03 December 2007
BONELA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
"Turning up the volume – amplifying community voices"

On Friday, December 7th at the Boipuso Hall in Gaborone, The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) will be holding its Annual General Meeting – AGM. The meeting will start at 3pm until 7pm. This years’ theme “Turning up the volume – amplifying community voices” is a deliberate effort by BONELA to emphasize, acknowledge and advance ‘the peoples’ voice’ in the response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Botswana. The keynote address will be given by Ms. Sisonke Msimang, who is the HIV/AIDS Program Manager at the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA). The AGM will also provide a platform for various stakeholders such as civil society groups, the media and the general public to discuss in depth HIV/AIDS related issues such as:

• Employment law and HIV, HIV Testing, Stigma and HIV, Sexual and Reproductive health rights,  Treatment Literacy - understanding the importance of adhering to ARV medication, and Sexual minorities - prevention, treatment and care initiatives need to reach marginalized groups like gays and lesbians, sex workers and prison inmates if zero transmission is to be achieved.

The BONELA board for 2008 to 2009 will also be elected at the AGM.

As the year ends human rights continue to be violated in the response to the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Botswana and ‘now more than ever’ BONELA will be focusing on how best to translate the knowledge one has of human rights, into action.

Your presence and coverage of this event will be highly appreciated.

For any further information or clarification please contact the Media and Advocacy Officer at BONELA on 393 2516.