Chief among the themes at this years conference were the messages of hope and the possibility of guarded optimism about the future of the pandemic. The future of HIV/AIDS has several new areas of importance: hope for prevention efforts and vaccine development and a serious focus on microbicides in the fight against AIDS also the sense that nutrition and food security are indispensable in HIV disease and that implementation science is critical in the fight. In September 2006 Stephen Lewis the United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa spoke at a Harvard University Forum on AIDS about his work in Africa and his reflections on the Toronto meetings. Poignantly he noted that womens and childrens rights are absolutely critical--and marginally addressed by most policies and programs that serve areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Lewis also described the issues of gender inequality sexual violence economic disempowerment and the absence of womens rights as among the most important ethical and human rights issues for the future of HIV/AIDS. He further noted--in a Harvard audience with only a few nurses--that the work of nurses in responding to the HIV pandemic is essential to the future of HIV care in developing countries. Lewis went on to suggest that indigenous workers are vital but the work of nursing is the most powerful force for implementation of HIV care on the ground in areas like sub-Saharan Africa. (excerpt)