The second Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights will be held from 19 to 21 June 2006, in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference will be convened by the Africa Regional Office of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights (AFSHR). The conveners will provide technical support, and assist in mobilising resources and other support for the conference.

The goal of the conference is to bring the discourse of sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights to the forefront in Africa. Specifically, the conference aims to give participants an opportunity to meet and discuss these issues, share experiences and innovative programmes, build alliances and networks, and disseminate research findings on current and emerging sexuality issues in Africa.

For more information: www.africasexuality.org

The HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group has released preliminary data, and launched a new website on 1 June 2006.

The Working Group comprises the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), the Alliance for Microbicide Development (AMD), the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and UNAIDS.

For more information on microbicides, please contact the Alliance for Microbicide Development email: [email protected].

For more information on UNAIDS resource-tracking activities, please contact the UNAIDS Resource Tracking Unit
email: [email protected].

The Government of Djibouti, the UN Theme Group on AIDS - Djibouti, the UNAIDS Secretariat and co-sponsors will host a consultation entitled 'HIV Vulnerability and Cross-border Mobility in the Horn of Africa - an inter-country response', from 29 June to 1 July 2006 in Djiboutiville.

Vulnerability to HIV among mobile populations in the Horn of Africa presents a pervasive and imperative challenge. Located at the crossroads of the Middle East and Africa, with a population of approximately 130 million, the Horn of Africa is characterised by sociocultural and historical links, as well as mobility between countries. The subregion is facing arduous humanitarian crises, major development challenges and public health concerns, coupled with varying degrees of HIV prevalence.

The objective of this workshop is to bring together key partners from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen to determine joint action and the related inter-country coordination mechanisms required to improve access to prevention, treatment, care and support services for mobile people and the host populations with whom they interact.

Please contact Sinead Ryan at the UNAIDS Regional Office for the Middle and North Africa [[email protected]] should you have further questions concerning the consultation.