International Conference On AIDS Invites World's Focus on Progress & Challenges

The XVIII International AIDS Conference is being held in Vienna over the next few days. And there is some good news about the fight against HIV/AIDS, such as:

• Studies Offer 2 Paths to Cut H.I.V. Rate for African Women
• In South Asia, Efforts to Halt Spread of HIV Make Headway
• A Pivotal Moment in the Global Response to HIV
• Great Strides in the AIDS Response -- and a Need to Continue Moving Forward Together
• HIV Infections Drop Sharply Among Young People
• In South Asia, Efforts to Halt Spread of HIV Make Headway
• President Obama Announces A New AIDS Strategy
• Bill Clinton and Bill Gates want value for money in AIDS fight

At the same time, AIDS continues to be a scourge and, too often, a political football:

• AIDS Tops List of Global Health Concerns
• Healthcare Workers Call For More Money For AIDS Treatments
• Money worries and "broken promises" at AIDS conference
• AIDS conference chief lashes out at world leaders

One of the hottest issues in the HIV/AIDS community is the intersection between equality for women and girls and HIV/AIDS prevention. For example, see:

• The podcast of this session at the 2010 conference, How to Guarantee Women's and Girls' Sexual and Reproductive Rights in the HIV/AIDS Response?
• A summary of the Capitol Hill Hearing on the Consequences of Child Marriage with links to other resources.
• A VOA broadcast about AIDS and women.
• Why Girls? Because They are Ready to Change the World by Ariana Childs Graham, coordinator of the Coalition for Adolescent Girls.

How can you help?

• Educate yourself and others. A good start is on the home page of the International AIDS Conference this week. There are press releases, podcasts, and more that you can follow.
• Investigate the many nonprofits working on HIV/AIDS and support one or more of them. Here is a list at Charity Navigator of top rated organizations working in this space.
• Support organizations that are working for the health, education, and equality of women around the world, such as Camfed, International Center for Research on Women, the Coalition for Adolescent Girls, mothers2mothers, and the Grameen Foundation.