Concept of Conference Hub
The International AIDS Conference is the premier gathering for those working in the field of HIV, as well as policy
makers, persons living with HIV and other individuals committed to ending the pandemic.
The first International AIDS Conference was held in the year 1985. The Conferences were held annually until
1994, but are now held every two years. This year the conference will be held from 22 to 27 July 2012 at the
Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The conference will be organized by the International AIDS Society in
partnership with a number of international bodies including UN Agencies. The AIDS 2012 programmed will
present new scientific knowledge and offer many opportunities for structured dialogue on the major issues facing
the global response to HIV. A variety of session types – from abstract-driven presentations to symposia, including
the Global Village, satellite meetings, exhibitions and cultural program will be the main feature of the event.
Due to financial, timing and/or immigration constraints many individuals and organizations will be unable to attend
the conference. To ensure that an organization / community do not miss out on the conference momentum,
discussions, materials and networking opportunities one can hold a conference hub in the comfort of their own
home town.
This year International Aids Society has agreed to support Durbar Manila Samanwaya Committee to hold the
Conference Hub in Kolkata. This will be first of its kind in India. The Kolkata Conference Hub will be supported by
the Global Network of Sex Work Projects who has drawn seed money from International AIDS Society and other
agencies namely UNAIDS. Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee in India with the technical support of National
Aids Control Organisation (NACO) will plan and execute the Mini International Conference (it is called as
International Conference Hub) which will allow both in country participants as well as participants from other
countries who are unable to attend International AIDS Conference scheduled to be held at Washington DC.
Honorable Union Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, Mr. Sudip
Bandyopadhyay, and Mr. Sovan Chattopadhyay, Mayor, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, has given their consent
to be the patrons of this conference. We already have constituted an International Advisory Board consisting of
renowned experts all across the world.
About the organization of Kolkata Hub
Durbar is a community based organisation whichfor the last two decades has been running eleven HIV/AIDS
targeted intervention program in 51 red light districts including the WHO acclaimed ‘Sonagachi Project’ as well as
in street settings covering a population of over 40,000 sex workers and 100000 clients with support from the
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).The AIDS prevention activities include promotion of condom through
social marketing and community based marketing of condoms among sex workers in all the red light areas in
West Bengal. DMSC also runs ICTC centre named as Mamata Care and Treatment Centre with the support of
NACO. Through this centre and its referral mechanism help women to get their blood tested followed by diagnosis
and treatment of HIV positives and allied diseases and opportunistic infections like tuberculosis. DMSC has
facilitated the formation of Mamata Network of Positives Women, (MNPW) an organization of woman living with
HIV/AIDS. As one of the key aspects of intervention activities, regular health surveys are also conducted in order
to assess the improvement of the status of sexual health of the community. In addition, impact of community
development and social mobilization strategies deployed by the ‘Sonagachi Project’ is regularly assessed through
on-going monitoring mechanisms using both quantitative and qualitative tools.
NACO since its inception has been supporting Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) by funding various
Targeted Intervention Programmes executed by the organisation and vice-versa DMSC has played a significant
role in programmatic norms and standards in targeted intervention among the sex workers and has helped
National Govt. to identify deeper underlying issues and challenges in Targeted Interventions. Based on the
‘Lesson Learnt’ through Sonagachi Project, NACP II (National AIDS Control Program II) articulated the concept of
‘Creating Enabling Environment’. In NACP III another important programmatic strategy called ‘Community
Organizing and Ownership’ has been incorporated into the National program based on the success of
Sonagachi Intervention Program.
