The IAC began in 1985 as a scientifically focused meeting, and remained as such for a number of years. In the early 2000s the community mobilised and advocated to be part of the conference, and that’s how the Global Village was born. After the first Global Village at AIDS 2004, communities felt they finally had a place where they could showcase their work and its impact to an international audience of peers. It provided an opportunity to share best practices, key learnings and ideas in order to evolve the community response to HIV. What’s more, arguably for the first time, this was a place where community could connect with those at the forefront of science and leadership at an international level.

I think people came out of the AIDS 2004 Global Village really motivated and inspired to keep things going, and so, at the next IAC in Toronto in 2006, the Global Village really took off. Since then it’s continued to grow at a rapid pace. The AIDS 2012 Global Village was double the size of the AIDS 2010 one in Vienna. I think that fact alone is a testament to the need the Global Village fills for the HIV community today. More and more people continue to come because the Global Village provides opportunities that can’t be found elsewhere.

The Global Village is a diverse and vibrant space that promotes networking between communities from across the globe and provides a place for displays, discussions, debates and performances from various cultures. Through these rich and varied activities, communities demonstrate how the application of science and good leadership lead to improved outcomes for men, women and children living with or at risk for HIV around the world. Not only do individuals from attending organisations and conference delegates have the opportunity to experience and learn from this, the Global Village is also open to the general public, and admission is free.

Let me show you some of the AIDS 2012 Global Village activities:

• More than 30 Global Village Sessions that feature panel discussions, debates and presentations with live Q&As.
• Twenty-seven Networking Zones where local and international groups focused on particular populations or geographic regions meet, conduct activities, and engage with conference delegates and the public.
  
  This year we had our first Community and Science Networking Zone, which was spearheaded by International AIDS Society (IAS) leaders who wanted to ensure science and community had a designated space where they could connect and bridge their knowledge.  This year also saw our largest Women’s Networking Zone, Harm Reduction Networking Zone, and Human Rights Networking Zone, as well as a very large Latino Caribbean Diaspora Networking Zone.
  
  The Networking Zones are becoming focal points for people who are passionate, concerned and motivated to get involved in addressing issues around key affected populations.  For us, that’s a significant aspect of the Global Village at AIDS 2012.

• The Main Stage where there are live musical, dance and theatrical performances addressing HIV in the context of treatment and care, human rights, gender, culture and other key issues.
• A Screening Room for screening videos and documentaries about HIV and human rights.
• Meeting Rooms for small informal discussions.
• Our largest Youth Pavilion, the main networking space for young people, where they host meetings and forums, showcase the achievements of youth-led initiatives from around the world, and engage with other participants.
• NGO and Marketplace Booths that showcase the impact of poverty reduction efforts on HIV care and prevention programmes, and offer NGOS an opportunity to sell their products to generate income.
• Art Exhibits including sculpture, installations, photos and paintings about HIV and related issues as experienced and expressed at the grassroots level.
• The Community Dialogue Space, where conference delegates and the general public engage with community-based and grassroots HIV organisations from around the world about some of the victories and challenges faced by communities on the frontlines.  The space also hosts high-level dialogue sessions between civil society and international leaders, press conferences and cultural events.

The impact of the Global Village has been tremendous – both from a historical perspective and looking beyond AIDS 2012. Historically speaking, not only has the Global Village provided unprecedented opportunities for networking, information sharing and cross-functional collaboration, but it has born two very significant international organisations – the Global Forum on MSM (men who have sex with men) and the African and Black Diaspora Global Network, which both formed as a result of the Global Village at AIDS 2006.

Looking ahead, I know that this Global Village at AIDS 2012 is going to make a real difference in advocating for stronger support to responding to HIV at the community level. Part of our purpose is to make sure that everyone knows that these key affected populations are still here, and an essential part of the solution.