Black Women Take Stand Against Exclusion, Colonialism at Montreal AIDS Conference
- SisterLove
- Aug 15, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 17, 2022
SisterLove attended the International AIDS Conference 2022 in Montreal.
We took the opportunity to host a development meeting on how we can create global female solidarity through our WomenNOW! Institute, a reproductive justice program that organizes Black women and girls from across the world to strategize and implement systems of mutual support for the many intersectional struggles they face.
Although many of our African delegates were refused visas, even after committing financial resources to flights and hotel reservations, we persevered by adopting a hybrid-meeting format. We were joined by delegate members from Africa and South America for two days of sessions on building a sustainable framework for the WomenNOW! Institutes program efforts. Learn more about the WomenNOW! Institute here.
The conference was an opportunity for us to learn about new developments in HIV research and share our own findings with others in attendance, as well as learn how we can better serve our communities back home in Atlanta and South Africa.
Our delegates participated in multiple panels with topics ranging from Disability Justice in the context the global response to the HIV epidemic, to the importance of centering the lived experiences of those who live with HIV in crafting policy and public messaging.
Our Founder, Dázon Dixon Diallo, delivered a powerful speech at the #FeministFuturesHIV Fireside Chat, a multilingual, intercultural dialog that brought women’s rights organizations from four continents together.
They discussed the historical and contemporary realities of the threats and challenges women and girls face globally. Dázon highlighted the crucial role that Black women in creating the framework of Reproductive Justice, which seeks to uphold the bodily autonomy of all persons against the combined oppressions of colonialism, misogyny, heteronormativity, and institutional racism.
We also were able to gain insight into the state of the global effort to address the HIV epidemic, which has faced tremendous setbacks due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruption, and rising political instability.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President, spoke on rising rates of infection in key at-risk communities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where we operate out of our Johannesburg office. We shared the latest results of our Community-Based Research Program, which uses an intersectional lens to address the impacts of HIV and other public health crises that affect marginalized populations.
"There is a still a treatment gap of almost 10 million people who could benefit today from antiretroviral therapy."
We were also able to fellowship with outreach groups on the launch of our Healthy Love Bus Mobile Testing Unit, which will allow us to bring, testing, counseling, and linkage-to-care services directly to the people we serve in Atlanta.
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The SisterLove team's work at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal is inspiring. Their commitment to uplifting the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, even in the face of visa challenges, shows their resilience. The insights they gained on the global HIV response, and the launch of their Healthy Love Bus, underscore the vital role grassroots organizations play. While omegle may be a different platform, the principles of fostering open dialogue and connecting those in need with resources are quite similar. SisterLove's story demonstrates the power of community-driven solutions.