Conference Program

Are you here for the first time, or has the diversity of the program overwhelmed you, leaving you unsure what to choose? Do you not speak German very well and have no idea how to use the translation services? Have you heard there is childcare available but don’t know how to register your child? In this session, you’ll get an overview of all the key information and tips from the conference organizers to help you navigate both the program and Magdeburg. You can ask your most pressing questions and receive useful details about the schedule and structure.

Take advantage of this opportunity!

Speakers: Denis Leutloff (Preparation Team) and Heike Gronski (Conference Director)

Location:

We welcome all participants to the 23rd Positive Encounters, taking place in Magdeburg for the first time. The theme suggests that we aim to look far beyond our own horizons, starting with the opening event.

We will connect live to Kenya, Turkey, Argentina, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom to learn what issues are moving people living with HIV in those countries.

Performing for us will be musician and human rights activist Angel Maxine, who advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. She is recognized as Ghana’s first transgender musician and gained international attention by using pop music as a form of resistance against legislation targeting the discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.

The Independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, Ferda Ataman, will provide her patronage and send a welcome message. Additionally, the Mayor of Magdeburg, Simone Borris, will personally welcome us to her city.

As hosts, the Board of the German AIDS Service Organization—represented in this case by the local member organization’s Executive Director, Sven Warminsky—will have the first word. However, the final word will go to the outstanding team of representatives from the HIV-positive community who have shaped the content of this conference for you. They will hand over the conference to you with their best wishes.

The event will be hosted by Sophie Kortenbruck.

Location:

We welcome all participants to the 23rd Positive Encounters, taking place in Magdeburg for the first time. The theme suggests that we aim to look far beyond our own horizons, starting with the opening event.

We will connect live to Kenya, Turkey, Argentina, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom to learn what issues are moving people living with HIV in those countries.

Performing for us will be musician and human rights activist Angel Maxine, who advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. She is recognized as Ghana’s first transgender musician and gained international attention by using pop music as a form of resistance against legislation targeting the discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.

The Independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, Ferda Ataman, will provide her patronage and send a welcome message. Additionally, the Mayor of Magdeburg, Simone Borris, will personally welcome us to her city.

As hosts, the Board of the German AIDS Service Organization—represented in this case by the local member organization’s Executive Director, Sven Warminsky—will have the first word. However, the final word will go to the outstanding team of representatives from the HIV-positive community who have shaped the content of this conference for you. They will hand over the conference to you with their best wishes.

The event will be hosted by Sophie Kortenbruck.

Location:

This presentation highlights key findings from the 9th Ageing Report of the German Federal Government from an intersectional perspective. It focuses on the realities of life for older LGBTI individuals, the interplay of different forms of discrimination, and the impact of ageism on social participation, health, and care in later life. The talk will also address structural inequalities and the need for action to promote diverse and discrimination-sensitive aging.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Lottmann (Sociologist of Aging and Professor of Health Policy at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences)
Moderator: Matthias Wentzlaff-Eggebert

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Political upheavals and increasing repression—how is the world changing, and what impact does this have on HIV prevention and the care of people living with HIV at regional, national, and global levels?

Silke Klumb (German AIDS Service Organization)
Moderator: Yasmin Kahumuza

Location:

Presentation

Experiences of discrimination have been proven to affect physical and mental health and make it harder for many people to access adequate healthcare.
This presentation shares current insights on discrimination and racism as social determinants of health. It focuses on their impact on health equity and how discrimination-sensitive structures in healthcare, research, and public health can be strengthened. Additionally, approaches that promote greater participation, diversity, and justice in the healthcare system will be discussed.

Katja Kajikhina (Robert Koch Institute)
Moderator: Nina Baghery

Location:

What does the future of healthcare look like?

AI and digitalization are expected to improve healthcare and address structural challenges such as demographic change and the resulting staff shortages. Bold promises are being made: technology is supposed to enable a longer and healthier life for everyone—while also cutting costs. What are the latest political and technological developments in digitalization? And how much truth is there in the narratives about new efficiencies and improved digital care?

