By: Asim Nawaz Abbasi
Geneva, Switzerland: The International AIDS Society (IAS) has announced that its 13th Conference on HIV Science, IAS 2025, will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 14 to 17 July 2025, with pre-meetings scheduled for 13 July. This mega event aims to address the global challenges and advancements in HIV research, with a special focus on regions heavily impacted by the epidemic.
IAS President-Elect and IAS 2025 International Chair, Beatriz Grinsztejn, emphasized the urgency of the conference, stating, “With only five years remaining to achieve the 2030 targets, we must intensify our efforts to expand and accelerate HIV science. IAS 2025 will provide an invaluable platform for stakeholders to collaborate towards a more equitable response to HIV/AIDS.”
Kigali was chosen as the host city due to its exceptional infrastructure for international conferences, including a world-class convention center, and Rwanda’s visa-free policy for many African nations. This selection underscores Rwanda’s significant progress in the global health arena, highlighted by its early achievement of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, a milestone reached seven years ahead of schedule.
IAS 2025 Local Chair, Jeanine Umutesi Condo, remarked, “Rwanda’s proactive, evidence-based approach to HIV/AIDS has set a precedent for success. Hosting this conference allows us to share our achievements and insights with the global community.”
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Sabin Nsanzimana, added, “Rwanda’s transformation post-1994 has been profound. Our approach to health and development is informed by our history, and this conference will further our efforts to innovate and implement effective HIV prevention strategies.”
In a move to make the conference more accessible, the IAS will offer hundreds of scholarships, reduced registration fees for young attendees and those from lower-income countries, and free online access to major sessions two months post-conference.
Registration for the conference will open in November 2024. For more details, visit the IAS website.