The Duke of Sussex to attend International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam

The International AIDS Conference (AIDS2018) is the largest conference on any global health issue in the world. First convened during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1985, it continues to provide a unique forum for the intersection of science, advocacy, and human rights. Each conference is an opportunity to strengthen policies and programmes that ensure an evidence-based response to the epidemic. The Duke previously attended the Conference in Durban in 2016.

The Duke will join Sentebale's 'Let Youth Lead' advocates on Monday afternoon to discuss the challenges of young people living with HIV and those affected by the epidemic in southern Africa. The Let Youth Lead advocacy programme aims to engage policymakers to drive positive change in HIV interventions that better support the younger generation. His Royal Highness will then attend a meeting with influential leaders from organisations working in HIV response.

On the second day of his visit, The Duke will join a plenary session with Sir Elton John to launch a new coalition of global AIDS funders – the MenStar Coalition.  Founding partners include the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the U.S. government’s PEPFAR programme, the Global Fund for AIDS, TB & Malaria, UNITAID, Johnson & Johnson, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Gilead and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  These organisations represent some of the most critical stakeholders working on HIV globally.  The MenStar Coalition’s first initiative will be to launch a new HIV self-testing campaign aimed at young men in Kenya.

For more information on AIDS 2018, please visit: https://www.aids2018.org/