Manuel Hofmann (DAH))
Moderator: Julian Knop

Location:

What support is available to me in old age—and how do I access it? In this concise workshop, we will provide an overview of care applications, long-term care insurance benefits, and age-related benefits.
Together, we will clarify what can be applied for, when, and where, what the requirements are, and how access to benefits can be simplified. The workshop offers practical guidance and space for questions about the social security system in old age.

Christian Roder (LL.M. in Social Law and Social Economy), Marcus Schröder (ZfsG Magdeburg)

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Temporary protection under Section 24 of the Residence Act (AufenthG) for Ukrainians is currently set to expire on March 4, 2027—but what happens after that? In this workshop, we will explore potential legal developments and discuss their impact on residency status as well as access to healthcare and social services.

Together, we will address open questions, contextualize current statements from authorities, and create space for exchange and guidance in an uncertain future.

Rostyslav Dzundza (PlusUkrDE)
Daniel Kashnitsky

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Hepatitis C is now curable in most cases—yet it remains a significant health issue. This workshop explores why the available and highly effective therapies have not been sufficient to sustainably reduce hepatitis C. The focus is on structural barriers in prevention, testing, and care, access restrictions to diagnostics and treatment—particularly in correctional facilities—as well as the impact of stigma and prejudice on the care of affected individuals.

Contributors: Navina Sarna (RKI) and Torben Beimann (AIDS Support Cologne))

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The German healthcare system can be complex and difficult to understand—especially for people who are new to Germany or have specific healthcare needs.
We provide a clear overview of how the healthcare system in Germany is structured. Topics include health insurance, access to doctors and counseling centers, patient rights, and support services specifically for people living with HIV and/or people who use drugs.
The workshop offers space for questions, discussion, and practical information for everyday use.

Speaker: Ahmed Soliman (State Network of Migrant Organizations Saxony-Anhalt (LAMSA) e.V.))

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This workshop covers the basics of visibility control in electronic patient records (ePA): Who can release or restrict data, what technical options (selective release, access logs) and legal frameworks apply, and what opportunities and risks arise for privacy and quality of care. Through short inputs and practical examples, we will exchange experiences—such as everyday handling, issues with permissions, and the documentation of sensitive information (e.g., HIV status, mental health diagnoses, drug use).

Manuel Hofmann (DAH))

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This workshop explores the use of chatbots in low-threshold counseling: How can automated dialogues help reach those seeking advice, provide initial information, and guide them to follow-up services—without losing sight of empathy and data protection? Using practical examples, we will examine the opportunities (accessibility, scalability, low barriers) and limitations (complexity of needs, trust, confidentiality) to develop criteria for meaningful use, as well as design recommendations for dialog content and processes.

Aleksey Lakhov – Project: Borys Hrachov
English with translation

Location:

In this seminar, we will discuss what outreach work is and its advantages and disadvantages. We will explore the principles on which outreach is based in the context of harm reduction and the forms it can take. We will also look at what awaits those who want to work in outreach and what competencies are required. Is it intimidating or not? Does street-based social work make sense—and if so, for whom? Everything you need to know about outreach work in the context of harm reduction.

Location: Auditorium 218

In this seminar, we will discuss what outreach work is and its advantages and disadvantages. We will explore the principles on which outreach is based in the context of harm reduction and the forms it can take.
We will also examine what those who want to work in outreach can expect and what competencies are required. Is it intimidating or not? Does street-based social work have a purpose—and if so, for whom?
Everything you should know about outreach work in the context of harm reduction.

Speaker: Elena Remneva

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What impact do the changes discussed in the keynote have on key populations in relation to HIV care and prevention?

In these workshops, community representatives will break down the geopolitical situation to examine its effects on key populations at the international, regional, and national (or even local) levels. The tangible changes for groups such as sex workers, transgender individuals, women, people with migration backgrounds, people who use drugs, or refugees will be analyzed and discussed.

