South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Enver Surty participates in the satellite session ‘She Conquers: HIV Prevention for Young Women and Girls in South Africa’ during the AIDS2018 Conference taking place in Amsterdam under the theme ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges’.
The session provides the opportunity to showcase SA’s She Conquers campaign, and share lessons learnt in developing and improving policy and programmes for adolescent girls and young women. The session will also provoke discussion around the future of sexual reproductive health rights for this group. Speakers include UNAIDS Special Ambassador for Adolescents and HIV, Prof Quarraisha Abdool-Karim; DREAMS Ambassador Ntokozo Zakwe and SANAC CEO Dr Sandile Buthelezi.
The International AIDS Conference is the largest conference on any global issue in the world. First convened during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1985, it continues to provide a unique forum for the intersection science, advocacy and human rights. Each conference is an opportunity to strengthen policies and programmes that ensure an effective response to the HIV epidemic. 
This AIDS 2018 provides 18 000 delegates with the latest HIV research, as well as an opportunity to reflect on key issues facing both the HIV sector and the broader global health community. The conference is hosted by the International AIDS Society (IAS), the world largest association of HIV professionals, with members from more than 180 countries. IAS members include clinicians, policy and programme planners, researchers and public health and community practitioners.