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The Sussexes

Prince Harry will be joined by Sir Elton John to Host Panel at International AIDS Conference

Prince Harry will be joining Sir Elton John next week when the two co-host a panel at the 2016 International AIDS Conference.

The conference will take place in Durban, South Africa and will be a continuation of the work Prince Harry has started on ending the stigma around HIV and AIDS. Sir Elton John is also known for his work to end AIDS.

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who started Senteable with Prince Harry, will also be joining the panel along with other leaders to talk about youth who must live with HIV.

 

In a released statement, Sir Elton John said: “Many LGBT people and youth around the world still don’t have access to life-saving treatment and face high cases of stigma and discrimination,

“I look forward to working with Prince Harry and other world leaders to help make our dream of an AIDS-free world a reality.”

The 2016 International AIDS Conference takes place between 18 July to 22 July. Prince Harry will be speaking on the panel on Thursday, 21 July.

Elton John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation to provide treatment and support to those suffering from the disease. They have since raised millions of pounds. On the Wednesday of the conference, the Elton John AIDS Foundation will hold a press conference to announce the LGBT Fund’s first grant recipient.

The late Diana, Princess of Wales, Harry’s mother, was known for her work in the HIV and AIDS community. Diana made headlines when she held the hand of someone with the disease, back when it was still believed you could contract it from touch. Prince Harry has said in the past how proud he is to be continuing his mother’s work.
The World Heath Organization estimates that there are around 36.7  million people with HIV in the world at the end of 2015. Around 17 million were on antiretroviral therapy.