Moderator: Ismar Hađam
Speakers: Laila Prager (Refugees and Displaced Persons), Valeriia Rachynska (Women), Caspar Tate (Sex Workers)

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Housing Needs and Wishes of People Who Use Drugs

The speakers will present the results of the two surveys, AGING DRUG USERS AND HOUSING, and relate them to the current situation in many cities (increased homelessness) and the current needs.

Claudia Schieren (JES NRW))

Venue: Room 112

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Discovering Strengths, Shaping Community

This workshop intentionally focuses on the strengths, experiences, and opportunities of older people living with HIV. The central question is how community, participation, and mutual support can be designed to strengthen resources, enable self-care, and foster connection. Together, we will gather ideas, discuss concrete approaches, and develop perspectives. Insecurities are welcome, and a touch of humor is allowed.

Moderators: Stefan Reck, Tanja Krahm

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How do different cultures approach death, grief, and remembrance—and how does this manifest in Germany today? In this workshop, participants will share their experiences and perspectives on mourning, farewell, and remembrance cultures. What rituals have helped us after the loss of a loved one? How should we be mourned? The workshop provides space for exchange, questions, and a deeper understanding of the diverse ways we commemorate, remember, and grieve.

Moderator: Bernard Buttler

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This workshop examines how racism operates in medical settings—from everyday assumptions and unequal treatment pathways to institutional barriers. What experiences of structural discrimination do people face, and what can we do about it? The goal is to make forms of racism in healthcare visible, highlight their impact on access to care, and collectively develop individual strategies for action and support, as well as approaches for structural change.

Speaker: Ruffin Kendall (AIDS Service Organization Düsseldorf)

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This workshop explores how patient rights are implemented (or violated) in practice for people who use drugs. Through personal accounts, case studies, and current barriers to care, we will examine experiences of discrimination, breaches of confidentiality, and obstacles to accessing medical services. The goal is to identify visible gaps between legal entitlements and real-world care, and to develop practical recommendations for action.

Speaker: Dirk Schäffer (DAH)

Location:

Opportunities, Risks, and Practical Tips

Artificial intelligence can provide practical support for self-help: It assists in drafting reports, funding applications, and minutes, creates or edits social media posts, handles translations, and generates initial drafts for informational materials. This saves time, increases the reach of communication, and offers straightforward assistance with linguistic or formal challenges.
At the same time, there are clear limitations and risks: Automatically generated texts may contain factual errors, imprecise wording, or inappropriate tone; translations do not always deliver culturally sensitive or technically accurate results. Data protection and confidentiality are central—personal or sensitive content must not be processed. When using external AI services, copyright issues (e.g., regarding input sources) as well as the potential storage and use of entered data must be considered.

Speaker: Nils Gerken (Hamburg)

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Often, when conducting HIV and hepatitis tests, we think our main goal is to learn and communicate the result. If we reflect more deeply, we start considering how to convey information about HIV/hepatitis transmission routes, treatment, and prevention. However, there are other equally important goals—empowering individuals, restoring a sense of agency and authorship over their lives, fostering acceptance, enabling a sense of community, and much more. We will discuss these goals, which are just as important as a positive or negative test result. We will also explore methods to achieve these goals even in brief field testing situations.

Location: Auditorium 218

When conducting tests for HIV and hepatitis, we often think our primary goal is to learn and communicate the result. If we think more deeply, we also focus on conveying information about HIV and hepatitis transmission routes, treatment, and prevention.
Yet, there are other, no less important goals: empowering people, restoring their sense of self-efficacy and authorship over their lives, fostering acceptance, enabling a sense of belonging to a community, and much more.
We will discuss these equally important goals—regardless of whether the test result is positive or negative. We will also explore methods to achieve these goals even in short field testing situations.

