AIDS: the central issue

The annual Fr Michael Kelly lecture: HIV and AIDS: Accomplishments and Enduring Challenges, was  given by the erudite Michael himself (pictured here), as part  of a 2-day conference in Maynooth to mark World AIDS day.  His fellow-Jesuits John K. Guiney and Colm Brophy attended, as did quite a number of African students studying in Ireland. Michael   provided a history of the development of the disease and the responses to it, ending with a strong statement: “The central issue around AIDS is not technological or biological. It is the inferior status or role of women. When women’s human rights and dignity are not respected, we create and favour their vulnerability to AIDS.” At the end of the conference Michael launched his new book: HIV and AIDS, A Social Justice Perspective (available at the Mission office).