On World AIDS Day, December 1, AIDS Accountability International hosted the launch of its new rating initiative, The AIDS Accountability Scorecard on Women in Stockholm, Sweden. The event featured prominent speakers within the field of HIV/AIDS and gender, who discussed the urgent need to address the vulnerability of women in the HIV response, and the importance of strong leadership and accountability in achieving internationally agreed goals and targets.

State Secretary to the Minister of International Development Cooperation, Mr. Joakim Stymne, opened the event, and AAI’s Scientific Director Dr. Per Strand presented the AIDS Accountability Scorecard on Women and its key findings. Senior advisor at Noak’s Ark, Ms. Ophelia Haanyama Orum, presented a personal reflection on her experience as a woman living with HIV, and spoke about the need for more women leaders, ‘Today is World AIDS Day, but every day is AIDS day for me. Thank you for joining me today’.

Mr. Rodrigo Garay, AIDS Accountability International’s Executive Director, also highlighted the importance of men in the response, ‘It is time for us as men and leaders to take action and help improve the situation for women’.

Other key speakers included the President of RFSU, Ms. Åsa Regnér, the founding Chairman of AAI, Prof. Lars O. Kallings and the President of UNIFEM’s National Committee Sweden, Ms. Maud Edgren-Schori. Ms. Marie Hedlund Dahlberg moderated the event. The Royal College of Music provided musical intonation, and art by Marianne Bergengren was also exhibited.

Participants in the event included ambassadors and other country representatives, whilst representatives from civil society and research institutions also attended.