Speaker: Maksim Malyshev

Location:

What impact do the changes discussed in the keynote have on key populations in relation to HIV care and prevention? (2)

In these workshops, the geopolitical situation will be examined in detail through input from community representatives, focusing on the circumstances of key populations—internationally, nationally, regionally, and, where applicable, locally.
The workshop will analyze and discuss the tangible changes affecting sex workers, transgender individuals, women, people with a migration background, people who use drugs, or refugees, as well as the consequences for HIV care and prevention.

Moderator: Ferenc Bagyinszky
Speakers: Rosaline M’Bayo (people with a migration background), Alexei Lakhov (people who use drugs), Deekshitha Ganesan (transgender individuals)

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Community representatives will share firsthand accounts of how global funding cuts and state repression impact people living with HIV in their countries of origin.
We will create a space for migrants living in Germany to voice their concerns about the situation in their home countries and brainstorm ways to provide support from here. At the same time, we will inform German participants about the global situation and develop practical approaches to solidarity together.

Moderation: Holger Wicht (German AIDS Service Organization - DAH)
Panelist: Alexei Lakhov, Lillian Petry, Vine Chan, Andrés Motta

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Following the workshop *Invisibly Burdened*, this second part invites participants to explore self-help practices. We will discuss how people can support one another, what resources and strategies exist within self-help structures, and how to design culturally and trauma-sensitive peer support. The focus will be on concrete forms of mutual aid, safe conversation formats, empowerment methods, and connecting local support services.

Dr. Jean-François Siani, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris

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This workshop addresses the opportunities, inequalities, and ethical questions surrounding longevity: Which scientific approaches (medicine, lifestyle, biotechnology) are driving the longevity debate? What social and economic conditions exist, and who truly benefits? We will discuss the influence of existing inequalities (social, economic, global).

Manuel Hofmann (DAH))

Location:

Controversy on Visibility and Responsibility

This workshop is designed as a controversy: Two individuals will deliberately take opposing positions—one advocating for public visibility of people living with HIV as a key to change, while the other warns of risks such as stigmatization, loss of safety, and tokenism (when individuals are used as symbolic representatives without real influence). After the opening debate, we will shift to a fishbowl format, where participants can share their perspectives, experiences, and strategies for safe self-representation, privacy, and solidarity-based activism. To conclude, we will collaboratively develop ethical guidelines for interacting in digital spaces—principles on protection, consent, respectful representation, and solidarity.

Melike Yildiz, Torsten Poggenpohl (PositHIVe Faces), Heike Gronski (German AIDS Service Organization)

Location:

Let’s talk about how to foster strength in people from vulnerable communities—and in society as a whole. How do we see the people we support: as weak and helpless, or as individuals with their own principles and the ability to cope with challenges? What can we do to recognize the skills, competencies, values, and even the small steps that people take to improve their lives? The workshop will not only include discussions but also practical exercises. You will leave with several concrete methods for conducting conversations that empower people from vulnerable communities.

Location: Auditorium 218

We will discuss how to help people from vulnerable communities—and the community as a whole—develop new strength. How do we view the people we support: as weak and helpless, or as individuals with their own principles and the ability to handle difficulties?
What can we do to acknowledge the abilities, competencies, values, and even the small steps that people take to improve their lives?
The workshop will include not only discussions but also practical exercises. You will take away several concrete methods for leading conversations that empower people from vulnerable communities.

Speaker: Elena Remneva

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Advocacy Efforts: Closure of Tegel Arrival Center, Current Work in Other Shared Accommodations for Migrant Women. Challenges and Approaches to Solutions.*

Location:

Speaker: Kateryna Parfeniuk
Board Member of PLUS UKR DE e.V.
Project Coordinator for Community Empowerment for Vulnerable Groups: Access to HIV Services for Ukrainian Refugees in Germany

People living with HIV are growing older – and their needs are becoming more diverse. This panel discussion will open the thematic area for the subsequent workshops and examine the medical, nursing, psychosocial, and social care of older people living with HIV. The focus will be on access barriers and discrimination, structural challenges, and the question of what impulses current reforms in the healthcare and nursing systems can provide for needs-based and discrimination-free care.

