[Program, International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1998: Geneva, Switzerland)]

The
Geneva
Principle 12th World AIDS Conference
June 28-July 3, 1998
Geneva, Switzerland
The 12th World AIDS Conference will be held in Geneva, Switzerland at the Palexpo
Conference Center from Sunday, the 28th of June to Friday, the 3rd of July, 1998.
Providing a forum for intersectoral and multidisciplinary exchange of the latest
information regarding HIV/AIDS, the presentations and discussions will be arranged
according to four Tracks:
Track A: Basic Science; Track B: Clinical Science and Care; Track C: Epidemiology and
Public Health; and Track D: Social Science (including impacts and responses).
The international AIDS conferences are important not only for scientists, but also for
patients, members of care organisations and political figures concerned about HIV/AIDS.
To reflect this diversity, the 'Geneva Principle' has been adopted for the '98 Conference.
The "Geneva Principle"
All co-sponsors of the Conference (i.e. GNP+, IAS, ICASO, ICW UNAIDS and
the Swiss Government) are represented on the Conference Committee and have an
- equal say in decisions regarding the content and format of the Conference. The
official Conference program will comprise both scientific aspects and community
| aspects, each being an integral part of a larger whole.
-0
_ _ There will be scientific representation on the Community Planning Committee and
_ -- vice versa; and various elements of the program will entail the involvement of both
0_ scientific and community representatives. However, the scientific sector will have a
_ i_ preponderant influence and considerable autonomy in designing the scientific aspects
I__ of the program while community organisations will have preponderance and
Sconsiderable autonomy in designing the community aspects of the program.
In past conferences, the majority ofparticipants and sessions were science-oriented,
and the 'Geneva Principle' will not change this.
It is hoped that the '98 Conference will help strengthen the linkages between science and
the community and ensure a wide choice of sessions which appeal to the interests of both.

The attached organigram shows the various planning committees which have been
established for the '98 Conference and the relations between them. The Conference
Program will be developed through this structure.