Ancora una volta, World AIDS Day wants to commemorate the worldwide efforts to combat HIV/AIDS. Based on previous event format’s at ISR—involving a transdisciplinary approach— the objective is to sensitise and foster critical awareness of the multiple struggles of this illness.

Scientific and artistic panel discussions, along with a photographic exhibition by Pierre Keller, which will include two series of work “Bloody American” (1977) and “The Red Cage” (1978), and concerts concerning this thematic are spread throughout the event to encourage debate on themes which are unfortunately part of our everyday life.

The discussions will touch diverse fields; there will be a dialogue, through the help of moderators, which will start from a more philosophical point of view to then move on to a more practical one like medical research. Abundant space will be given to debate with the public.

For two days, the public will have the chance to have a multidisciplinary understanding of the topic thanks to concerts and panel discussions with key figures of the field. The underlying idea is to have a transdisciplinary event by presenting on the same platform doctors, writers, artists, activists, all contributing to the story of this ongoing reality.

Our aim is to recreate the same intensity of involvement which the first HIV commemoration day had and, more importantly, to use this opportunity to change the existing image of this illness and the social consequences that derive from it.

During the two days, and starting from 8pm, a free of charge HIV and Syphilis Rapid tests will be provided by the Circle of Homosexual Culture Mario Mieli, thanks to an agreement with ASL Roma 1 and to a collaboration with the Struttura (UOSD) Dermatologica MST of the San Gallicano IRCCS. The rapid tests are simple and fast, you will have your results in thirty minutes.

The event is organised by the Istituto Svizzero together with Circolo di Cultura Omosessuale Mario Mieli and with the support of the American Academy in Rome.