Jan Bockemühl (BISS), Nathalie Schlenzka (Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency), Ian Parrington-Fester (PositHIVe Faces), Benjamin Wagner-Andrae (Paritätischer Welfare Association).
Moderator: Matthias Wentzlaff-Eggebert

Location:

This presentation introduces key arguments for a progressive, health-oriented drug policy and discusses potential steps toward decriminalization, harm reduction, and social justice.

We explore how a policy that recognizes pleasure, intoxication, and self-determination could reduce health risks, decrease stigma, improve access to care, and protect marginalized groups.

Martin Viehweger
Moderator: Julian Knop

Location:

A Perspective on Empowering Clients as a Key Component of Treatment Adherence

We often feel that the most important thing is getting the client to the hospital, receiving ART therapy, being admitted, and so on. But that is only part of it. An equally important part is ensuring that the client stays in treatment—or at least knows how to return—and understands what to do. So they feel more responsible for their own health. Sometimes, however, our help can have the opposite effect: we disempower clients and make them feel helpless. We will discuss how social support can be structured to strengthen clients and give them greater agency over their own lives within the context of healthcare.

Location: Auditorium 218

We often feel that the most important thing is getting clients to the hospital, enabling access to ART, or arranging inpatient care. But that is only part of the work. An equally important part is creating the conditions for clients to remain in treatment—or at least know how to return. So they increasingly feel responsible for their health and take ownership of it.
Sometimes, however, our help can weaken people and place them in a dependent, helpless position. We will discuss how social support can be designed to empower clients and give them greater autonomy over their own lives within the framework of healthcare.

Speaker: Maksim Malyshev

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Keynote on the importance of history for the present and future of HIV self-help and the impact of the AIDS movement on society since the 1980s.

Axel Schock, Journalist
Moderator: Yasmin Kahumuza

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A fascinating look into history for a better understanding of the present.

Divine Lumbu, Lawyer, Member of the Afro-German Lawyers Association
Moderator: Nina Baghery

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Currently, under the auspices of BISS e.V., a federal specialist center for care and aging is being established as a support structure for the self-organization of LGBTIQ* individuals in need of care, people with HIV requiring care, and their (caregiving) relatives. The goal is to launch a pilot project with volunteer navigators to support these target groups in accessing care, as well as to establish a telephone-based initial counseling service. Markus Johannes, as the project coordinator, will present the current planning status and engage participants in a discussion about the opportunities and limitations, as well as the potential for local implementation of the service. Participants will have the chance to share their wishes, experiences, fears, and reservations about aging and care with HIV in small groups and in plenary sessions, and to reflect on them together.

Moderator: Markus Johannes (BISS)

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How do we want to live and be cared for as we age, and what options exist beyond traditional care facilities?
Together, we will explore alternative living and care models such as communal living, inclusive care concepts, or self-organized housing projects. We will examine which services already exist, where gaps remain, and what requirements emerge from our perspectives.
This workshop provides space for exchange, sharing experiences, and networking. The goal is to make needs visible, strengthen opportunities for action, and develop ideas for discrimination-sensitive and self-determined living and care arrangements.

Alexander Goethe (Solis Wohnen), Anabela Dias de Oliveira (State Model Project Saxony-Anhalt), Jan Bockemühl (BISS)

Location:

What can we do? Building on the previous day’s inputs and discussions, we’ll explore how activists in Germany can engage at the international, regional, national, or even local level—individually or in groups. The central theme will be advocacy tools and approaches, starting with how we can influence national and international developments in Germany. We’ll discuss key questions: Who are the right stakeholders (e.g., drafting letters to policymakers and decision-makers)? Which organizations are relevant? Who plays what role in resource distribution?

