UNAIDS Executive Director with Amadou Gon Coulibaly, Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire.

The opening plenary of this year’s ICASA received the address of His Majesty King Dr. Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV (right on the photo above) of the Tooro Kingdom in Uganda, who expressed his commitment to end AIDS in his kingdom by 2030. Next to the King stand First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire Dominique Ouattara and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé.

The monarch, who was appointed a UNAIDS Champion for HIV and AIDS Prevention Among Young People in 2016, has been promoting HIV activities in his Kingdom through sports and agriculture, and motivating creativity and innovation. “I came to ICASA to hear and learn, the most recent developments, so they can benefit my people in Tooro Kingdom and in Uganda at large. I am also mobilizing my fellow Kings to join me in this effort," he said.

Before addressing the plenary at ICASA, the King received the AIDS Red Ribbon pin as an expression of appreciation for his tireless effort in the response to AIDS, especially taking AIDS out of isolation and promoting innovation and employment for young people. He participated in the Youth Caravan and engaged with youth at the Community Village.

UNAIDS Executive Director with First Lady of Benin launches the Claudine Talon

At the opening ceremony, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé implored the audience not to let ongoing political and social troubles threaten the many achievements made in the AIDS response. In his speech, he laid out key priorities, including ensuring that women and adolescents be better protected from HIV, and demanded more space for civil society, crediting civil society’s huge impact in the AIDS response.