World Aids Day - 1 December 2011

World Aids Day - 1 December 2011

AIDS in a Time of Austerity

TUC Seminar

Date: Thursday 1 December 2011, 2pm- 4pm

Venue: TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS

HIV/AIDS continues to be not only a serious public health problem but also a major challenge to development in many parts of the world.

In 2009, some 2.6 million new infections were reported throughout the world while the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in North America, Western Europe and Central Europe was estimated to have risen by some 30 per cent in the same year. Governments are increasingly under pressure due to the current financial and economic crisis to reduce expenditure on overseas aid and on public services. Both could impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We need to challenge complacency about the issue at national and global level and develop a coalition to assess and respond to developments.

The event will bring together trade unionists, interested NGOs and government officials to look at the status of the disease in the UK and examine the current budget constraints and their impact on the services available to PLWHAs. It will also invite reflections on possible implications of public spending cuts on the implementation of the ILO Recommendation on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work.

Registration is free but places must be booked in advance. Sue Ferns, TUC General Council member, will chair the event.

Programme

1.30pm Registration, coffee and tea

2pm Introductory remarks

KAY CARBERRY, TUC Assistant General Secretary

ELEANOR BRIGGS, Assistant Director, Policy and Campaigns, National AIDS Trust

STEWART BROWN, Executive Committee member, Fire Brigades' Union

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Speaker tbc

3pm Discussion

4pm Ends

Please confirm your attendance to Pat Brown Departmental Secretary, t: 0207 467 1226 e: pbrown@tuc.org.uk