Harm reduction and human rights, violence against women, youth experiences with HIV, the experiences of sex workers and indigenous peoples, wanted and unwanted pregnancy among positive women, traditional healing, and spiritual renewal…just a few of the hundreds of issues debated, discussed, and addressed through dance, painting, photography at the Global Village at this year’s International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.  Described by the GlobalVoice as “the hub of activity and activism during the conference,” this space is truly alive!  I was one of many local residents who entered this dynamic space as an active participant, committed to learning more about grassroots activism around the world aimed at preventing HIV, erasing HIV/AIDS discrimination and stigma from the map, and making human rights a reality for all positive people.  Anyone could enter, regardless of our ability to pay, making it accessible to people who could not afford the exorbitantly high registration fee.  Those of us without registration badges were prevented from entering the traditional conference, with its lectures and “expert” panels, but we were able to talk openly with people around the world about their real life experiences related to discrimination, travel restrictions, isolation, and illness, as well as ways of moving beyond and eradicating stigma, solidarity, acceptance, inclusion, and their exercise of their human rights.   

After navigating the maze of walkways leading to the Global Village, I entered its bright euphonious space.  Over 8000 square meters are covered with an impeccably white tent.  Inside, the Village features booths from organizations coming from every region of the world.  The sounds of discussions and debates, workshops, live theatre and drumming, live radio show interviews with positive people, the buzz of networking and strategizing fill its space. 

Eugenia Lopez-Uribe, Global Village Coordinator and member of the International AIDS Society México AC, reflects that the “Global Village provides an opportunity for people to not just attend the conference, but to make it their own.  Paying the high registration fee is something that only a privileged group of people can do. The GV is free and open to all so everyone can take advantage of what this meeting has to offer.  The GV is a space where real people can talk about and work toward real solutions.  Dialogue is possible here, something that’s not happening in the panel sessions.”  Lopez-Uribe recognized the spirit of solidarity with which the staff of the Centro Banamex is working to make this enormous space one that meets the needs of all participants.   

The Global Village at this 17th International AIDS conference in Mexico City is by far the largest of the three GVs held so far in the world.  The first, held in a small “garage-like” space in Bangkok in 2004, grew into a somewhat larger space for the 2006 Toronto conference.  This year’s mammoth village is testament to the persistence of community groups around the world, demanding that their voices be heard and their experiences included in strategies that are developed.  Their presence and participation exclaim that HIV/AIDS cannot be relegated exclusively to medical and scientific discussions; that social, cultural, and political issues must also be addressed and to do so, the voices of community members must be heard.   

Tamil Kendall, local coordinator and international liaison for the Alliance for Gender Justice AIDS 2008, which organized the Women’s Networking Zone (WNZ), described the Global Village as a space “that ensures that there is a place in the conference to gather and express the leadership and knowledge of people affected and infected.”  The WNZ, whose motto “All WOMEN, All RIGHTS,” is the culmination of a year-long consultative process among partners aimed at incorporating gender, and especially women’s voices, into the discussions and debates related to HIV/AIDS experiences.  The feminization of AIDS absolutely requires that women’s experiences and leadership are in the forefront of efforts, a point emphasized by student volunteers in the WNZ, Isabel Arrastia and Elizabeth Shaw from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.  

Listening, acceptance and inclusion are important dynamics that permeate the air of the GV.  People of all races, ethnicities, genders and gender/sexual orientations, ages, classes and cultures intermingle and exchange ideas across experiences and languages.  “Acceptance is one of the keys to preventing HIV transmission,” highlighted Luis Perelman of the Armario Abierto in Mexico City, a project and bookstore dedicated to eradicating homo/bi/transphobia.  He continued, “If your family thinks that you’re worthless and disgusting, will you really value your life and yourself?  Will you really engage in sex practices that help to protect you?  If you’re HIV+, will you really take your medications?”  In a session sponsored by the Armario and PFLAG, a Mexican mother spoke poignantly of her son’s transformation from Jorge to Sabrina and how today her daughter lives happily, openly and able to exercise her rights to have a family with her partner in Catalan, Spain.  Her mother remains in Mexico, determined to create greater acceptance among communities in her country and to demand laws and policies that guarantee the rights of all people, regardless of their gender and sexual orientation.   

Dialogue and mutual learning characterize the Global Village. “This is a space where money and one’s access to resources does not define one’s access to information and opportunities for discussion,” emphasized Dinys Luciano, Director of Development Connections, which focuses on addressing the often-ignored link between HIV and violence against women.  “This space re-energizes me.  There are so many ways that people are presenting information and helping others to understand their realities—with art, photography, dance and not just through one-way lectures.  Here you can focus more on processes, which are so important for creating alliances.”   

“This space is so important for us, to connect to other people throughout the world.  It’s a space for the free flow of ideas and exchanges, which doesn’t happen in the panels” -- it was a sentiment shared by many of the people I interviewed, including Marisa Brigati of the Sex Worker Outreach Project in New York City and Hassan Cherry of the Health Care Association of the MENA region.  Hassan emphasized that this GV was the first time that groups from MENA were present.   

As Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, emphasized in the opening session, there is no technical “fix” for HIV. What remains to be done in the HIV/AIDS movement is the really difficult work of addressing the root causes of HIV and AIDS, including sexism, racism, gender inequality, poverty, stigma and discrimination; this can only be done with the active and creative participation and leadership of communities throughout the world.  This year’s Global Village is providing an invaluable space for that to happen.