The Summit commences with a one day Positive Women’s Forum on July 4, 2007, and is followed by three days of intensive discussion and debate, training and networking, as well as fun and inspiration. Leaders who have already confirmed to speak or support the event include: Dr. Peter Piot , Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mary Robinson, President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, and Prof. Yakin Erthurk , UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women.
Read on to find out how you can partner in this unprecedented global event:

Register a delegation

The World YWCA encourages partners to register a delegation from their own organisation to attend the International Women’s Summit. Our goal is to ensure at least a third of all delegates are HIV positive to ensure the full participation of women living with HIV and AIDS, so we also encourage your organisation to support positive women from your own constituency to attend the Summit.

The registration fee for the International Women’s Summit is USD $400 per participant, however if you register by November 15, 2006, your organisation is entitled to the early bird discounted rate of USD $350 per participant.

A range of accommodation options are available to conference participants ranging from USD $30-$160 per person per night.

You can register online or download the registration form at www.worldywca.info.

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Promote the event through your networks

As the IWS is the first ever meeting of its kind focused on women’s leadership and HIV and AIDS, please help us to promote this event widely through your networks. Brochures, posters and registration forms have been forwarded to your organisation; however if you require additional quantities, please contact us.

An electronic brochure promoting the Summit is included with this communiqué and regular updates will be forwarded by email that can easily be shared electronically. In the lead up to the conference a series of articles will be published on the World YWCA website at www.worldywca.info exploring key themes to be discussed at the Summit.

If you require any other resources or have ideas for how we can actively promote the Summit, please contact worldcouncil2007@worldywca.org. We welcome your suggestions!

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Offer to host a workshop

The World YWCA has just released the call for workshops at the International Women’s Summit. Workshops are the ideal platform for addressing critical issues for women and girls, and will enable learning and training opportunities to strengthen the capacity of organisations and individuals to provide a more effective and comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS.

Topics will be based on five streams: women’s leadership in response to HIV and AIDS; policy and advocacy – moving into action; intensifying prevention, treatment, care and support for women and girls; lessons learnt from changing communities; and positive living.

The workshop form can be downloaded from the website or requested by emailing iws@worldywca.org.

The deadline for workshop proposals is November 30, 2006.

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Nominate Women Leading Change

The Women Leading Change Awards , one of the highlights of the IWS, will recognise and pay tribute to some of the least recognised actors in the effort to stamp out this global epidemic – the outstanding women and young women who are championing HIV and AIDS in their communities by demonstrating innovative and effective leadership.

The awards will celebrate exceptional leadership in the areas of prevention, care and treatment, advocacy and policy making as well as addressing gender inequality, stigma and discrimination.

Organisations and individuals can submit a nomination for these awards by completing the nomination form (available from the website) and forwarding it to the World YWCA no later than December 8, 2006 . An international review panel is being established to review nominations and select award recipients.

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Support the fundraising effort

Through its Training Support Fund, the World YWCA is providing financial support for women to attend the IWS and other related events - HIV positive women and young women 30 years or younger are a priority for travel subsidies, along with leaders from YWCA member associations.

The World YWCA is looking for partners who can support the effort to bring community women to Nairobi by making contributions to the fund. Opportunities are also available for partners to support various aspects of the programme ranging from the Internet café and communications, to meetings of positive women and young women, as well as the Women Leading Change Awards and daily worship. Partner organisations may also wish to book a table or exhibition space to display their publications and materials at the Sokoni marketplace.

For more information on the available opportunities, contact worldcouncil2007@worldywca.org

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