Powerful politics at the XI International Conference on AIDS

The XI International Conference on AIDS, held in Vancouver from July 7 to 12, 1996, produced encouraging signs of significant progress in basic, clinical and preventive science in the field of HIV infection and AIDS. The largest conference ever held on the global AIDS epidemic, it featured political and media highlights that served to focus the attention of participants and the public on controversial issues. Such political activity has become an expected part of international AIDS conferences and serves to remind participants and observers of the urgent need to continue the fight against AIDS.