International Consultation and workshops on developing ethical frameworks
for HIV Prevention Trials

Acknowledging the pressing need to update and clarify ethical considerations
for the conduct of HIV prevention trials, UNAIDS and other partners are
convening a series of consultations.  Regional preparatory workshops will
take place in Thailand, Nigeria and South Africa, prior to an international
consultation in Switzerland during June 2005.  The focus of the
international consultation will be on defining principles for future HIV
prevention trials (including vaccine, microbicide, male circumcision,
sexually transmitted disease treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis and
behavioral prevention trials).  The consultation will build on existing
guidelines and experiences in addressing a range of concerns from the
perspectives of various stakeholders such as researchers, funders,
ethicists, trial participants, people living with HIV, activists and
community representatives.  In recognition of the imperative to meaningfully
involve all sectors in the planning of successful trials, it is intended
that civil society representatives constitute half of the consultation
participants.  The outcome of the consultation will be clear guidance to all
stakeholders concerning principles, agreements and procedures for the
ethical conduct of HIV prevention trials.

A steering committee has been formed to oversee the organization of the
international consultation and the three regional workshops.  Members of the
steering committee include scientists, activists, policy makers and
concerned community group representatives.  The committee is facilitated by
UNAIDS.

The regional workshops which precede the international consultation will
take place in April 2005.  UNAIDS and members of regional planning
committees are in the process of planning these workshops, identifying
participants and preparing background papers on pertinent issues.  The aim
of the regional workshops is to prepare for and feed into the international
consultation through reflection and discussion on experiences of specific
prevention trials and processes utilized to ensure community involvement.  A
small delegation of representatives from each regional workshop will
participate in the international consultation, allowing for regional
perspectives and conclusions to be shared and built upon.

UNAIDS is grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation which will be
financially supporting these meetings.

A report on the outcomes of the international meeting will be circulated by
UNAIDS later this year.

For more information on either the regional workshops or the international
consultation please contact: Kate Thomson ([log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ) or Anindya Chatterjee ([log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ).


David Hock
Family Health International
e-mail: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

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