Two advocacy groups, Young Women Leadership Initiative (YWLI) and Young Women Leaders and Advocates on Friday said HIV epidemic could not end without the voices of women being heard.

The groups made the assertion at the closing ceremony of HIV Research and Prevention (HIVR4P2018) Conference held in Madrid, Spain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the advocacy groups had took over the advocates corner of the conference to make their voices heard to the researchers, policy and decision makers.

NAN reports that the group led by YWLI and supported by the community of prevention advocates had thronged the corner with the message “Our Choices, Our Voices and Our Priorities Must be Heard’’.

According to them, at the conference, we have heard a lot about young women, but too little from young women.

“We joined a long history of activists for the rights of women living with HIV in raising a Visible Panty Line.

“The Visible Panty Line symbolises the things that we as women are told to keep hidden, to be quiet about and to be ashamed of.

“We refused to hide. We refused to be silent. We refused to be ashamed.”

The groups said in a statement that the management of Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel, venue of the conference, had forced them to remove their panty lines or tore the advocate’s corner down.

They said the management of the hotel had told them that their panties and advocacy were offensive.

“Our voices, experiences and leadership are not offensive. We are here to raise the Visible Panty Line and let you know that without us, you will not end this epidemic.

“It is with absolutely necessary if we are to end this epidemic and fulfil the rights, choices as well as agency of everyone living with or vulnerable to acquiring HIV,” they said.

The groups said that any HIV prevention conference has a duty and obligation to ensure their presence, inclusion and leadership.

“You talk about developing HIV options for US. Well, we are here. Ask us what we think.

“Our challenge to you is that you must leave this conference, carrying our voices and message with you,” the group added. (NAN)