Trainer: Valeriia Rachynska

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In this workshop, we’ll present the archive project *Helix*, developed as part of the Positive University at Waldschlösschen, and collaboratively expand on it. The history of HIV in Germany is framed as a dual narrative of personal stories and societal developments.
We’ll discuss key phases, generations, and the planned interactive platform, inviting participants to contribute perspectives and collectively reimagine the project.

Moderators: Frank Hofmann and Frank Beckmann

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What real protection does it offer people with HIV in healthcare and the workplace?

Speakers: Kerstin Mörsch (DAH), Divine Lumbu (Lawyer)

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This workshop addresses experiences of discrimination in healthcare and combines awareness-raising with practical empowerment: We analyze typical patterns of discrimination against people living with HIV (including intersections with racism, ageism, transphobia, and drug-related discrimination), gather participants' experiences, and develop shared tips for handling discriminatory situations in medical settings.

Speakers: Anka Hellauer (DAH), Oksana Panochenko (DAH), Gottfried Dunkel

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This workshop explains the basics and practice of drug checking: How does chemical analysis help identify substances and contaminants? What services are available, and what legal and organizational frameworks must be considered? Which substances are tested, which target groups are reached, and what impact does the service have on users?

Speaker: Tizian Keßler (vista Berlin, Drug and Addiction Counseling Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Misfit)

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In social support and outreach work, we often forget the most basic level of human functioning—the body. Yet, knowledge about the body and physicality has long been an essential part of professional practice in modern helping professions (social work, psychology, medical professions).

Location: Auditorium 218

In social support and outreach work, we often overlook the most fundamental level of human functioning—the body. Meanwhile, knowledge about the body and physicality has long become a key component of professional practice in modern helping professions (social work, psychology, medical fields).
We explore the role the body and physicality can play in our work. How can we use this knowledge as a resource? How can we account for the limitations that physicality brings to social work with individuals?
And last but not least: We, as social workers, are also physical beings. This means we can—and should—care for our own bodies and physicality in the context of our work. What this concretely entails, you’ll discover in this workshop on physicality.

Speaker: Elena Remneva

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We provide a clear overview of recommended vaccinations, explain their benefits and potential risks, and discuss how vaccinations can be planned individually. We also address common questions and concerns.

Speaker: Luca Wolff (Physician, MHH)
Moderator: Achim Donsbach

Location:

Peer-to-peer support as a means of expanding access to psychological assistance for members of vulnerable communities

Psychological and psychotherapeutic support are often too costly and frequently inaccessible. This is especially true for individuals from vulnerable communities and those who are immigrants or refugees—due to a lack of financial support and language barriers. 

The workshop will share experiences from conducting peer-to-peer support schools in Tbilisi as a response to the lack of such services. It’s an inspiring story about how community members can support one another during difficult times. Additionally, a discussion awaits you on the exclusivity and inaccessibility of psychotherapeutic services.

Speaker: Elena Remneva
Location: Auditorium 218

Psychological and psychotherapeutic support often come with high barriers to access and are therefore unattainable for many people. This particularly affects individuals from vulnerable communities as well as migrants and refugees—due to a lack of financial resources and language barriers.

The workshop will present experiences from implementing peer-to-peer support schools in Tbilisi, which were created in response to the lack of such services. It’s an inspiring account of how community members can support each other during challenging times. You can also look forward to a discussion on the exclusivity and inaccessibility of psychotherapeutic services.

Presenter: Elena Remneva

Location:

This segment will focus on forms of political activism and advocacy. The range is broad and can include organizing political actions (campaigns, demonstrations, etc.) as well as fundraising for specific projects in different countries. The workshops will introduce various forms of political activism, discuss them, and assess their feasibility in relation to specific issues.

Trainer: Caspar Tate

Location:

Morning Kickoff Together

Location: H2-Volksbank Auditorium

Moderated by Sophie Kortenbruck

Farewell to PoBe 2026—but we’re staying committed and looking ahead with strength and solidarity. See you again in 2028!

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