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THE COMMUNITY PLANNING COMMITTEE (CPC)

The CPC’s mandate is to translate the Geneva Principle of partnership between Science and Community into a meaningful experience for the thousands of Community participants who will attend Geneva 98. The members of the CPC speak as part of the Community’s voice in the Conference process.

Robin GORNA chairs the CPC and sits on the Conference Committee. Her work with the Terrence Higgins Trust, England’s leading AIDS Service Organisation has given her a rich experience of steering community partners towards effective decision-making. She became the mother of Arun Jacob and Jovin Isaac in August 1997. In the interim, she is assisted by Andrew JOHNSON. Andrew’s work as Community Liaison Co-ordinator in Vancouver 96, and as a community health nurse and HIV/AIDS educator gives him excellent skills to support the CPC, as well as to secure links with the previous Conference.

The Conference and Scientific Planning Committee Chair, Professor Bernard HIRSCHEL also sits on the CPC. A leading Swiss researcher and clinician, he is one of the intellectual fathers of the Geneva Principle which joins Science and Community in partnership for all future AIDS Conferences. W.H. LINDNER, special advisor on North/South projects, seconds him.

The Global Network of People with HIV/AIDS is represented by Sue NEWMAN. Her dedicated and energetic work with the Israel AIDS Task Force has contributed to the development of one of Western Asia’s only citizen-based organisations for HIV/AIDS prevention and education.

Zdenek KURKA represents the International Council of AIDS Service Organisations (ICASO). Zdenek’s experience of AIDS Service NGO’s is enriched by his work in an emergent region of the HIV pandemic: Central and Eastern Europe.

The International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS (ICW) representative on the CPC is Beatrice WERE. Beatrice is the voice of an impressive experience in Uganda with NACWOLA. Their work has brought knowledge, power and hope to countless women who have often had very little else to count on.

The United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) sends Bai BAGASAO as a representative to the CPC. Bai was involved in establishing and managing one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most successful HIV/AIDS education, prevention and support networks in her native Philippines.

The International AIDS Society (IAS)’s representative to the CPC is Professor Gerald Friedland. Founder of Yale University’s AIDS Programme, a clinician and teacher, with a rich experience of international fieldwork; he has brought another level of insight into Community planning.

Geneva 98’s Local Community Committee is also part of the CPC. Chaired by Claire TORRACINTA-PACHE, a representative to Geneva’s legislature, the LCC is composed of spokespersons from the HIV/AIDS Community and Service organisations in Geneva, nearby France and Switzerland. They are Dominique ROULIN, Zoy, Michel MAX, Marc VESIN, Claudio FERRANTE, Florian HUEBNER and Alexander RYS.

All these CPC members are supported by a number of alternates, from their networks or offices, whose good will and availability to move in when things get tough deserve praise and recognition.

COMMUNITY ASPECTS RUNDOWN

The Community Aspects of the 12^th World AIDS Conference have been designed with the following concepts in mind:

• Solidarity: by taking advantage of opportunities for creating or strengthening the networks between us;
• Bridging Gaps: by crossing over geographic and disciplinary boundaries;
• Communication: by accessing tools and developing skills, we enhance ongoing communication;
• Accountability: by creating a forum for consumer voices in the Conference, we ensure that its achievements translate into everyday practice.

The Community Rendez-Vous, the Community "Forum" of Geneva 98 is planned as bookends to the Conference.

On Friday, June 26^th, in the afternoon, a retrospective of the Vancouver 96 Community Forum will be held. It will serve as a reminder for those who attended, and give some background to new participants. We will also have an exciting informal party.

Saturday, June 27^th, following a series of Regional and Sub-regional Meetings in the morning, the afternoon will be dedicated to Skills Building and Networking Sessions. Delegates will be introduced to an extensive programme of workshops, discussion groups, and practical exercises designed to provide members of the HIV/AIDS Community with an opportunity to exchange knowledge and materials in their contexts of life and work. Participants are informed that registration for this day is limited to 750.

On Thursday, July 2^nd, an evening plenary of the Community Rendez-Vous will summarise what were the achievements of the aspects of Saturday’s sessions as well as presenting resolutions and recommendations to the Conference.

Orientation sessions to the Conference proper will be available to all delegates during the morning and early afternoon of Sunday, June 28^th. Although the Conference itself takes place in English, some of these sessions will be interpreted into Spanish and French. The Opening Ceremony commences at 6 PM.

The Scientific Aspects of the Conference Programme (according to the four tracks) will be complemented by Community Sessions that include Summary Sessions of the preceding day, late afternoon interactive Community Symposia and Bridging Sessions (bridging disciplines as well as bridging science and community).

The Community Aspects of the Programme will be supported by a number of events and structures. On the Conference site, at Palexpo, there will be a Community Village of NGO Booths and information exchange points, serviced by Geneva 98’s Electronic Talking Tree. A PWA lounge will offer rest and refreshment and Meeting Spaces will also be available to Community participants who need them.

The Conference, in co-operation with Genevan and Swiss organisations, will also be putting together a Socio-cultural programme of artistic, media and academic events, on- and off-site. It will be an opportunity for Conference delegates to meet and interact with the local population, as well as to strengthen the bond between the international HIV/AIDS Community and its counterpart in the Conference’s host city.

For participants who wish to set up an NGO Booth in the Community Village, a registration form must be filled and a fee will be charged for this service. For more information or copies of the registration form and fees schedule, please contact Congrex, the Conference organiser, and specify your request.

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