The conference has concluded “"HIV + Between Silence and Discrimination: HIV-Positive People in Society, Healthcare, Associations, and the LGBT Community"” which took place on Friday 9th and 10th May in Bologna with the patronage of the Emilia Romagna Region and the Municipality of Bologna.
The first conference on the topic of discrimination against HIV-positive people, both socioeconomically and emotionally and sexually, will be held with the direct contribution of AIDS organizations and HIV-positive people, as well as contributions from sociologists, psychologists, health authorities, and LGBT representatives.
The conference was divided into four main thematic areas which produced as many working groups: work and social security, health services, HIV-positive people and social representation in the mass media, socio-relational relationships (love, affection, sex, community and associations).
From the conference proceedings a 'pilot document' emerged which aims to be a sort of Decalogue of the rights of HIV-positive people, a document that directly expresses the needs and sensitivities of HIV-positive people.
The conference was attended by over 40 organizations and associations and 30 speakers, Over 100 people attended the two-day event. The work was attended by the Ministry of Health, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the Emilia-Romagna Region Health Department, the Modena Polyclinic Hospital, the Bologna Local Health Authority, Rai-TG1, the University of Bologna, and associations directly involved in the fight against AIDS and the protection of HIV-positive people (including Lila, Anlaids, Cgil, Arcigay, Arcilesbica, the Mario Mieli Cultural Association, and Nadir Onlus).
The conference “HIV+ between silence and discrimination” is an event within the Bologna Pride 2008.
The conference was preceded by the launch of the campaign produced by Arcigay 'The Keep'‘, in conjunction with Bologna Pride: “HIV+: If you discriminate, you lose the positive aspects”. For the first time, a communications campaign focusing on the issue of discrimination against HIV-positive people is coming to Italy, unlike established information and prevention campaigns.
The campaign, like the conference, underscores the urgent need to speak out, as HIV positivity remains a largely unreported topic. The concept stems from the need to give voice to HIV-positive people who are often silenced by social stigma. What the campaign aims to reiterate is that the life of an HIV-positive person, like that of anyone, is a full life: full of commitments, affection, work, and dignity.
“The political intent of the campaign is to restore the infection to what it really is: a disease. Consequently, the campaign and the conference put the HIV-positive person back at the center.
A disease caused by a virus that cares nothing about morality and its pious guardians, about at-risk groups, and about the other lies we've been fed for years. Lies that have increased ignorance and social stigma, and have allowed, and still allow, the virus to thrive." Sandro Mattioli, head of the Cassero Health Project, adds: “Specifically, regarding the discrimination of people with HIV, what pushes me to try to lift the veil that covers the topic is that it is "unfair", as banal as it may seem.
It is unfair that a person suffering from a potentially fatal disease should be subjected to different treatment from others. very often due to ignorance or a completely ideological and unrealistic view of the virus and the people who contract it.”
