(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) A workshop to advance advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Caribbean will be hosted by the Pan Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP) Against HIV/AIDS on 10 March 2005, at the Rex Hotel, Saint Lucia.

Core partners of PANCAP, as well as other key institutional and organisational representatives will, among other issues, agree on the strategic framework for concerted Regional advocacy to tackle stigma and discrimination, "including agreeing on a shared vision, key goals and principles for advocacy action. The workshop will build on the work of the DFID-sponsored CARICOM/UK Champions for Change Conference which took place in St. Kitts and Nevis in November 2004.

The forum which is being facilitated by UNAIDS, one of PANCAP's six core partners, will also refine the "Champions for Change" Plan of Action, identifying responsible agencies and implementation timeframes.

The outcomes of this workshop will be presented and discussed at the Meeting of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism, scheduled for 11-12 March, in Saint. Lucia.

The Hon. Damian Greaves, Minister of Health, Saint. Lucia will deliver a presentation on stigma and discrimination in relation to HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean.