News and Events

2005 Media Releases

Workshop examines link between HIV/AIDS and national security

The war on terror has raised global concerns about security. But an even greater threat, with the potential to destabilise social and economic order, faces the survival of entire nations.

That threat is HIV/AIDS – and it will be examined by a top-level academic workshop at La Trobe University next week, on Thursday, 20 and Friday, 21 October 2005.

Conference organiser, La Trobe University Professor of Politics, Dennis Altman, says the problem of how to effectively respond to failing and fragile states is increasingly becoming a central security concern internationally.

He says the workshop, titled ‘HIV/AIDS, Fragile States and Human Security’ will contribute to a better understanding of this problem.

Organised with La Trobe lecturer in Politics, Dr Michael O’Keefe, the workshop is jointly funded by UNESCO, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the School of Social Sciences at La Trobe University.

Topics will cover HIV/AIDS in relation to security issues, international relations, failing and fragile states, state stability, as well as appropriate governmental, inter-governmental and NGO responses to state failure.

There will be comparisons between the epidemic in Africa and the Asia Pacific region, says Professor Altman, who is also President of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific and a well-known researcher into the social, political and cultural impact of the AIDS epidemic.

The international keynote speaker will be from South Africa, Dr Peter Fourie, from the University of Johannesburg, an expert on the relationship between HIV and security in southern Africa.

The workshop will be attended by 25 academics from Australian universities and senior policy makers from AusAID and UNAIDS.

Monday, 17 October 2005Workshop examines link between HIV/AIDS and national security

For further information:

Professor Altman, Tel: (61 3) 9479 2699, Email: d.altman@latrobe.edu.au or
Dr O’Keefe. Tel: (61 3) 9479 2676, Email: m.o'keefe@latrobe.edu.au