View source for XVI International AIDS Conference, 2006

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[[Image:AIDS2006Toronto-Entrance.jpg|thumb|300px|One of the entrances to the [[Metro Toronto Convention Centre]] during AIDS 2006]]

The '''XVI International AIDS Conference''' was held in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], during the week of 13–18 August 2006. This was the third time that [[Canada]] has hosted the [[International AIDS Conference]], after [[Montreal]] in 1989 and [[Vancouver]] in 1996. The main venue for the conference was the [[Metro Toronto Convention Centre]] (MTCC) in downtown Toronto.
The conference theme was ''Time to Deliver''. The conference was focused on the promises and progress made to scale-up treatment, care and prevention.

In particular:
*Accelerating research to end the epidemic
*Expanding and sustaining human resources to scale-up treatment and prevention
*Intensifying the involvement of affected communities
*Building new leadership to advance the response

Activities included cultural, youth and outreach programmes as well as a Global Village, which served as an international gathering place with displays of culture, food, community, and a marketplace.

Events open to delegates and the public included The International AIDS Vigil, a public memorial to all those who have died of HIV/AIDS. The Vigil took place on at 9&nbsp;pm on 17 August at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto.

Well-known attendees and speakers included [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] [[Michaëlle Jean]], [[Stephen Lewis]] (the United Nations special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa), Bill and Melinda Gates (for the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation|Gates Foundation]]), [[Richard Gere]], [[Alicia Keys]], and [[Bill Clinton]].

==Harper controversy==
[[Image:AIDS2006Toronto-FrontStreet.JPG|thumb|300px|Banners of the AIDS 2006 conference could be found along many streets near the conference centre. Shown here is [[Front Street (Toronto)|Front Street]], just outside the conference centre.]]

Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]], who decided not to attend the conference, was criticized by Conference co-chairman Dr. [[Mark Wainberg]] in his speech, saying, "We are dismayed that the prime minister of Canada, Mr. Stephen Harper, is not here this evening...The role of prime minister includes the responsibility to show leadership on the world stage. Your absence sends the message that you do not consider HIV/AIDS as a critical priority, and clearly all of us here disagree with you". Canadian Minister of Health [[Tony Clement]] attended in Harper's place.[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060813/aids_template_060813/20060813?hub=CTVNewsAt11]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Harper's absence from the conference is the second time the Canadian head of government has decided not to attend the conference. In 1996, former Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] did not attend the conference.[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060623/aids_harper_060623?s_name=&no_ads=]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

==Asylum seekers controversy==
A second controversy, that followed Mr. Stephen Harper's choice to not attend, was the fact that 151 delegates who were in attendance refused to return to their home countries – instead opting to seek asylum in Canada. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5310314.stm] This development seriously hurt the credibility of the conference and many suggested that the Prime Minister's office may have been justified in its decision to not have Mr. Harper in attendance.

==See also==
*[[XV International AIDS Conference, 2004]] in Bangkok, Thailand
==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikinewspar|International AIDS conference begins in Toronto}}
*[http://www.aids2006.org AIDS 2006]
*[http://aidsvigil.pbwiki.com International AIDS Vigil]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060614102901/http://www.gale.com/free_resources/whm/bio/gayle_h.htm Helen Gayle bio]
* [http://www.jcb.org/cgi/content/abstract/175/1/6 ''Full of sound and fury, but signifying something: XVI International AIDS Conference, Toronto, Canada, 13–18 August 2006''] by William A. Wells. A Special Report in the ''Journal of Cell Biology'', Volume 175, Number 1, 6–15. Published 9 October 2006. {{doi|10.1083/jcb.200609136}} 

{{International AIDS Conference}}
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[[Category:HIV/AIDS in Canada]]
[[Category:2006 in Toronto]]
[[Category:International AIDS Conferences]]
[[Category:International conferences in Canada]]
[[Category:2006 conferences]]
[[Category:August 2006 in Canada]]