocates that you can register and/or volunteer to help with. Visit this page often for updates.

Contents:

• Advocates' Pre-Conference Workshop: Advocacy in a New Prevention Landscape
• Advocates' Corner
• The Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy
• Communications Skills Building for Researchers and Advocates
• Pre-Conference Media Training and Support Throughout the Conference for Scholarship Journalists
• Post-Conference Webinars

Advocates’ Pre-Conference Workshop: Advocacy in a New Prevention Landscape

Timing: Sunday 15 April 2012, 0830 to 1600
Venue: Parkside 110A, Conference Center, Sydney

Download the Agenda.

BUILDING OUR KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY AROUND HIV PREVENTION RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTATION

2012 offers new opportunities and challenges to advocates across the world involved and/or interested in advocacy around microbicides and other HIV prevention research and rollout. We have new tools to consider in HIV prevention, with the exciting results from PrEP and treatment as prevention trials - and yet confusing results from the early termination of the FEM-PrEP trial and the microbicide gel and tenofovir tablet arms of the VOICE study. What does this mean for communities and how does it affect the work we do as advocates?

The African Microbicides Advocacy Group, AVAC, the Global Campaign for Microbicides, IRMA (International Rectal Microbicides Advocates), the New HIV Vaccine & Microbicide Advocacy Society and local Australian partners will hold a day-long pre-conference workshop on Sunday, April 15. The M2012 Advocates’ Pre-Conference Workshop will begin at 08:30 and conclude by 16:00, ensuring participants have ample time to get to the M2012 opening ceremony. The workshop will be held at a venue close to the Conference Center (TBC), and lunch will be provided.

The goal of the workshop is to equip new and experienced advocates, community representatives, trial staff and others with the tools needed to fully participants in the M2012 Conference by:

• Providing a an overview of the field to contextualize the themes and issues presented at M2012;
• Connecting research and advocacy priorities and exploring common goals;
• Building capacity of advocates and trial staff to better engage with emerging issues in the field.

The pre-conference workshop will feature seasoned advocates and researchers from the HIV prevention research field who will provide participants with updates and previews to topics to be presented at the conference. an array of thematic discussion and skills-building sessions will be conducted including an update on key issues in the field, influencing relevant country policies and processes, prevention research literacy and ethics, and training on advocacy and campaign building.

Registration for this workshop is free for all interested participants but has limited space so registration will be offered on first-come first-serve basis. Registrations will be accepted through 30 March 2012 or until we have reached capacity.

Please fill this registration form at www.surveymonkey.com/s/39SPS5P.

If you have any questions or having problems with the registration form, please write to M2012AdvocatesPrecon@gmail.com.

Organizers: AMAG, AVAC, GCM, IRMA, NHVMAS and local Australian partners

Advocates’ Corner

Timing: Throughout M2012
Venue: Conference Center, Sydney

The M2012 Advocates' Corner is an interactive, participatory area where delegates representing community, advocacy, and civil society can come to dialogue, exchange ideas, network, build solidarity, relax, and socialize. The Advocates’ Corner is also hosting a program of activities during the M2012 including tea break and lunchtime discussions with advocates and researchers on a variety of scientific and community issues. More information on the Corner activities coming soon!

• Interested in displaying materials for your organization?
• Able to volunteer to help at the Corner?
• Have ideas for activities?

Please write to M2012AdvocatesPrecon@gmail.com.

Organizers: AMAG, AVAC, GCM, IRMA, NHVMAS and local Australian partners

Also available:

• Your Rectal Road Map at Microbicides 2012
• Advocates' Corner Programme

The Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy

Timing: April 18 2012, M2012 Closing Ceremony
Venue: Conference Center, Sydney

Please plan to attend the M2012 Closing Ceremony on April 18 2012 to find out who the 2012 Falobi Award recipient is, to celebrate their efforts and recognize the importance of this Award for community advocacy in the prevention research field.

A special reception is being planned by the Falobi Award organizing committee and IRMA to recognize the 2010 Award recipient. Watch this space for more information.

Communications skills building for researchers and advocates

The Microbicides Media and Communication Initiative (MMCI) will provide informal skills building sessions for researchers and advocates—most likely during the lunch break and following the last session of the day. The sessions cover topics such as message development, interviewing skills, how to write an effective press release, and how to use MMCI’s Communications Handbook to support trial communications.

If you are interested in planning the sessions and volunteering, please let Kay know at kaymarshall@mac.com.

Pre-conference Media Training and support throughout the conference for scholarship journalists

This year at M2012, we will have an MMCI/AVAC journalist training and support program for the scholarship journalists. The program will include a one-day training session ahead of the conference and daily sessions bringing together reporters and researchers and advocates to discuss key sessions and news for the day.

Post-Conference Webinars

If you are not able to participate in M2012 in Sydney, please watch out for information on special AVAC post-M2012 webinars on key issues that emerge at the conference.