Making Anal Sex Safer for MSM in the Developing World

The Invisible Men: Gay Men and Other MSM in the Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic is the exciting pre-conference for MSM prior to the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. It is being put on by the Global Forum for MSM and HIV.

Click here for the pre-conference program.

Dates: August 1-2, 2008
Location: Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel & Towers
Paseo de la Reforma, 325 Col. Cuauhtemoc
Mexico City, Mexico

IRMA - International Rectal Microbicide Advocates - is delighted to be presenting our workshop - Making Anal Sex Safer for MSM in the Developing World - on Friday, August 1, 12:00 – 1:30 PM.

Speakers:

Jim Pickett, AIDS Foundation Chicago/International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA), United States

Jeremy Wing Kien Kwan, PT Foundation Pink Triangle/MSM Programme (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Olanrewaju Onigbogi, University College Hospital (Ibadan, Nigeria)

Dr. Javier Lama, IRMA – America Latina y el Caribe (Lima, Peru)


Abstract:

The notion that gay men and MSM are strictly a Western phenomenon is patently false. Gay men and other men who have sex with men exist throughout the developing world, despite official denial and cultural stigma and shame that results in catastrophically low levels of HIV prevention funding for these communities. Unprotected anal intercourse is an extraordinarily efficient means of HIV transmission, and more user-controlled methods of protection are needed for gay and MSM that go beyond latex, fidelity and abstinence. International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) works to advance the research and development of safe, effective and acceptable rectal microbicides for all the men, and women, around the world who engage in anal intercourse. IRMA members from the developing world (IRMA’s 600+ membership hails from 50 countries) will share the latest rectal microbicide research, highlight key finding in the new IRMA report, "Less Silence, More Science”, and discuss global advocacy efforts to engage gay and MSM.

Slides for this presentation will be available on the only blog in the WWW devoted to rectal microbicides. Check back after August 1.

****We will be officially releasing the Spanish language version of our report – “Less Silence, More Science” at this session. Participants will be the first in the world to receive a copy – hot off the presses – of “Menos Silencio, Mas Ciencia.”

This new document will also be available on the IRMA website in PDF format after August 1.

Learn more about IRMA's NUEVA South American, Latin American and Caribbean "sister" IRMA-ALC here.