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 well but 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 Lead)

Venue:

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 matters to people living with HIV in those countries.

Performing for us is 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 legislative proposals targeting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.

The Independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, Ferda Ataman, is our patron and sends a welcome message. Additionally, the Lord Mayor of Magdeburg, Simone Borris, personally welcomes us to her city.

As the host, the Board of the German AIDS Service Organization—represented in this case by Sven Warminsky, who also serves as the Managing Director of the local member organization—naturally has the first word. However, the final word goes to the outstanding team of representatives from the HIV-positive community, who have shaped this conference in terms of content for you. They hand over the conference to you with their best wishes.

Sophie Kortenbruck will guide us through the event.

Venue:

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 matters to people living with HIV in those countries.

Performing for us is 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 legislative proposals targeting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Ghana.

The Independent Federal Commissioner for Anti-Discrimination, Ferda Ataman, is our patron and sends a welcome message. Additionally, the Lord Mayor of Magdeburg, Simone Borris, personally welcomes us to her city.

As the host, the Board of the German AIDS Service Organization—represented in this case by Sven Warminsky, who also serves as the Managing Director of the local member organization—naturally has the first word. However, the final word goes to the outstanding team of representatives from the HIV-positive community, who have shaped this conference in terms of content for you. They hand over the conference to you with their best wishes.

Sophie Kortenbruck will guide us through the event.

Venue:

This presentation highlights key findings from the German government’s 9th Ageing Report from an intersectional perspective. It focuses on the lived realities of 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 address structural inequalities and existing needs for action to promote diverse and discrimination-sensitive aging.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Lottmann (Gerontologist 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 right now, and what impact does this have on HIV prevention and care for people living with HIV at the regional, national, and global levels?

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

Venue:

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 outlines current findings on discrimination and racism as social determinants of health. The focus is on their impact on health equity and how discrimination-sensitive structures in healthcare, research, and public health can be strengthened. Additionally, approaches that can promote greater participation, diversity, and justice in the healthcare system will be discussed.

Katja Kajikhina (Robert Koch Institute)
Moderator: Nina Baghery

Venue:

What does the future of healthcare look like?

AI and digitalization are supposed to improve healthcare and address structural challenges such as demographic change and the resulting staff shortages. Bold promises are being made: technology is expected 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

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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 allowances.
Together, we will clarify what can be applied for, when, and where, which requirements apply, and how access to benefits can be facilitated. 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 for Ukrainians is currently set to expire on March 4, 2027—but what happens after that? In this workshop, we will examine possible legal developments and discuss their impact on residency status as well as access to healthcare and social benefits.

Together, we will address open questions, contextualize current statements from authorities, and create a 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—and yet the disease remains a significant health issue. This workshop explores why the available, 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 (Aidshilfe 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.))

Venue:

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 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))

Venue:

This workshop examines 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 explore the opportunities (accessibility, scalability, low barriers) and limitations (complexity of needs, trust, confidentiality) and develop criteria for meaningful use, as well as design recommendations for dialog content and processes.

Aleksey Lakhov – Project: Borys Hrachov
English with translation

Venue:

In this seminar, we will discuss what outreach is and its advantages and disadvantages. We will explore the principles on which outreach is built in the context of harm reduction, as well as the forms it can take. What awaits those who want to work in outreach, and what competencies are needed for this? Is it intimidating or not? Does street-based social work have a purpose—and if so, for whom?

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 this work can take.
We will also examine what those who wish 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

Venue:

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

In these workshops, community representatives will break down the geopolitical situation and its impact 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. Uncertainties are welcome, and a wink is allowed.

Facilitators: Stefan Reck, Tanja Krahm

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How do different cultures deal with death, grief, and remembrance—and how does this take shape in Germany today? In this workshop, participants will share their experiences and perspectives on grief, 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 of commemorating, remembering, and grieving.

Facilitator: Bernard Buttler

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This workshop explores 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 medical care, and collaboratively develop individual actions and support options, as well as strategies for structural change.

Speaker: Ruffin Kendall (AIDS-Hilfe Düsseldorf)

Venue:

This workshop examines how patient rights are implemented (or violated) in practice for people who use drugs. Using personal accounts, case studies, and current barriers to care, we will explore experiences of discrimination, breaches of confidentiality, and obstacles to accessing medical treatment. The aim is to identify visible gaps between legal rights and actual care, and to develop practical recommendations for action.

Speaker: Dirk Schäffer (DAH)

Venue:

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 help with linguistic or formal challenges.
At the same time, there are clear limitations and risks: Automatically generated texts may contain factual errors, imprecise phrasing, or inappropriate tone; translations do not always deliver culturally sensitive or professionally 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 potential storage and use of entered data must be considered.

Speaker: Nils Gerken (Hamburg)

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Often during HIV and hepatitis testing, 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. But there are other, no less important goals—empowering individuals, restoring a sense of agency and authorship over their lives, fostering acceptance, creating a sense of 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 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 individuals, 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 examine which methods can help us achieve these goals even in short field testing situations.

Speaker: Maksim Malyshev

Venue:

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 contextualized for key populations through input from community representatives—internationally, nationally, regionally, and, where applicable, locally.
The tangible changes for sex workers, transgender individuals, women, people with migration backgrounds, people who use drugs, or refugees, as well as their consequences for HIV care and prevention, will be analyzed and discussed.

