The first International Women's Summit on Women's Leadership and HIV and AIDS is scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 4 to July 7.

According to organizers, the conference aims to mobilize a global response to the increasing number of HIV cases among women and girls worldwide.

The conference, organized by the World YWCA, will bring together more than 1,500 people, including AIDS advocates, celebrities, community health workers, global leaders and policymakers.

According to the statement, the summit aims to address the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls and will examine issues such as violence against women, poverty and children's rights, and access to resources.

Women living with HIV and AIDS also will attend the meeting and address issues, including women's leadership and economic empowerment, as well as affordable health care and treatment.

The summit is co-convened by the International Community of Women Living With HIV/AIDS and has support from UNAIDS' Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and the United Nations Population Fund.

YWCA aims to "further unite the positive women's movement to move the HIV and AIDS agenda forward" for HIV-positive women, Sophie Dilmitis, YWCA HIV and AIDS coordinator, said, adding that the group also hopes to "nurture new leadership and partnerships between the YWCA and the positive women's movement".

Source: Medical News Today 10/6/07