DMSC in addition to that also support many other development activities in the red light districts complementing
the efforts of HIV Intervention Program. They are mainly Adult literacy program started in 1993 in the name of
Korok and Digangana and education programme for the children of sex workers with 35 Berabhenge centres
running in Kolkata and other districts, covering almost 1500 students. Other activities for the children include quiz
contests, sit-and-draw events, photography workshops, sports, etc. To further institutionalise the process of
learning for the children there are two libraries, one in Kolkata and the other in Kanthi, in Midnapore district. Any
one from the community, aged or young has access to reading facility in these libraries. There is a Vocational
training programme for community members with a modest aim to initiate some productive engagement for aged
sex workers and for sex workers’ children. At the SRISHTI (Creation) unit, training as well as production of
handicrafts (terracotta toys and figurines, soft toys, jute objects, beadwork toys, badges, etc.) is done. There are
two residential homes for children of the sex workers, one in Baruipur, named Rahul Vidya Niketan, which
presently houses about 80 children in the age group of 5-14 years and another residential school in Ultadanga
named Indubala Abasik Vidyalaya that presently houses about 25 children in the age group of 4-10 years. DMSC
also organises various sporting activities to help building team spirit, in addition to skill. DMSC also has a cultural
wing, named Komal Gandhar, which was built up by the grass root efforts. There are Dance troupes, Mime,
theatre team under the banner of Komal Gandhar that has received praises and prizes through attending various
programs in India and abroad. The sex workers have taken a significant step by registering a multipurpose cooperative society (Usha Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited, or Usha). Usha is run for and by sex workers.
Usha runs a micro-credit programme for sex workers; creates alternative jobs for out-of-work or retired sex
workers; does social marketing of condoms and other consumables; and plans to start a large scale production
unit for generating employment for retired sex workers and those who want to opt out of sex work. Usha now
operate as the principle financial institution for a range of sex workers’ collective affiliated to Durbar, and manages
grants from external agencies for them. At present Usha has more than 16,000 registered members and its
increasing turnover (around 2.5 million US $) is trumpeted as a success story of the Cooperative movement in
West Bengal by the Department of Cooperatives of the state government.
Objective of the Conference
1. To help sharing of newer scientific information in connection to prevention, care and treatment
2. Skill building workshop on specific issues
3. Sharing socio-cultural issues including structural barriers that affects the outcome of HIV Intervention
Program
4. To strengthen policy level discourse in support of HIV Program
5. Support networking between communities and professionals both in country and abroad
6. Showcasing India’s response to HIV epidemics and its robust programming area and its success and
challenges
7. Provide a platform for different infected and affected communities to share their more intricate issues and
aspirations in addition to field level experiences.
Venue
The program of Kolkata Hub will be held at Subhavmi, Salt Lake.
Tentative Program Schedule of Kolkata Hub 2012
Date
22nd
10.00 a.m.
2.00 p.m. to
2.45 p.m. to
4.45 p.m. to
8.00 p.m. to 10.00
to 1.00 p.m.
2.45 p.m.
4.15 p.m.
8.00 p.m.
p.m.
Inauguration
Symposium
Oral Paper
Cultural
Direct telecast from
Presentation
Program
XIX Internal AIDS
July
Conference held at
2012
Washington DC
23rd
Skill Building
Key Note
Oral Paper
Cultural
Direct telecast from
July
Workshop
address
Presentation
Program
XIX Internal AIDS
Conference held at
2012
Washington DC
Symposium
2012
25th
Skill Building
July
Workshop
LUNCH BREAK
July
Key Note
Oral Paper
Cultural
Direct telecast from
address
Presentation
Program
XIX Internal AIDS
Key Note
Oral Paper
address
Presentation
2012
COFFEE BREAK
24th
Conference held at
Washington DC
Cultural
Direct telecast from
Program
XIX Internal AIDS
Conference held at
Washington DC
26th
Symposium
July
Key Note
Oral Paper
Cultural
Direct telecast from
address
Presentation
Program
XIX Internal AIDS
Conference held at
2012
Washington DC
27th
Skill Building
Key Note
Oral Paper
Cultural
Direct telecast from
July
Workshop
address
Presentation
Program
XIX Internal AIDS
2012
Conference held at
Washington DC