Join us at ICASA 2017
Are you attending the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) this December in Abidjan Côte d'Ivoire? If so, come visit AIDS-Free World's Legal Consultation Center at Booth 22-23 in the conference's Community Village. (En français).
What is it?
A first-of-its-kind program that brings together a multilingual team of volunteer lawyers from around the world to offer free and informal consultations to people living with and affected by HIV, as well as service providers, activists, and advocates. We debuted the program at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City and repeated it at the 2016 International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, with great success.
Why?
For those living with HIV whose rights have been targeted, it can seem an insurmountable challenge to even begin to engage with the legal system. And when that first step — finding a lawyer and having an initial discussion — costs more than they can afford to pay, justice can seem out of reach. For the duration of ICASA, we provide that initial conversation, free of charge, to help people living with HIV, activists, and advocates see that legal remedies can be attainable.
How does it work?
Simply show up at our booth in the Community Village and ask to meet with the next available volunteer. In a private, confidential conversation, you'll be able to ask vital questions like: Does the issue I’m facing have a potential legal remedy? What kind of lawyer would I need? What are the key questions I need to ask? And what are some of the resources available to me in my home country?
To help answer that last question, our volunteer attorneys will have our Legal Resource Guide, that contains an ever-growing list of human rights and HIV legal organizations throughout Africa that have identified themselves as having the expertise to offer further guidance.
When?
The Legal Consultation Center will be open throughout the ICASA conference.
- From Tuesday, December 5th to Friday, December 8th, it will be open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
- On Saturday, December 9th, it will be open from 10:00 am to noon.
Where?
Booth #22-23 at the Community Village at the 2017 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Please see the map below—the location of the Legal Consultation Center is circled in red.