The world's attention is shifting to Mexico City where the next International AIDS Conference (IAC) is

scheduled to take place from August 3-8, 2008. Mexico city will be the first Latin American country to host a conference of this size; over 21'000 people attended the AIDS 2006 conference in Toronto.

Held every 2 years, the conference provides many opportunities for the presentation of important new scientific research and productive, structured dialogue on the major challenges facing the global response to HIV and AIDS.

Conference organisers are developing a wide variety of session to meet the needs of various participants, and to support collective efforts to expand delivery of HIV prevention and treatment to communities worldwide. The transfer of knowledge and the sharing of best practices will be central to many of these sessions.

In addition to the conference sessions, there are a number of activities, including satellite meetings and exhibitions, Global Village, a cultural programme, that are integral too delegates' experiences at the conference.

For the World YWCA, the conference is an important opportunity to meet decisions makers, learn, network and advocate on women's issues relating to HIV and AIDS.

The World YWCA is one of the civil society organisations that sit on the Conference Coordinating Committee (CCC) of IAC 2008. This is further recognition that the World YWCA is playing a vital role in responding to this pandemic. As an organisation that outreach 25 million women and girls, we will strive to ensure that programmes and sessions in Mexico will be representative of the issues affecting women and girls worldwide.