UNIFEM organized many events relating to women's rights and gender inequality.[5]
Doctors without Borders hosted an event about the difficulties people under age 15 have in accessing HIV education and treatment.[6]
Conference responses
The media coverage of the event led to an unprecedented level of publication on HIV topics in Latin America. Many political leaders from all parts of the world made major announcements relating to HIV either immediately before or during the conference.[7]
Panamanian President
Martín Torrijos repealed the law which criminalized sex between men, making Panama the last country in Latin America excluding the Caribbean to decriminalize homosexual acts.[7]
Mexican President
Felipe Calderón announced his intent to make low drug pricing a priority in his government and removed the regulatory barriers which required pharmaceuticals sold in Mexico to be manufactured in country.[7]
China lifted its ban on allowing persons with HIV to enter the country.[7]
Representatives from 30 Ministries of Health and 25 Ministries of Education in Latin America announced that their strategy for preventing HIV would be to prioritize HIV prevention education and sex education in schools.[7]
Merck & Co. announced that it would cut the price of
efavirenz in Mexico by 40%, making the price per patient move from 777 pesos (USD $77.50) to 468 pesos (USD $46), and on
raltegravir by 30%, making the monthly price change from 9050 pesos (USD $903) to 6850 (US $683)[7]
Spanish Vice President
María Teresa Fernández de la Vega announced that Spain was contributing €10.2 million to
UNAIDS, of which €3 million would go to
IAVI and €1.5 million will go to the
IPM.[7]
The Spanish government announced that its National Health System would now include of
lipoatrophy treatment.[7]
James Chin argued that the conference's efficacy was hindered by attendee's practice of
political correctness. Specifically he said that
sub-Saharan Africa's
HIV prevention programs were being harmed by the incorrect idea that poverty and discrimination rather than risky sex were the forces to be targeted when combating the spread of HIV. In places other than Africa, Chin stated that prevention programs should focus on gay men, injecting drug users, and sex workers and their clients because these groups are at highest risk of contracting HIV.[8]