Moderator: Ferenc Bagyinszky
Speakers: Rosaline M’Bayo (People with Migration Backgrounds), Alexei Lakhov (People Who Use Drugs), Deekshitha Ganesan (Transgender Individuals)

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

Moderator: Holger Wicht (DAH)
Panel Guests: Alexei Lakhov, Lillian Petry, Vine Chan, Andrés Motta

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Following the workshop *Invisibly Burdened*, this second part invites participants to explore the practice of self-help: We 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 is on concrete forms of mutual aid, safe conversation formats, empowerment methods, and connecting local services.

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

Venue:

This workshop explores 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 from them? We will discuss the impact of existing inequalities (social, economic, global).

Manuel Hofmann (DAH))

Venue:

Controversy on Visibility and Responsibility

This workshop is designed as a controversy: Two individuals will deliberately take opposing positions—one advocating for the 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 agency). 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 (DAH)

Venue:

Let’s talk about how to help people from vulnerable communities—and society as a whole—develop strength. 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 people take to improve their lives? The workshop will include not only 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 contribute to helping 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

Venue:

Advocacy efforts: Closure of the Tegel arrival center, current work in other shared accommodations for migrants. Challenges and approaches to solutions.*

Venue:

Speaker: Kateryna Parfeniuk
Board member of PLUS UKR DE e.V.
Project Coordinator 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 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

Venue:

This presentation will outline key arguments for a progressive, health-focused drug policy and discuss potential steps toward decriminalization, harm reduction, and social justice.

We explore how a policy that recognizes pleasure, altered states of consciousness, and self-determination could reduce health risks, dismantle stigma, improve access to care, and protect marginalized groups.

Martin Viehweger
Moderator: Julian Knop

Venue:

A perspective on empowering clients as a key component of treatment adherence

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

Location: Auditorium 218

We often feel that the most important thing is to get clients into a hospital, enable access to ART, or provide inpatient care. But that is only part of the work. An equally important part is creating the conditions for clients to stay in treatment—or at least know how to return. To help them feel increasingly responsible for their health and take ownership of it.
Sometimes, however, our assistance 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 agency over their own lives within the framework of healthcare.

Speaker: Maksim Malyshev

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Keynote speech on the significance 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 and loved ones. The initiative aims to launch a pilot project with volunteer navigators to assist these target groups in accessing care, as well as to establish a telephone-based initial counseling service. Markus Johannes, the project coordinator, will present the current planning status and engage participants in a discussion about the opportunities and limitations of the initiative, as well as the potential for local implementation. Participants will have the opportunity to share their wishes, experiences, concerns, and reservations about aging and care with HIV in small groups and in plenary sessions, fostering reflection and dialogue.

Moderator: Markus Johannes (BISS)

Venue:

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, identify gaps, and discuss the needs that emerge from our perspectives.
This workshop provides a 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 Pilot Project Saxony-Anhalt), Jan Bockemühl (BISS)

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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—whether individually or in groups. The focus will be on advocacy tools and approaches, starting with how we can influence national and international developments in Germany. We’ll discuss key questions, such as who the right stakeholders are (e.g., drafting letters to policymakers and decision-makers), which organizations are relevant, and who plays what role in resource allocation.

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 will be framed as a dual narrative—one of personal life stories and societal developments.
We’ll discuss key phases, generations, and the planned interactive platform, inviting participants to contribute their perspectives and help shape the project collectively.

Moderators: Frank Hofmann and Frank Beckmann

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What protection against discrimination does it actually offer for 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 with HIV (including intersections with racism, ageism, transphobia, and drug-related discrimination), gather participants' experiences, and collaboratively develop tips for handling discriminatory situations in medical facilities.

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)

Venue:

In social support and outreach work, we often overlook the most fundamental level of human functioning—the body. Yet, knowledge about the body and physicality has long been a key component of professional practice in modern helping professions (social work, psychology, medical professions). We will explore what 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 imposes on social work with individuals? And most interestingly—we, as social workers, are also embodied beings. This means we can also care for our own bodies and physicality within the context of our work. What does this entail? Find out in the workshop on physicality.

Location: Auditorium 218

In social support and outreach work, we often forget the most basic level of human functioning—the body. Meanwhile, knowledge about the body and physicality has long been an essential part of professional practice in modern helping professions (social work, psychology, medical professions).
We will explore what role the body and physicality can play in our work. How can we use this knowledge as a resource? How can we consider the limitations that physicality brings to social work with individuals?
And last but not least: As social workers, we too are physical beings. This means we can also take care of our own bodies and our physicality in the context of our work. Find out what this specifically entails in this workshop on physicality.

Speaker: Elena Remneva

Venue:

We’ll provide a clear overview of recommended vaccinations, explain their benefits and potential risks, and discuss how vaccinations can be tailored to individual needs. We’ll also address common questions and concerns.

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

Venue:

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

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

The workshop will share experiences from conducting peer-to-peer support training in Tbilisi as a response to the lack of such services. It is 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 comes with high barriers to access and is therefore out of reach for many people. This particularly affects individuals from vulnerable communities as well as migrants and refugees—due to a lack of financial support and language barriers.

The workshop will discuss experiences from implementing peer-to-peer support training in Tbilisi, which emerged in response to the lack of such services. It is an inspiring story about how community members can support one another during challenging times. You can also look forward to a discussion on the exclusivity and inaccessibility of psychotherapeutic services.

Speaker: Elena Remneva

Venue:

This section 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 individual projects in different countries. The workshops will present various forms of political activism, discuss them, and assess their feasibility in relation to specific issues.

Trainer: Caspar Tate

Venue:

Kickoff to the Day

Location: H2-Volksbank Auditorium

Moderated by Sophie Kortenbruck

Goodbye PoBe 2026, but we’re staying committed and looking ahead to the future with strength and solidarity. See you again in 2028!

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