Howard University News November 12, 2014 Stigma Conference to Focus on Human Rights in Health Howard University and the Coalition to Eliminate AIDS Stigma (CEAS) will host the 5th annual International Conference on Stigma on Friday, Nov. 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20059. Register at www.whocanyoutell.org<http://www.whocanyoutell.org/> Hundreds of providers, public health officials, activists, students, faith leaders, people affected by HIV and experts from across the globe will gather at this conference seeking strategies to eliminate the stigma associated with HIV and other diseases. Stigma often keeps those affected with diseases from seeking proper care and treatment and protecting others. The theme of this year's conference is "Human Rights in Health." The conference will be webcast live at www.whocanyoutell.org<http://www.whocanyoutell.org/>. "Stigma robs individuals of their basic human rights and is the major reason why the HIV epidemic continues," said Dr. Sohail Rana, conference director and professor of pediatrics at Howard University College of Medicine. "We are all responsible for this stigma, and we must work together to eliminate it. When we play the game of fear, blame and shame we all lose." Conference Speakers include: * Dr. Joxel Garcia, Director, District of Columbia, Department of Health * Douglas Brooks, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy at the White House * Noerine Kaleeba, Ph.D., Programme Development Adviser for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) will share lessons learned from Uganda * Benjamin Mason Meier, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill will present the human rights response to the global HIV/AIDS epidemic * Dazon Dixon Diallo, Executive Director, SisterLove will address HIV and the intersection of Reproductive Justice In addition to researchers, the conference will showcase the work of human rights activists and artists who are fighting against stigma. These community leaders include Maria Meja, Latino HIV positive writer and activist; Gee Session Smalls, co-founder of www.JuanandGee.com; Mary Bowman, Washington HIV/AIDS activist, musician and poet who has been HIV+ since birth; Justin Terry Smith, HIV+ activist and blogger of justinbsmith.com. For healthcare clinicians, the conference offers a maximum of 6.33 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. The award-winning Howard artists of "Afro Blue" will entertain participants. "This conference has been very successful in bringing together diverse speakers that use various methods in educating attendees about stigma, its impact and ways to address it, said Lisa Fager, a conference organizer and project director with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. "This is our fifth year and we look forward to the continued growth and partnerships as we strive to make a difference." Please also join Howard University Gospel Choir, Tom Newman Project and Tyrone Stanley and Barrie School in shouting out for Human Rights in Health on Nov. 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Howard University College of Medicine. For more information please visit www.whocanyoutell.org and follow on Twitter @WhoCanYouTell #HIVStigma2014. Coalition for Elimination of AIDS-related Stigma (CEAS), Washington, DC based at Howard University, is a group of professionals, community leaders, concerned individuals and organizations that have come together to focus efforts to diminish and eliminate the stigma associated with HIV. Stigma prevents citizens from getting tested for HIV, seeking medical care, and disclosing diagnosis to loved ones and adhering to treatment and follow up. Stigma has become a major reason why the HIV epidemic continues and millions of people are getting infected and dying with HIV every year. The Coalition plans to measure the burden of stigma, test the effectiveness of intervention mechanisms, implement appropriate strategies and determine their effect over time. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.