Bridging the Gap: Conference Workbook [International Conference on AIDS (12th: 1994: Geneva, Switzerland)]

SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS
The 12th World AIDS Conference programme is
organised into four distinct tracks, covering a wide range
of HIV/AIDS-related issues from basic and clinical science
through care, epidemiology, prevention and public health
to social and behavioural sciences. Policy implications and
community perspectives thread throughout all four tracks,
building bridges between scientific advances and the daily
realities confronted both by people living with HIV and
AIDS and their communities from different regions
around the globe.
Tracks
STrack A
Basic Science
Track A covers basic or laboratory research
topics such as virology, animal models, vaccine research,
immunology and microbiology.
A Track B
Clinical Science and Care
Track B focuses on clinical research and care
including antiretrovirals, gene therapy, preventive
measures for opportunistic infections (OIs), treatments
for OIs and cancers, nursing and palliative care.
Track C
Epidemiology, Prevention and Public Health
Track C covers research about HIV incidence,
prevalence and natural history; the demographics and
determinants of HIV transmission and risk factors;
technological and behavioural prevention interventions;
and public health strategies.
Track D
Social and Behavioural Science
Track D includes research from a broad range
of social and behavioural sciences such as economics,
political studies, law and ethics, human rights,
development studies, human sexuality, anthropology,
psychology and sociology.

COMMUNITY ASPECTS
The community aspects of the Conference have been
designed to complement and support the scientific aspects.
They include the Community Rendez-Vous, Orientation
Sessions, Community Symposia, Skills Building Sessions,
the Community Village, Socio-Cultural Outreach, the
Electronic Talking Tree and the Scholarship Programme.
'Community' has been defined broadly for the purposes
of this Conference. It includes scientists, health professionals,
educators, counsellors, health promotion practitioners,
community activists, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
The primary focus of the community aspects of the 12th
World AIDS Conference is on those people who represent
community-based non-governmental organisations.
CONFERENCE TERMS
The programme format will be familiar to many
participants, although it has been developed to ensure that
substantial attention is given to 'bridging the gap' between
North and South, science and community, and that crosstrack and inter-disciplinary issues are addressed. The main
session types, along with other concepts you will
encounter during the Conference, are outlined below:
Bridging Sessions
Bridging sessions are expected to appeal to a broad
spectrum of participants. They are usually interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral. Their specific format varies,
but they are designed to forge links between science and
community, between bio-medical science and social and
behavioural science, and between different regions of the
world. They also address a range of policy, ethical and
resource considerations with respect to the chosen topics.
CDs (Compact Disks)
On registering, delegates have the option to receive the
official Conference Record (all the accepted abstracts)
either on CD or in print. (A charge applies if both
versions are requested.) These can be collected on-site at
the delegate bag distribution area on presentation of the
appropriate ticket.
Closing Ritual
On Thursday July 2 at 21.00, a ritual evening of traditional
Swiss and African music will take place at Lake Geneva by
the Restaurant La Perle du Lac.
Community Liaison Network
The Community Liaison Network (CLN) has provided us
with a means of using key contacts, electronic networking
and newsletters to share information about the Conference
with the HIV/AIDS community around the globe. As a
result, we have received global input to the Community
Planning Committee and the Community Rendez-Vous.
In addition, we have been able to spread information
world-wide about the development of community and
other Conference aspects, and to create a structure that

will enable post-Conference continuity in the maintenance
of networks created or strengthened in the Conference
process.
The CLN has functioned in three key ways, firstly
through the publication of a quarterly newsletter, Le Pont,

CONFERENCE WORKBOOK